What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? John 3:1-8

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”

Though the Pharisees were generally against Jesus for fear of losing their status and pride, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, presumably because he didn't want to be seen with Jesus.  He was also a member of the Sanhedrin,  the ruling council, which was made up of 70 men.  Nicodemus "knew" that Jesus had come from God because of the signs he was doing.  Nicodemus knew there was no way Jesus could be performing these signs with the authority and power of God.  

Jesus answers with a phrase he uses often in John, "Very truly".  Jesus uses this term for strong emphasis. It is at this point that Jesus uses the term "bora again".  He says it is impossible to see the kingdom of God without being born again.  Jesus is connecting the signs which he is doing, and the power to do them, with the kingdom of God.  

Nicodemus takes him literally thinking he is referring to natural birth.  He doesn't understand how someone can be biologically born twice.  Jesus then reiterates that unless someone is born of "WATER" and "the SPIRIT", they cannot be born again. 

There is much debate about what Jesus means by the statement, "born of water:.  David Guzik shows us several plausible alternatives including, 

i. Some have thought born of water means to be baptized. Water here may represent baptism, but there is no real Old Testament foundation for this.

ii. Some have thought that born of water refers to our physical birth, since we come forth from a sack of water. This approach is more attractive, but doesn’t it simply state the obvious? However, it does make a good parallel with the idea of that which is born of the flesh in John 3:6.

iii. Some have thought that born of water means to be born again by the Word of God. In other passages of Scripture, water represents the Word, as we are washed by the water of the word (Ephesians 5:26).

iv. Some have thought that born of water means to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, the living water of John 7:38-39.

v. Some have thought that born of water means to receive the water of cleansing prophesied in Ezekiel 36:25-28 as part of the New Covenant. This is the approach has the most weight (though it is a tough call), because of its firm connections to Old Testament prophecy – which Jesus says Nicodemus should have know to understand these things.

My money would go on ii.  Why? Because it is a direct reply to Nicodemus' comment about being born physically.  Jesus is saying you need to be born once physically, and then be born again spiritually.

This idea of being born again or cleansed is prophesied in Exekiel 36:25-27

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." 

The bottom line is that if someone wants to enter the kingdom of God, they must be born again.  Later in this chapter, we will learn being born again comes from believing in the Son, which brings eternal life to those who believe.  

This idea of being born again, also called "regenerated" in the bible is picked up in Paul's teaching to 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, 

"So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!"

The passage finishes with one of the characteristics of someone who is born again.  They are like the wind.  Though we see the effects of the wind, we don't see where it is coming or going.  Though we can't see if someone is born again, we can see it their lives being changed by it.  A person who is born again starts living in a new way which has no explanation other than the power of the Holy Spirit working in them.  This is what it means to be a new creation.  This is what it means to be born again.  This is what it means to be a Christ follower.  This is what it means to be a Chrsitian.  

Do you feel like you are born again?  Why or why not?  Have you met others who claim to be born again?  Do you see the changes in their life consistent with being led by the Holy Spirit and not the sinful nature?