What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

The Bible talks about two births that a person can experience. Everyone has already experienced the first birth, which is their natural birth, or physical birth. Jesus explains however, that one birth is not enough to get a person into heaven, but that everyone must be born all over again - but this time, spiritually.

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.” (John 3:1-7)

Jesus calls our first birth a water birth (John 3:5). It is not referring to baptism or anything religious at all. We all start our life in water, when we were born out of a water sack in the womb. So, your first birth comes from your physical parents when their “flesh” produced your flesh (John 3:6). But what you got from your parents is only a temporary life. No matter how good or religious your are, because of sin in your life, your flesh will die! The question is, where will your eternal soul spend eternity? Jesus provides the answer to that question by offering us a SECOND birth!

The second birth is a SPIRITUAL birth (look again at John 3:5,6). This birth does not come from your parents, or from a church, or from your baptism – it can only come from God Himself. Jesus in John 4:24 says that “God is a spirit.” And according to John 3:6, God’s Spirit is the only thing that can produce SPIRIT in the life of a sinner if they would just fully believe on God’s Son, Jesus Christ (see John 7:37-39)!

Why do we need a new spiritual life? Because the spiritual part of us inside us is dead. It died when Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, and has to be regenerated like a dead battery is re-charged. If a person dies without having all their sin-debt paid-off, there is only one destiny for them (John 3:36) – hell! But Jesus died to change that destiny – if you will let Him! It is offered as a completely free gift – “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23. And since it is a gift, all you have to do is accept it – in child-like faith! Our first birth gave us only temporary life - it ends in death because of sin (Rom 5:12), no matter how religious or “good” we may try to be.  The second birth is only experienced by someone who desperately turns to Christ for salvation from their sin. It never ends, because it is eternal - it came from God!

Your forgiveness is NOT a "process" - it is instantly given (Luke 18:9-14)! But only to those who know they need God’s forgiveness, and cry out to God for salvation from an eternal devil’s hell. That is when eternal life is instantly given as a free gift– all because of Jesus (Romans 6:23)! It was Jesus who said you not only CAN be born again, but that you “MUST be born again” (John 3:7)

Have you ever asked the Lord Jesus to save you from your sin and make you a child of God? Yes or No?
When was that? ___________________. You ought to have a time and a date!
If you have not, will you ask Him, even now?
(Revelation 3:20) Yes, or No?
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him"
He stands at the door of your heart, knocking, and waiting. The handle is on YOUR side of the door. Open it, and let Him in! THAT’S when you become BORN AGAIN!