Have you ever wondered what it means to be “Born Again”? What a great question! In this article, we will look at what being born of water and of Spirit means to being in the Kingdom of God.
“Jesus answered him (Nicodemus), “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
If you’re interested in learning about the rapture, read “Rapture Bible Verses”.
THE Teacher of Israel
(John 3:1-2).
Jesus’ teaching about needing a second birth comes from his discussion with Nicodemus, a Jewish Pharisee. Pharisees were the dominant religious party during Jesus’ time. They were legalistic and known for their strict adherence to their interpretation of how to keep Moses’ Law.
A Secret Disciple
Nicodemus was a prominent teacher in Israel who came ‘by night.’ He came secretly because Jesus wasn’t accepted by most of the religious leaders. So, Nicodemus didn’t want them to see him talking with Jesus. He may have even feared getting put out of the synagogue. Most of the Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus as the promised Messiah because Jesus didn’t come by force. They expected the predicted Messiah to deliver them from their political enemies, specifically the Roman Empire.
Jesus’ Offer
Jesus came offering the Jews the promised Kingdom. During His first advent, they were free to accept or reject Jesus’ offer. However, He will forcefully bring it and rule in His earthly Davidic Kingdom when He returns.
Jesus’ Origin
Nicodemus knew Jesus came from God. He “said to Him (Jesus), “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2).
Jesus’ Metaphor
Jesus often used earthy metaphors to explain heavenly truths:
“If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:11).
Born of Water
Jesus used an earthly example here to explain a spiritual truth. “And the people listening didn’t always understand. Often, they took Jesus too literally, as Nicodemus did here:
“Nicodemus said to Him, “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).
Born of Spirit
But despite Nicodemus’s misunderstanding, Jesus continued His metaphor:
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
Jesus compared our being born of water, i.e., our physical birth, with being born of the (Holy) Spirit. He adds that without the latter birth, someone can’t enter “the kingdom of God.”
Jesus isn’t speaking literally but teaching a heavenly truth using a known earthly process. He continues explaining:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).
Don’t Marvel; It’s Simple!
Jesus advised Nicodemus not to marvel that “You must be born again” (John 3:7).
It’s simple: Just as physical birth is necessary for our earthly life; a spiritual birth is required for a spiritual life. Jesus marveled that Nicodemus was THE “teacher of Israel, but you do not know these things? “ (John 3:10).
Jesus’ Knowledge
Jesus explained how He knew this truth:
“Truly, truly I say to you, We speak of what We know and bear witness of what We have seen” (John 3:11).
From eternity past and into eternity future, Jesus was always the Son of God. Heaven was His home. He brought teachings no mortal man could bring because He experienced life as God in heaven and with God the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven:
“No one has ascended to heaven except He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13).
The How
Jesus concluded His teaching by explaining how to be born again:
“Just 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 may have eternal life (John 3:14-15).
The Example
Jesus used an example from almost 1500 years past to illustrate His teaching. The Jews who wandered in the wilderness had sinned, and God sent deadly serpents among them (Numbers 21:6-9). God told Moses to make a bronze serpent, and when the people looked at it, they would be saved (healed).
The Look
That ‘look’ was the look of faith (believing that God would save them when they looked). That’s the same way God saves us today. When we ‘look’ to the cross, i.e., believe that Jesus died in our place on the cross, God gives us the new birth, which is eternal life.
Jesus’ teaching continues in the next well-known verse:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
The Offer
God offers the waters of salvation at no cost. Look to the cross!
