3. Jesus answered, and said Verily, verily I say unto the, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Two questions many Christians find the most difficult to answer are, “what does it mean to be born again“, and “are you born again?” Even Nicodemus — a well-educated and highly regarded Pharisee — could not grasp the meaning of what Jesus meant when He told him, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus responded to Jesus with utter confusion, stating, “How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4).
Perhaps the misunderstanding goes back to not fully grasping the command and consequence God gave to Adam in Genesis 2:17, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat eat thereof, thou shalt surely die.” While the physical process of the body dying may have begun once Adam and Eve ate of the tree, God clearly did not mean immediate physical death. We know this because Adam lived to be 930 years old. Although though Eve’s lifespan is not stated, we can assume it was similar.
Here we see a powerful revelation that forms one of the main themes of Scripture: “You will surely die” refers to spiritual death — the separation of humanity from God’s Spirit. And “being born again” is the restoration of that life through the Son, the second Adam, who came so we might regain eternal life.
Just as God is triune — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — His children are triune as well, consisting of soul, spirit, and body. A person’s spirit remains dead until they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and believe in their heart the Gospel: that He died, was buried, and rose again on the the third day. Until a person believes the Gospel, their spirit remains dead in sin.
This is what Paul reveals in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” And in Romans 5:17 contrasting spiritual death with eternal life, “For if by one mans offense, death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
So what exactly does it mean to be born again? “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Being born again is the birth of your spirit. You are no longer a slave to sin — your spirit becomes stronger than your flesh as you become a servant to God, led by His Holy Spirit (Romans 6:20-23). Though this is a spiritual birth, it does show in your physical essence. Foul language gives way to clean conversation. Fornication feels empty. Addictions lose their stronghold and are exchanged for sobriety. Carnal anger fades and is turned into righteous indignation toward the same ungodly things you once found pleasure in.
Being born again does not force you to change your ways — it creates a desire to do so. This is what Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” It also does not mean you won’t ever sin again, but when you do stumble, the Holy Spirit will convict you, and you correct your course quicker.
Without the Holy Spirit, mankind’s understanding remains limited to the natural realm — spiritual things cannot be understood (1 Corinthians 2:14). This is why, without being born again, the Bible is difficult for many to understand. Jesus explained this to His disciples in John 14:26, “But the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have told you.”
Once a believer is able to discern spiritual things “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16). The Holy Spirit becomes not only our companion, but both Teacher and Witness — dwelling within us, revealing truth and confirming our identity.
This is the core of what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Not church attendance, not giving long prayers, or even being able to quote a few scriptures — none of these will give you entrance into the Kingdom of God. Only by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, believing in your heart the Gospel truth that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose on third day, can you be born again and receive eternal life.
From Old to New Testament, Scripture is clear about what is acceptable to God and what is not. He does not expect perfection — in fact, He knows that before we discover our spiritual selves, we will be dead in sin. Perhaps this is why Scripture teaches us that the natural comes before the spiritual, as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:46, “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual: but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual.”
When Jesus chose His disciples, He did not choose from religious leaders. He chose men in their natural state — sinners, fisherman and tax collectors — even choosing Mary Magdelene after casting our demonic spirits from her. Jesus gave the pathway to life when he said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
Father God in Heaven, I thank you — not for the things You have given me in my natural life, but for making me a new creation in Christ Jesus and giving me eternal life. Your love for me would not leave my spirit dead or allow me to remain a slave to sin. You sacrificed your Son and raised Him to life again so that I too may have eternal life with You. I am forever grateful, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen