The idea of being born again can be mystifying, especially for non-Christians and new Christians.
But God makes clear what this miraculous transformation is all about through scripture.
John 3:5-6
Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Very simply, it is when a person becomes a new creation by accepting Jesus Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
But we can take comfort in the fact that some brilliant people were also bewildered by the idea of being born again. In the Gospel of John, we read of Jesus telling a Jewish religious leader, named Nicodemus, that one must be born again to see God’s Kingdom (John 3:1-3).
Nicodemus, who was a Torah scholar, was absolutely puzzled by Jesus’ claim that one had to be born again.
John 3:4
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?”
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?”
Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus found in John 3:5-6 (found above) provides the divine insight that we need.
Jesus said that what is born of flesh is flesh. In other words, humans are all born with an inclination to sin. Jesus is telling us that before we accept Him, we are spiritually dead in our physical body. And there is nothing humanly possible we can do to stop this inclination to sin.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.
Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.
But with God and through Christ, there is a way to conquer this sinful inclination. When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we gain the right to become children of God (John 1:12) which allows us to become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus (Romans 8:16-17).
As children of God, we become something new. We gain a new inclination to desire God and draw closer to Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Jesus said that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. So, this miracle of being born again would not be possible without the work of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, accepting Christ and having the Holy Spirit reside in us truly makes us a new creature.
John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Countless people have described birth as a miracle – and it is. But upon reflection one can say being born again is an even greater miracle, because it would not be possible without Him and His great mercy.
