How can a person be born again?

When Jesus talked with Nicodemus about the new birth. Jesus gave the reason why a person must be born again and how to be born again. Although Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a scholar and teacher in the scriptures and a ruler, a master of Israel, Nicodemus was still the old man, which means Nicodemus was carnal. He had a deep understanding of the scriptures, but Nicodemus didn’t understand what Jesus meant by becoming born again and how a person be born again?

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 (John 3:3-6)

What does regeneration mean?

Regeneration means: (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), that is, (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specifically Messianic restoration: – regeneration (G 3824 paliggenesia)

You will not enter the Kingdom of God by your own works, but you can only enter by the work of Jesus Christ and through the process of regeneration.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour (Titus 3:5-6)

Regeneration or being born again does not mean a reformation of lifestyle, nor does it stop with sorrow for sin, nor by becoming religious or by attending church, church membership, humanitarian works etc.

Someone can be a good person according to the world; a humanist and a faithful member of the church, doing good (charity) works, knowing all the scriptures in the Bible and still be unregenerate.

Nicodemus is the perfect example of this.

Nicodemus was a religious man. He was serious about the things of God, but Nicodemus was not born again. No one can enter the Kingdom of God by good works, personal skills, effort or goodness.

How can a person be born again and enter the Kingdom of God?

There is only one way to enter the Kingdom of God and that is through the process of regeneration or in others words: by becoming born again. This process is the spiritual counterpart of the natural birth. There is no other way for sinners to enter the Kingdom of God and be reconciled with God, then through regeneration.

When Nicodemus asked Jesus how a person can be born again, Jesus gave an illustration of the wind.

No man can really understand where the winds come from and the ways of the wind. But while we may not understand the wind, we feel the force of the wind.

It is the same with the new birth. No one is able to understand with the carnal mind how a person be born again, but we all experience the power of regeneration, when you become born again.

When Jesus spoke about the new birth and gave the illustration of the wind, Jesus expected Nicodemus to connect His words with the words of the prophet Ezekiel:

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army (Ezekiel 37:9,10)

The five components for the new birth?

There are five essential components for the new birth:

Faith

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1)

Faith is the beginning and the end of regeneration. Regeneration is a work of the spirit and not of the flesh. Faith is believing, that you are justified and made righteous by the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and His blood. Faith means that you believe in Him and trust and rely on Him and His words and obey His words. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Cleansing

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit 3:5)

It is the mercy of God, which cleanses you from all your iniquity and sins.

Resurrection

For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:10-11).

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Colossians 2:13)

New Creation

“Therefore if anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, for the old life has passed away, and a new life has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Quickening

“That ye 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 that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness “(Ephesians 4:22-24)

‘Be the salt of the earth’