Learning About Christianity from the Bible: The New Birth

John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is 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."

If you are not familiar with the Christian faith, you may have thought the term 'born again' was something that some Christian movement or denomination made up. As you now see, the term comes from the Bible, spoken by Jesus Himself. But what does it mean and what is its importance?

Jesus makes it clear that it is not a physical principle as Nicodemus thought, but a spiritual one. To be born again is to be 'born of the Spirit'. It is the work of the Spirit and results in spiritual birth. The fact that this operation is termed as a birth means that it is something new; something that was not there before. Elsewhere in Scripture it is called being born of God, rebirth, regeneration, renewal. The truth of the matter is that it is a spiritual transformation of the spirit or the heart by God himself. It is the miracle of conversion where the mind and heart are changed, yielding to new affection for God, new faith in Jesus Christ, new hope and joy. In short, a new life! It is written that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What makes this a true transformation is the Holy Spirit himself indwells the believer:

"By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:13-15)

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (Galatians 4:6)

The significance of this new birth can not be understated! Jesus said it is necessary in order to enter the kingdom of God. Some imagine the 'born again Christian' as some sort of Christian sub-culture. But according to Jesus, all believers are born again and no one who is not will go to heaven! To help understand why this is so, lets take a look some more Scripture:

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Without the Spirit of God, the Bible describes our state as 1) living for our selfish desire, 2) devoid of the godly love for others 3) unwilling to live in obedience to God, 4) failing to believe God's truth but rather that which is not truth. This is called being "in the flesh" or "living by the sinful nature":

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

The reason the new birth is necessary to go to heaven is because without it we live estranged from God. At best we are indifferent to Him and live for ourselves. At worst, we are hostile to God. And in such a state, we have no faith in Christ and therefore remain in a state of guilt, unforgiven of our sins. Jesus describes this state as being a"slave to sin" and made it clear that He was the one who could set us free from this state (John 8:32-34).

The good news is that because of the atonement that Jesus made for our sins, God is reconciling the world to himself, turning enemies in friends and worshippers. As mentioned earlier, because of his kindness, love and mercy, God is pouring out His Spirit on people, changing their hearts and transforming them from unbelievers to believers having the hope of eternal life.

The Bible pleads with unbelievers, "be reconciled to God". Ask the Lord of heaven for the Holy Spirit to give a heart of faith:

Jesus said, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:10-13)