Born Again: What It Means and Why It Matters

Requirement: Be born again

What does it mean to be “born again”, and why is it necessary in order to receive salvation and be part of God’s kingdom?

John 3 records Jesus Christ’s conversation with a first-century religious leader named Nicodemus. While they were talking about God and God’s kingdom, Jesus stated to Nicodemus that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus, confused, replies: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” (John 3:4).

Jesus went on to explain that He was not referring to a physical birth, but a spiritual one. A spiritual rebirth was necessary, because everyone is born into sin and under sin’s power. Sin cannot exist in the presence of God, who is holy: “ Follow…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

The Bible says that we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), so we could never hope to be in God’s presence unless something drastically changes in us.

But just like a baby can’t form itself in the womb and make itself be born, no person can bring about their own spiritual rebirth. In fact, we are born as slaves to sin (Romans 6:20). We really can do nothing to help ourselves!

The only thing we can do is to come to the realization that we need a transformation and to trust God, who alone can do that work in us. He can make us born again!

God’s Work: Regeneration and Renewal

By God’s grace, He sent Jesus Christ to give us a way back to life. He did this while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He never asked us to clean ourselves up first – because He knew that we couldn’t. His love and desire for you to be saved from the power of sin was the motivating force for sending Jesus. He never wanted us to remain separated from Him:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

Sin must be put to death so that it loses its power. So, the Bible explains that when Jesus came to earth, He was fully God and fully human. In His humanity, He identified with us humans and put Himself under the power of sin. However, because He was also fully God, He lived a perfect life and therefore had the power to overcome sin! In fact, the Bible says that He became sin for us: “ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Do you hear that? His death gives us the ability to be set free from sin and be made right with God, and therefore be saved and have the hope of eternal life in Heaven with God.

This hope was secured when Jesus rose from the grave three days later. He not only took the punishment for sin and overcame its power – He also overcame the power of death.

When you put your faith and trust in Christ, you identify with Him in both His death and resurrection. In Christ, you are set free from the power of sin and are given the hope of eternal life. This means that you, too, have died to sin and now live through Christ:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

A New Start: You and your future are made new

For anyone who is tired of striving and struggling in this life, the idea of starting over and being made new is probably pretty appealing! The Bible describes this new life in Jesus Christ as becoming “a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is the same idea as being “born again”.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3).

This new life will look like a transformed one, because you are now set free from sin’s power, and Christ now lives in you! You have access to the heavenly power that transforms you by renewing your mind and helping you to understand what God’s will is and to live for His purposes (see Romans 12:2).

Now, you can “…put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And…put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

When you trust in Jesus Christ to be saved from sin and to receive eternal life, you become part of a new family and obtain a new identity:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).

As a child of God, you are welcomed with joy and celebration into God’s Kingdom!