Burley W. Moore-Bible Teacher

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Volume 16, Number 4 October Fall 2021

What Does It Mean to be Born Again?

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 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. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (Jh. 3:1-8)

Introduction

What does it mean to be “born again?” That’s a mighty good question everyone needs to ask and can find an answer only in the Word of God. It means that we’re all physically born degenerate depraved sinners spiritually “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1) in need of regeneration, the new birth, which only God can produce. This edition of “The Traveling Pulpit” is an exert from my most recent book simply entitled, “Church Membership.” Sad to sad, many if not most church members today have the foggiest notion of what it means to be “born again.” Joining a local church today for the most part is similar to joining a social club, community center, or religious lodge. However, the truth of the matter is that the only way to find entrance into “the church of the living God” (I Tim. 3:15), is found in the third chapter of John’s Gospel. Herein, we see what Jesus had to say about entering “the Kingdom of God.” For a person to enter this world, they must be born into it physically. Likewise, for a person to enter the “the kingdom of God,” one must be spiritually born into it. At this point, we need to equate the likeness of “the kingdom of God” to the “church of the living God.” There’s only one way to be part of His “church” and that is to be spiritually “born” into it which is what Jesus taught “Nicodemus.”

This text is one of the most important in all of John’s Gospel because it concerns the subject of the new birth. There is nothing of greater value to the human soul than the new birth. Religion has much confused this subject causing many church members and religious leaders to have no idea what it means to be “born again.” I want to begin by telling you what the new birth is NOT. It’s NOT simply a change of heart, a religious decision, a spiritual experience, Bible reading, Bible study, saying prayers, walking down a church aisle, or joining a local church. Neither is it being baptized, getting confirmed, religious reformation, philosophical renewal, nor the power of positive thinking. With all that being said, let’s hear what the Word of God teaches regarding the new birth.

The New Birth was Taught by Jesus Himself v.1-2

“Nicodemus” was a good, moral, and religious man who was also a chief teacher of the Jews in the day of Christ. He was a “Pharisee,” being part of the most religious group in Jerusalem. Being “a ruler of the Jews,” he most likely was a member of the Sanhedrin, a ruling body of the Jews. However, he didn’t understand the “truth” (Jh. 8:32) of the new birth. Multitudes of church members and seminary graduates with degrees in theology are in the same boat with “Nicodemus.”

His coming to Jesus “by night” was no doubt because he didn’t want to be seen in public with Christ. However, this is actually a good picture of the carnal man, lost in his trespasses and sins who is in the dark spiritually when he is outside the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Everyone who is “born again” comes to Christ the same way, in the darkness of his sin. Being merely religious, good, or moral will never fit a person for heaven. “Nicodemus” needed more than “a teacher,” he needed a Savior from sin and only Jesus fits that description.

He recognized the “miracles” that Jesus performed, but are “miracles” the only sure proof that a person is of God? Let’s not forget that the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate the “miracles” (Ex. 7-8) of Moses up to a point, but God always proved Himself Superior. Satan is a supernatural being thus enabling people to do supernatural things up to a point (II Cor. 11:13-14, I Jh. 4:1). People should not be tested by the mere ability to work miracles, but by the Word of God (Isa. 8:20). The works that Jesus did and the words that Jesus spoke proved Him to be the Son of God. Jesus did perform “miracles,” but His life was also in complete agreement with the Old Testament Scriptures. His enemies even admitted that “never man spake like this man” (Jh. 7:46). He Who spoke nothing but heavenly wisdom proclaimed “ye must be born again.”

God gave “miracles” to authenticate His Word. People have basically always been the same since the day sin entered the human race through Adam and Eve. Shortly after Jesus performed His first miracle at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, it’s said that many believed in His “miracles,” but didn’t apparently believe Him to be the Son of God (Jh. 2:23-25). Jesus knew that their acknowledgment of His Messiahship was not genuine. Therefore, we see that it’s possible to believe Jesus to be a miracle worker without trusting Him as Lord and Savior. Herein, we discover even in the church, that there are people who don’t have a correct understanding of Who Jesus really is. He is the only Savior of sinners and we all must see ourselves as sinners in need of being saved from sin’s penalty (Rom. 3:23, 6:23, Rom. 10:9-11). The greatest miracle ever is the glorious resurrection of Christ from the grave which guarantees the believer our future glorification.

