In John 3:7, Jesus said- “Ye must be born again”. What was Jesus saying? What does it mean to be ‘born again’? When Christians use terms like ‘born again’ or the ‘new birth’, what are they referring to? Many people hear these terms and are left scratching their head trying to figure out what theses terms mean. In this article, I hope to shed some light on what the Bible teaches about this foundational doctrine of the new birth.
If the term ‘born again’ leaves you confused, you are not the first to be confused by such terminology. In the Gospel of John, a religious man by the name of Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Jesus told Nicodemus something that startled and confused him. Jesus said- “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3) Nicodemus was confused by what Jesus said and responded: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (Jn. 3:4)
Nicodemus was thinking of birth in the physical realm, but Jesus was speaking of birth in the spiritual realm. Jesus explained to Nicodemus what it meant to be born again. Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:5-6) To be born of water is to be born of the flesh- this speaks of physical birth. To be born of the Spirit is speaking of spiritual birth. Men are born once physically but must be born again spiritually if they are to enter God’s kingdom! Jesus reiterated this to Nicodemus- “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (Jn. 3:7)
Without the new birth, there is no hope of eternal life! There is no chance of going to heaven. There is no place in God’s kingdom except for those who have been born again! This matter of new birth is a matter of life and death. It is a matter that has eternal consequences.
It has been correctly stated that: “If you’re born once, you’ll die twice (physical death followed by the second death in Hell)- but if you’re born twice, you can only die once (physical death followed by eternal life in Heaven)”
Since the new birth is such an important issue, then it is vitally important that we rightly understand what the Bible teaches about the new birth.
The Need for a New Birth
The Bible clearly teaches that mankind is born into this world in a sinful condition and separated from God. The Bible teaches that “There is none righteous, no, not one:” and that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10, 23). We are born into this world spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). It is our sin that separates us from God. All are sinners since all have broken the law of God. The Bible teaches that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). This refers to physical death (Heb. 9:27), spiritual death (Eph. 2:1), and eternal death (the second death in the Lake of Fire) (Rev. 20:14-15). Unless we are born again, we are heading for eternal death in the Lake of Fire!
This reality explains why we need to be born again! Without the new birth, we will remain separated from God both in life and for eternity.
What the New Birth is Not
Before we consider what the new birth is, let’s consider some wrong ideas about the new birth.
The New Birth is NOT Reformation
It is not turning over a new leaf and determining to live a better life. It is not outwardly reforming your life. While the new birth will lead to a new life, simply cleaning up your life and acting better is not the new birth.
“Reformation may be likened to a new suit for the man, but the new birth is a new man for the suit….Reformation deals with exterior things, but regeneration with interior realities. Reformation alters a person’s manner; but regeneration alters the man himself.” (Alfred Gibbs)
The New Birth is NOT a Ritual
It is not found in observing religious ceremonies and ordinances. It is not found through good deeds, church membership, partaking of the Lord’s Supper or being baptized in water. These things are good and ought to be part of the Christian life, yet none of these things result in the new birth. A person can do all these things and still not be born again!
The New Birth is NOT Religiosity
A man may be religious (like Nicodemus) and yet never be born again and die and go to Hell.
There are many religious people who will stand before God and say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Yet, God will declare unto them- “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:23).
A person can be moral, religious, and even God-fearing, and yet without the new birth, they cannot enter the kingdom of God!
What the New Birth Is
The new birth is a spiritual birth- it is a work of God within us- giving us new life from above. The Bible speaks of the new birth as being “born of God” (1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18) and “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-6, 8).
John 1:12-13 speaks of how a person is born again- “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
It is by receiving Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior that a person is born again! The new birth is “not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5) but is a gift of God’s mercy and grace to anyone will receive it by faith. The Bible- “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8).
A person is born again, not through baptism, good works, going to church, or religious rituals, but by the grace of God that is received by repentant faith in Christ alone! To repent is to receive Christ as Lord and to trust in Christ (faith) is to receive Him as Savior. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again defeating death and grave so that all who come to Him in repentance and faith can receive spiritual and eternal life from God!
Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ alone to save you?
The New Birth is Instantaneous
The new birth is not a long, drawn-out process. Instead, it is a one-time event just like physical birth is a one-time event. The moment a person repents and trusts in Christ, they are born again from above, are made spiritually alive in Christ, and are given the gift of everlasting life!
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (Jn. 5:24)
The New Birth is Irreversible
Just as natural birth is irreversible, so too spiritual birth is irreversible. Once a person receives the gift of eternal life, they are secure in Christ!
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jn. 10:28)
“The doctrine of eternal security, accordingly, rests upon the question of whether salvation is a work of God or of man, whether it is entirely of grace or based on human merit. Although the new believer in Christ may fall short or what he ought to be as a child of God, just as in the case of human parentage, it does not alter the fact that he has receive life which is eternal.” (L.S. Chafer)
The Importance of the New Birth
Understanding the new birth is of vital importance! A person may be wrong on many issues, yet if they have been born again, they will spend eternity in Heaven. Yet, a person be right on many issues, but if they are not born again, they will spend eternity in Hell. This is a matter of utmost importance. It is matter of life and death! As Jesus said to Nicodemus- “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3)
“It is said of George Whitfield, the great reformer, that half of all his sermons were preached on this subject of the necessity of the new birth. One of his listeners finally asked him, “Mr. Whitefield, why do you preach continuously over and over on the text, ‘Ye must be born again?’,” and Mr. Whitfield replied, “I preach so often on the text, ‘Ye must be born again’, because ‘Ye must be born again’.” That is the best reason in all the world for preaching on it many, many times.” (M.R. Dehaan)
The Results of the New Birth
The new birth is the beginning of the Christian life! At the moment of repentant faith in Christ, a sinner is born again and made a new creature in Christ! Consider some of the benefits a person receives when they are born again:
A New Nature
2 Pet. 1:4- “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
A New Life
2 Cor. 5:17- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
A New Family
Jn.1:12- “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
A New Love
1 Jn. 3:14- “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
1 Jn. 5:1- “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
A New Victory
1 Jn. 3:9- “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
1 Jn. 5:4- “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
1 Jn. 5:18- “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”
Have you been born again? If not, will you repent and trust in Christ alone to save you today? Jesus said- “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn. 14:6) and “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (Jn. 6:37). “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
~Pastor Aaron Francis
