What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Let’s understand the newness of a life in the Holy Spirit from John 3:1-17.
Nicodemus
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (John 3:1 NKJV)
Nicodemus was a senator in the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. He appears three times in the Gospel of John (John 3:1–2; 7:50-51; 19:38-39). Jesus explained to this wealthy and popular Jewish leader the mystery of regeneration as was taught by the prophets.
Nicodemus was not offended at Jesus’ teaching but received it in all humility. He later defended Jesus at His trial, and with Joseph of Arimathea, assisted at His burial. History reveals that he was eventually kicked out of the synagogue for believing in Christ, and later retired to a country home where he died.
Come to the Light
This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2 NKJV)
In the dark of night Nicodemus came to the Light. Others also were involved. He said, “we know.” God’s word is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105). It leads us from darkness to “the light of the world” (John 8:12).
Born from Above
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly [Amen, Amen], I say to you, unless one is born again [regenerated from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 NKJV)
To be “born again” also means “born from above,” from heaven. To be born from heaven above is to belong to heaven, as a child of God.
The so-called “sinner’s prayer” is usually disconnected from important rituals established by Jesus and the Apostles. But, Peter connects them when He says, “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). Paul connects them, “He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:3-7).
Paul described the new birth by saying, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Literal or Spiritual
Nicodemus said to Him [Jesus], “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4 NKJV)
Nicodemus heard only “born again” missing the spiritual meaning of being “born from above.”
Born of Water and the Spirit
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly [literally: Amen, Amen], I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NKJV)
This is a very exclusive claim. Christian baptism is both the water and the Spirit, a synthesis of human and divine work. Baptism is a physical thing through which God grants a divine grace. Combining the human and divine elements is why it’s called “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).
Spiritual Life
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6 NKJV)
Each of us who is born flesh will die. Each of us who are born of water and the Spirit live forever. Thus the Christian life is eternal, regenerated from above.
Born of the Spirit
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again [from above].’ The wind [or Spirit] blows [or breathes] where it [He] wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8 NKJV)
The Spirit breathes where He wishes. Paul wrote, “all scripture is God-breathed” (1 Timothy 3:16 NIV). Some are skeptics. By the flesh, we cannot tell where the Holy Spirit comes from or where He is going. Christianity is a life of faith trusting where God’s Spirit breathes.
Heavenly Things
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.” If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:9-12 NKJV)
Who are the “we” that Jesus refers to? As Nicodemus said, “we” know that You are a teacher come from God, so Jesus probably included His disciples.
Who is in Heaven
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (John 3:13 NKJV)
The tense is the present participle active, “the Son of Man who is in heaven.” Jesus “is” in heaven even while He “was” on earth. Jesus’ divine nature was in heaven, and His human nature was on earth.
Lifted Up on a Pole
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NKJV)
God instructed Israel to look at a bronze snake on a pole and they would live (Numbers 21:4-9). The snake has symbolized sin since the garden. Jesus was lifted up on a pole to bear our sins and cleanse us. If we will keep our eyes on Jesus on the cross we will also live.
How God Loved the World
For God so [thus] loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [has faith] in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV)
The words “so loved the world” mean “in this way” or “in this manner” God loved the world. We could also say that God loved the world in this manner. How did God love the world? By lifting up his son on the cross as Moses lifted up a serpent.
Is faith a gift, a choice or both? One text is often misunderstood because of a difference in grammar between English and Greek. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that [being saved by grace] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Saving the World
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17 NKJV)
To a world condemned by sin, God sent His Son to save and not condemn.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13 NIV)
Regeneration is being born of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3 NASB)
Jesus’ resurrection is central to our faith.
Nicodemus learned about being born from above, a total change of character, lifestyle, affections, and goals. If any of us are still trapped in our old hateful and narcissistic ways, let’s come out of the dark and ask the Light of the world about being born again. You decide!
