3. Jesus answered, and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Common Misunderstandings About Being Born Again
If you ask a Christian if they have been born again, most will quickly answer yes. But if you ask them how they know they’ve been born again, the answers vary. Some may point to being raised in church or believing in God. Others may mention being baptized or having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Some may even point to the promise in Scripture of eternal life. There is nothing wrong with these answers as expressions of faith—but are any of them proof of being born again?
Being born again is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Christian life. And like most things that are misunderstood, it is often taken for granted. This should concern every self-proclaimed Christian, because Jesus made it unmistakably clear in John 3:3: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” There is nothing confusing about that statement. There is no reason to over-complicate it by cherry-picking doctrines about law and grace, or faith and salvation.
So what exactly does it mean to be born again? How can a person know with certainty that they have been born again? And perhaps the most sobering question of all: Am I truly right with God if I cannot answer these questions?
Although the concept of being born again sounds simple to understand, even some of the most learned religious leaders and teachers—in the days of Jesus or today—are not able to comprehend it with a surface level reading of the text. So there is no reason to feel as if you are failing in your faith if you don’t understand it.
Nicodemus: A Religious Man Still in the Dark
John 3 introduces us to Nicodemus, a Pharisee. According to the first-century historian Flavius Josephus, there were 6,000 Pharisees during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. They prided themselves on separation from Gentile influence and held a strict adherence to the Mosaic law. They were experts in the Torah, many knowing it by heart. Most Pharisees were landowners, businessmen, and synagogue leaders—respected, educated, and morally disciplined.
But Nicodemus was not just any Pharisee. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish ruling council—the closest equivalent to a Supreme Court. The Sanhedrin was led by the high priest and composed of chief priests, elders, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. It held authority over Jewish religious, civil, and criminal matters. It was the Sanhedrin that held a sham, biased trial to condemn Jesus before His crucifixion, and Caiaphas was the high priest at the time.
Yet, even with expert knowledge of the Torah and the prophets, Nicodemus still could not comprehend what Jesus meant when He said, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” But, when we look deeper into the text, we discover not only why Nicodemus was confused, but possibly why many Christians today are as well.
The Dual Meaning of Anōthen — Again or From Above?
In John 3:3, the phrase “born again” is translated from the Greek gennēthē anōthen. Gennēthē comes from the root verb gennáō, which means “to beget” or “to give birth to.” The word anōthen carries a dual meaning. One meaning is ‘again‘, and it can also mean ‘from above‘. It is not entirely clear why Nicodemus interpreted Jesus’ words to mean “born again,” especially when Jesus immediately connected the phrase to “see the kingdom of God.” It is also noteworthy that John makes no attempt to clarify the meaning for his readers. The most reasonable explanation is that John assumed his audience would understand that Jesus meant born from above.
John uses the term anōthen in other passages, and he always uses it to mean “from above“. In John 19:23 when describing Jesus’ coat, he writes that is was woven “from the top throughout.” And in John 3:31 he declares, “He who comes from above, is above all.” John consistently uses anōthen to mean “from above,” not “again.”
Jesus’ Patience With Nicodemus’ Confusion
A lesson we can learn from Jesus in this dialogue is the remarkable patience He showed toward Nicodemus. Despite Nicodemus’ expert knowledge of the Torah and the prophets, he was utterly confused by what Jesus was saying. Asking—”Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb?“—was illogical and beneath the intelligence and training of a member of the Sanhedrin. As He often did with other Pharisees, Jesus did not rebuke Nicodemus. Instead, He simply and patiently said with clarity, “Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This statement should have made what Jesus meant absolutely clear to Nicodemus.
“Born of Water and Spirit” — A Prophecy Nicodemus Should Have Known
With his knowledge of the prophets, Nicodemus should have immediately recalled Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God promises Israel a future cleansing and spiritual renewal:
25. “I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
26. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27. “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
Jesus had not made a new revelation to Nicodemus. The promise of spiritual rebirth—cleansing, regeneration, and the indwelling of God’s Spirit—had been given to Israel centuries earlier. In seeking righteousness through the law, and his prominent religious status, Nicodemus had forgotten the very prophecy that explained what Jesus meant. Being “born of water and the Spirit” was not a new idea; it was the prophesied work of redemption that would cleanse God’s people, renew their hearts, and restore glory to His name.
We now have an understanding that “born again” likely means “born from above“, if we consider the consistent use of the word anōthen in John’s writing. We’ve discovered that even as a high-ranking Pharisee, deeply familiar with Scripture and the prophets, Nicodemus was still rather spiritually blind to the promises of God written in the scrolls — and even in direct dialogue with Jesus. In Part 2 we will discover what it truly means to be born by water and by Spirit.
Scriptures for a Renewed Spiritual Heart
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.”
Ezekiel 11:19
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”
Jeremiah 31:33
“I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Isaiah 43:18
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past.”
Psalm 119:11
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
A Prayer for a Heart Renewed by God
Father God in Heaven, by promise You made me one of Your children. Ways that were contrary to You, and people who blinded me from You, were removed as You cleansed me and forgave me. You filled voids I did not recognize and showed me how heavy my stone heart truly was. You made me whole, vibrant, renewed, abundant, and fulfilled—not that I may boast, but that I may bring glory to Your name. As endless as my eternal life will be is as thankful as I am. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Trinitarian Benediction
May the Lord God renew your heart and give life to your spirit.
May you be cleansed by the blood of Christ Jesus and rooted in righteousness.
And may the Holy Spirit forever shape you as an heir with Christ and a child of God.