YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: John 3:1-16
Key Verse: “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.” (John 3:3)
Supporting Texts: Ezekiel 36:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:23, Romans 10:9-10
INTRODUCTION
One of the most important conversations recorded in the Bible is the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night seeking understanding about His teachings and miracles. Despite being a respected religious leader, Jesus immediately confronted him with a profound truth: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This statement revealed that religious knowledge, moral living, or social status cannot grant entrance into God’s kingdom. Nicodemus had religion, influence, and knowledge of the law, yet Jesus declared that he still needed to experience spiritual rebirth. The new birth is therefore not an optional spiritual experience but an absolute requirement for salvation.
The message of being born again is central to the gospel. It describes the supernatural transformation that occurs when a person believes in Jesus Christ and receives new spiritual life. Through the new birth, the old sinful nature is replaced with a new life empowered by the Holy Spirit.
1. THE NEW BIRTH IS A DIVINE REQUIREMENT
Jesus clearly stated that being born again is necessary for anyone who desires to enter the kingdom of God.
a) Entrance into the kingdom requires new birth (John 3:3)
Jesus made it clear that without being born again, no one can even see the kingdom of God. Spiritual rebirth is the gateway to eternal life.
b) Religious background cannot replace spiritual rebirth (John 3:1-2)
Nicodemus was a religious leader, yet Jesus told him he still needed to be born again. This shows that religion alone cannot save anyone.
c) Human effort cannot produce spiritual life (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned by works or personal achievements.
d) God alone initiates the new birth (James 1:18)
The new birth occurs through the will of God and the power of His Word.
Biblical Example:
The Ethiopian eunuch believed the message of Christ and was baptised immediately after understanding the gospel, demonstrating the response of faith required for salvation (Acts 8:35-38).
2. THE NEW BIRTH IS A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
Being born again means receiving a new spiritual life that transforms the heart and nature of a person.
a) God gives a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:26)
God promises to remove the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh that desires to follow Him.
b) The believer becomes a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When a person receives Christ, old things pass away and a new life begins.
c) The Holy Spirit produces inner renewal (Titus 3:5)
The new birth occurs through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
d) God’s Word produces spiritual life (1 Peter 1:23)
Believers are born again through the living and abiding Word of God.
Biblical Example:
Saul of Tarsus encountered Christ on the road to Damascus and experienced a dramatic transformation that turned him into the apostle Paul (Acts 9:3-6).
3. THE NEW BIRTH COMES THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST
The new birth occurs when a person believes in Jesus Christ and receives Him as Lord and Saviour.
a) Faith in Christ brings eternal life (John 3:16)
God gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
b) Receiving Christ gives authority to become God’s child (John 1:12)
Those who receive Jesus and believe in His name become children of God.
c) Confessing Christ brings salvation (Romans 10:9-10)
Salvation occurs when a person believes in the heart and confesses Jesus as Lord.
d) Faith connects the believer to God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8)
Through faith, believers receive the grace that brings salvation.
Biblical Example:
The Philippian jailer believed in the Lord Jesus Christ after hearing the gospel from Paul and Silas, and he and his household were saved (Acts 16:30-33).
4. THE NEW BIRTH PRODUCES A TRANSFORMED LIFE
A person who is truly born again will experience visible changes in lifestyle, character, and spiritual priorities.
a) The believer develops a new desire for righteousness (1 John 3:9)
Those born of God do not continue living in habitual sin because God’s nature lives in them.
b) The believer grows in love and obedience (1 John 4:7)
Spiritual rebirth produces love for God and for others.
c) The believer receives the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14)
Those led by the Spirit of God are recognised as children of God.
d) The believer lives for God’s glory (Matthew 5:16)
A transformed life shines as a testimony that points others to God.
Biblical Example:
Zacchaeus demonstrated genuine repentance and transformation after encountering Jesus by restoring what he had taken and committing to a righteous life (Luke 19:8-9).
CONCLUSION
Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus remains one of the most important truths in the Christian faith: “You must be born again.” No amount of religious activity, moral effort, or human achievement can replace the necessity of spiritual rebirth. The new birth is the doorway into the kingdom of God and the foundation of a true relationship with Him.
Every person must therefore respond to this call by placing faith in Jesus Christ and receiving the new life that He offers. When someone is truly born again, their heart is changed, their life is renewed, and they begin to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.
2. Lord, give me a genuine experience of spiritual rebirth and transformation, in Jesus name.
3. Father, remove every hardness of heart and give me a new heart that desires to serve You, in Jesus name.
4. Lord, fill my life with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
5. Father, help me to walk in righteousness and obedience as a true child of God, in Jesus name.
6. Lord, let every area of my life reflect the transformation of the new birth, in Jesus name.
7. Father, strengthen my faith and deepen my relationship with Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.
8. Lord, help me to share the message of salvation with others, in Jesus name.
9. Father, deliver me completely from every habit of sin and empower me to live a holy life, in Jesus name.
10. Lord, let the evidence of the new birth be clearly seen in my character and conduct, in Jesus name.