The New Birth is a Necessity to Enter the Kingdom of God v.3

The most important thing that a sinner needs is a Savior and for that reason, Jesus got immediately to the point regarding being “born again.” It’s a mere fact that no person can live outside their mother’s womb until they have been born. Likewise, no one can live for God until they have been “born again.” Notice that word “again.” In the Greek it means “from above.” The physical birth alone makes us unfit for the “kingdom of God.” Ever since Adam, man has been outside of the realm of Paradise and has needed to be “born again.”

You may be asking, like “Nicodemus,” just what is this new birth that Jesus is talking about? The first birth gives us the nature of our earthly parents, but the second birth gives us the nature of Christ. It’s a birth that doesn’t make a Christian any better than anyone else, but it makes him/her a person with two natures (Gal. 5:17).

By physical birth we have a nature that is born spiritually blind, separated from God, and totally depraved. Therefore, such a person cannot “see” (understand) the spiritual things of God. Once again, in the Greek, this means “to know” the things of God. The reason so many cannot “see” anything wrong with sin is because they have never been “born again.” Satan has so blinded the mind of the natural man that it’s impossible for him to intellectually approach God. “Nicodemus” thought that being born a Jew would satisfy God, but such was not the case. Likewise, simply being a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or a mere church member will not get us to heaven. A sinner is a spiritual corpse who needs to be brought to life in Christ and unless he receives spiritual life from God, he will not go to heaven upon death.

Jesus spoke of “the kingdom of God,” but just what does this mean? It’s simply God’s rule over His people as it refers to everlasting life and the things of God. It’s NOT an earthly kingdom as Christ attested to (Jh. 18:36). The “kingdom of God” (Rom. 14:17, I Cor. 15:40) is basically the same thing as the “kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 3:2, 7:21) which is a study unto itself. To simplify this, all I will say is that God’s “kingdom” is populated with a new creation after Christ’s own likeness (II Cor. 5:17). When a person is “born again,” he/she immediately enters God’s spiritual “kingdom” and someday it’s eternal splendor in glory. This “kingdom” does not consist of carnal pleasures known to the body of flesh. It consists of things which are from above (Rom. 14:17). The only way to enter into the possessions of those things which are from above is to be “born again.”

The New Birth is a Mystery to the Natural Man v.4

As a natural man, “Nicodemus” was unable to receive this great spiritual Truth (I Cor. 2:14). The only way to understand spiritual Truth is by the “Holy Spirit” (Jh. 16:13). “Nicodemus” was an earnest seeker after “truth” (Jh 14:6) having been given this hunger by the “Holy Spirit;” although he first confused the physical and spiritual birth. He only thought in terms of the physical while Christ was speaking in terms of the spiritual. His question was basically, “can a man go through the whole process of nature again?” It wouldn’t make any difference if he could because man wouldn’t be any better off the next time around. All men are born sinners, alienated from God.

All men are physically born wrong, spiritually speaking. The first birth makes us children of Adam, wrath, and disobedience. No amount of education nor religion is going to change the old nature with which we are all born. Unless we receive God’s new nature, we’ll not spend eternity with Him. For illustration, just look at a fish out of water and you’ll see what it looks like to be out of harmony with one’s environment. Such would be the case with an unregenerate soul in heaven. There is no way that one can reason out the mysteries of the new birth. However, that does not make it any less real or needful. God doesn’t require us to explain the new birth, but acknowledge our need of it by personal faith and repentance.

