In the Bible in John 3: 1-10, Jesus spoke with Nicodemus about being born again. Jesus said to Nicodemus that you must be born again. But what did Jesus mean when He said you must be born again? What does it mean to be born again of water and Spirit? How to be born again?
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God and cannot enter into the Kingdom of God”
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 blows where it lists, and thou hears the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knows not these things? (John 3:1-10)
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a teacher, and a ruler of Israel
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a teacher and a ruler, and a master of Israel, but Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant by becoming born again. Nicodemus was a rich and powerful member of the supreme judicial body in ancient Jewry, the great Sanhedrin. He was one of the top teachers in the nation. He was gifted, brilliant, and had a deep understanding of scripture, and of the messianic prophecies.
By night, Nicodemus went to Jesus and asked 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”.
But before Nicodemus could go any further with his argument, Jesus interrupted him. Jesus said, that unless a man becomes born again, he cannot see, nor enter the Kingdom of God. But why did Jesus say this?
Nicodemus was a ruler, he was rich, he was religious, he knew the scriptures, he was a teacher, he believed in God, he feared God, he accepted the supernatural, and he respected Jesus. However…… through all these things he couldn’t enter the Kingdom of God.
A carnal man can’t understand the things of the Spirit
Nicodemus didn’t understand, what Jesus meant by being born again. Because of the fact that Nicodemus was carnal, Nicodemus referred to the carnal birth. When Jesus answered Nicodemus, he still couldn’t understand what Jesus meant. Jesus said, that he as a teacher of Israel should have known what He meant. Because how can someone, who preaches and teaches the words of God, doesn’t understand the things of the Kingdom of God?
Nicodemus had a great intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures, the written word. But Nicodemus didn’t know and didn’t understand the Living Word.
Nicodemus didn’t see Jesus as the Son of God, while the scriptures testified about Him. Therefore, Nicodemus should have known, that Jesus was the Son of God. Nicodemus saw that God was with Him, but he only saw Jesus as a Teacher, who was sent by God.
Jesus manifested the Kingdom of God in the natural realm
Before Jesus came to this earth and became fully human, He lived with God; His Father. Jesus lived in the Kingdom of God and came to this earth, to preach the Kingdom of God. He not only preached the Kingdom of God, but He brought the Kingdom of God to this earth.
While Jesus preached and brought the Kingdom of God to God’s people, many signs and wonders followed Him.
The Kingdom of God became visible in the natural realm, through the forgiveness of sin, healing, deliverance, signs, and wonders.
Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, heard and saw the works of Jesus. Nicodemus saw that God was with Jesus, but he thought Jesus was a teacher. When Nicodemus expected Jesus to confirm Him being a teacher, Jesus began to speak about being born again.
Why did Jesus speak about being born again?
Well, because Jesus answered Nicodemus’ question regarding His works. Jesus spoke about the new creation. Jesus told him, that it’s impossible to see the Kingdom of God, nor to enter the Kingdom of God, without being born again; born of water (water baptism) and of the Spirit (baptism with the Holy Spirit).
Jesus was born of water and born of the Holy Spirit. He was the new Creation; the Son of God.
He was the First of many, that would follow and would also become sons of God; born of water and of the Spirit.
Jesus represented and manifested the Kingdom of God, because He came from the Kingdom of God. During His life on earth, He continued His walk in this Kingdom.
Jesus knew the Kingdom of God and that’s why He could preach and bring the Kingdom of God to God’s people on earth.
If a person from a country, let’s say country A, will be sent as an ambassador to country B, without knowing the rules, regulations, and the law of country A, it will be impossible for this person to fulfill his task as an ambassador and represent country A. Because how can an ambassador represent a country, without knowing the law, regulations, and culture of this country? It is impossible.
An ambassador of the Kingdom of God
It is the same with believers, who should represent the Kingdom of God. Because how can you represent the Kingdom of God, if you don’t know that much about the Kingdom?
- How can you preach the Kingdom of God, if you don’t know the law and regulations?
- And how can you preach the Kingdom of God, if you don’t obey and keep the law and regulations of this Kingdom?
- How can you preach the Kingdom of God, if you don’t know the King or don’t obey the King and His will?
- And how can you represent the Kingdom of God, if you keep doing your own will, make your own rules and live by your own rules? It is impossible!
You can’t preach the Kingdom of God out of the flesh
Only when you become born again; born of water and of the Spirit, you will be able to see the Kingdom of God and enter the Kingdom of God.
You enter the Kingdom of God, while you are still living here on earth and not after you die (Read also: Why the new heaven and the new earth will not come for many?).
When you become born again, your new position is in Jesus Christ in Heaven. When you are seated in Him, you shall be able to bring the Kingdom of God to this earth. You shall preach life and distribute life to others and you shall raise the dead (spiritually and naturally).
What does it mean to be born again of water and Spirit?
Being born again or regeneration is translated from the Greek word paliggenesia (G3824) and means: (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), that is, (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specifically Messianic restoration: – regeneration.
Being born again does not mean a mere reformation of lifestyle. Nor does it stop with sorrow for sin, nor by becoming religious, nor by going to church, attending church ceremonies, a church membership, doing good humanitarian works, etc.
Someone can be a very kind, good, loving, and humanistic person and a faithful member of the church and involved in many church activities.
Someone can have a great knowledge of the Bible or even be a theologian, a preacher, or a pastor, and still be unregenerate.
Nicodemus is actually the perfect example of this.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious man. He was serious about God and a teacher of the Scriptures, but Nicodemus was not born again.
No one can enter the Kingdom of God by good works, a pious lifestyle, personal skills, effort, or goodness. There is only one way to see and enter the Kingdom of God, and that is through Jesus Christ and the process of regeneration; the new birth.
The new birth is the spiritual counterpart of the natural birth. There is no other way for sinners to enter the Kingdom of God than through regeneration in Christ (Read also: Why flesh and blood can’t inherit the kingdom of God?).
To be born again in Christ means dying to self
If you don’t enter the Kingdom of God during your life here on earth, you won’t enter the Kingdom of God after you die. Only if you are willing to die to ‘self’, give your life to Jesus, accept Him as your Saviour and Lord and follow Him, only then shall you receive eternal life (Read also: The Author of eternal salvation).
If you really die to ‘self’, then you shall not walk in your old habits anymore. Because how is it possible for a dead person to pick up his old life? It’s impossible. A dead person is buried and this is also the case if you’re buried through baptism.
The carnal person (the old you) is buried in the baptistery. Therefore, the old you don’t exist anymore.
After you lay down your old life (the baptism), your spirit shall be raised from the dead, by the power of the Holy Spirit and you shall receive the Holy Spirit (baptism with the Holy Spirit). From that moment the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you.
Only when the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of your dead body, regeneration will take place.
A new creation has risen from the dead, when you died to the flesh and your spirit was raised from the dead in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Without Jesus Christ, it’s impossible to become the new creation.
When your spirit has become alive and you’ve become a new creation, it’s time to feed your spirit with the Word of God. So that, your spirit shall grow up and mature and shall reign over your flesh; soul, and body, and you shall walk after the Spirit and walk on this earth as the new creation, a son of God (both males and females), whom God has created in Jesus Christ.
You shall walk in the Kingdom of God in obedience to Jesus Christ; the Word, being a representative of the Kingdom of God. You shall preach and manifest the Kingdom of God to the people, by making them whole and reconciling them to God, so that many souls will be saved from eternal damnation.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
