Born Again?
What’s all this hoo-ha about being born again? Where’s that in the Bible? Is it necessary to be born again to be a Christian? Is this some kind of new-fangled Christianity?
All good questions!
The exact same answers to these questions were being sought by a man nearly 2,000 years ago. His name was Nicodemus. Let’s listen in on a conversation he had with Jesus…
John 3:1-4 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” NASU
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the One who never spoke or did anything unless He saw the Father doing it first…He declares in this passage, in complete agreement with the Father, that man is unable to enter heaven unless he is born again! Did you get that? You cannot enter heaven unless you are born again! These are Jesus’ words, not the words of some exclusive Christian clique. Quite a bold statement Jesus makes, eh? Does going to heaven interest you? I already know the answer to that question because Scripture tells us that God has put an interest in heaven in your heart.
Eccl 3:11 …He has also set eternity in their heart… NASU
So the question is really are you willing to enter heaven under God’s conditions? Or will you establish your own conditions to enter heaven and find yourself coming up way short when it’s too late to do anything about it?
What is this second birth?
Again, let’s listen to more of Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus…
John 3:5-8 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” NASU
This may require a bit of explanation. Being born of water is a specific reference to being born as a baby from your mother’s womb. Typically, prior to giving birth to a baby, the pregnant woman’s sac of protective, amniotic fluid (her water) is broken, thus we have, being born of water. Jesus affirms the validity of this context later on in verse 6 by restating it in similar terminology, “born of the flesh.” That’s the first birth. Everyone that lives and breathes is “born of water” or “born of the flesh.” Everyone experiences the first birth.
But what of the second birth? Ah, yes…this is being born of the Spirit. One must be born of a woman (“born of water” or “born of the flesh”) and born of the Holy Spirit. Man is made up of a body, a soul, and a spirit. You know what a body is. The soul is the part of you that thinks, chooses and feels. The spirit is that part of man that when made alive, through the regenerating (“making alive and new”) work of the Holy Spirit, enters into eternal fellowship with God. Sin brings about death to this spirit man. Scripture put’s it this way…
Rom 6:23 “…the wages of sin is death…”
In other words, sin brings about death (separation from life…God is life…thus, separation from God). Thankfully, Jesus Christ received, in your place, the consequence of being separated from the Father as the result of your sin. Father received the substitutionary sacrifice of His Son Jesus as sufficient consequence or judgment for your sin, rather than judge you for it. And, Father raised Jesus, His Son from the dead to conquer eternal separation from God. If you are willing to turn from the failure of running your own life and pursuit of sinful pleasure, and turn to…trusting in the Lord to run your life…you can receive the free gift of eternal life through this faith in Christ.
There’s no time like the present to get right with God. It’s as simple as sincerely declaring aloud this prayer of faith to the Lord…
Father, I believe in my heart that due to my sin, I am solely responsible for the separation from You that I have experienced all of my life. Because of my sin and because You are a righteous Judge, my fair sentence is eternity in Hell. But, because You love me and know what is best for me, with Your help, I choose today to turn from selfish, self-centered, sinful living and give the rest of my life for You to run. I’ve failed miserably at running my own life. Please forgive me and cleanse me of my sins. I believe You love me and that You sent Your Son Jesus to the cross, to die the just sentence I deserved for my sins. I believe You raised Him from the dead so that I, too, could have new life through Him. Jesus, come into my heart and live Your life in and through me. Thank You Lord for giving me the free gift of eternal life. I receive it by faith this very moment. Amen!