The New Birth is a Work of the Holy Spirit (v.5-8)

It’s impossible to produce a spiritual birth by a physical means. “Born of water” is not a reference to water baptism, but is a figurative expression referring to the Word of God as the instrument used in regeneration (Eph. 5:26). A person is “born again” when the “Spirit of God” uses the “Word of God” to produce faith and impart the new nature (Rom. 10:17). The “Spirit” often uses a believer to give (share) the “Word,” but only the “Spirit” can impart spiritual life and do the birthing. “The Word of God” is the “seed” (Lk. 8:11) while the “Holy Spirit” is the Begetter (I Jh. 3:9) Who alone can produce the positive results. Only God’s grace can subdue the old nature within us and only God’s Word can feed the new nature and equip us for “kingdom” living. For illustration, let me say that musicians and artists are born, not manufactured. A person must have a musical nature it he is to enter the kingdom of music and a person must have an artistic nature if he is to enter the kingdom of art. Likewise, a person must have the spiritual nature of Christ if he/she is to enter “the kingdom of God.”

The second birth is like the second Adam (I Cor. 15:45-49) in the fact it is from above and is conceived in the heart by the “Holy Spirit.” We need to note at this point that Christ is often referred to by man as the second Adam, but Scripture refers to Him as the “last Adam.” The first Adam got us in a whole peck of trouble in the Garden of Eden when he doomed and damned the human race under the curse of sin, but the “last Adam” came to get us out from under that curse. There are only two Adam’s in those regards and for that reason, man often refers to them accordingly. But to be biblically correct, we need to see them as the “first Adam” and the “last Adam” (I Cor. 15:45).

In the work of regeneration, the “flesh” is of no profit because it is of the old nature and therefore condemned (Jh 6:63). Regardless of what you do with the “flesh,” it remains “flesh.” You can dress it up, baptize it, and even make it religious but it will remain the same ole corruptible sinful “flesh.” That’s why Jesus said, “ye must be born again.”

The word “wind” in our text is the same Greek word for “Spirit.” The Spirit of God is Sovereign as He moves and works as He wills. Just as the “wind” is beyond man’s control, so is the Holy Spirit. I cannot control the “Holy Spirit” (I Thess. 4:8) and neither can you. It is the “Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13, 4:30) Who is to control us through His mighty power within the believer. “Wind” cannot be seen nor explained, but only heard and observed. It blows when and where it pleases. It can come gently as a breeze or loudly as a storm. It cannot be contained, but it’s effect and power can be recognized.

No man has power over the “wind” nor can he control where it will blow. Likewise, the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration is above comprehension and is His sole prerogative. It’s impossible to actually see the “wind;” all we can see are the effects of it. The results of the new birth will be observable and unmistakable for all to see in bearing the “fruit of the spirit” (Gal. 5:22-26). Regeneration is not a natural self-determined intellectual process, but a divine work of God's Sovereign grace (Jh. 1:12-13). Because man is in “the flesh,” he is at “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7) and is incapable of pleasing God. No amount of human effort can ever appease God’s requirements for righteousness. Only the imparting of spiritual life from the Holy Spirit can give one the capacity to know and love God.

Just because we cannot explain everything about the new birth doesn’t make it unreal. There is much about the “Spirit of God” (Rom. 8:9,14) that we don’t understand, but one thing is for certain and that is to hear His voice and obey His will is to pass from death into life. Upon hearing and receiving the Word of God by faith, the Holy Spirit takes up His eternal abode within our souls. By the will of the “Spirit” we are born into the family of God (Jam. 1:18). This indwelling “Spirit” creates an eternal union between the believer and the “Son of God” (Jh. 20:31).

Closing

The subject with which I began this article is the same with which I close. That being, have you ever been “born again?” If not, it doesn’t matter how many churches you’ve been a member of, how many times you’ve attended a local church, or done something religious. Unless you’ve been “born again,” then you’re not ready to die and spend eternity with Christ forevermore. As you read this study, maybe you are aware of a tug upon your heart-strings saying “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). It’s not a matter of being good enough, but exercising the faith and repentance the Holy Spirit plants within your soul to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31) from sin’s penalty. We can never be good enough, but Jesus was, and He died for sinners like you and me on Calvary’s cross. Do you believe that He took the penalty of your sin upon Himself, suffered and died in your place for you?