Introduction
The new birth, or being born again, refers to the inner renewal that the Holy Spirit brings about in the one who believes in Jesus Christ. God then gives a new spiritual life, like a second birth, which makes it possible to enter his kingdom and to know him personally.
Being born again is one of the best-known expressions in Christianity, and one of the most misunderstood. You hear it in churches as well as in everyday speech, sometimes with an embarrassed smile. Yet Jesus presented it as essential. Let us see what he meant to say to an educated man who came to see him at night, and what it means for you today.
What does it mean to be born again?
The expression comes from John 3, where the Greek word used can be translated both as "again" and as "from above." Both meanings are intended: it is a new birth, but also a birth that comes from God. So it is not a mere change of behavior or a decision to reform yourself.
The technical term regeneration refers to the same reality: God gives life back to what was spiritually dead. Just as a baby does not choose to be born, the new birth is first of all a work of God. But it then calls for a response of faith, which the biblical text describes as believing in Jesus.
John 3: Jesus and Nicodemus
Nicodemus was a respected religious leader, a teacher of the Law. He comes to Jesus at night, probably out of discretion, and acknowledges that God is with him. Jesus does not discuss miracles: he goes straight to the point and speaks to him about what he lacks. Here are the key passages from this conversation.
Nicodemus takes it literally and asks how an old man could enter his mother's womb. Jesus clarifies that he is speaking of a spiritual birth, brought about by the Spirit, invisible like the wind but very real in its effects.
John 3:3
"Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom."
Jesus states the condition plainly: without this birth, no one can see the Kingdom of God, that is, recognize and taste God's reign. Even a religious and educated man needs it. Read all of John 3.
John 3:5-7
"Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew."
Being born of water and spirit has been read in several ways: baptism for some, physical birth followed by spiritual birth for others, cleansing by the Spirit for still others. All stress that the flesh cannot produce spiritual life: it comes from the Spirit. Read all of John 3.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
The conversation leads to this famous verse. The new birth comes through faith in Jesus, given out of love, and it leads to eternal life. Read all of John 3.
What the new birth produces
Other authors of the New Testament describe the result of this birth.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new."
Paul speaks of a new creation: the old things have passed away. This does not mean everything becomes perfect, but that the person now has a new identity, in Christ. Read all of 2 Corinthians 5.
1 Peter 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
Peter ties the new birth to the resurrection of Jesus and to a living hope. It is grounded in God's mercy and not in our merits, and it turns the believer toward the future. Read all of 1 Peter 1.
Titus 3:5
"not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,"
This text speaks of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. It is God who acts, out of mercy, and not in response to works we have done. Read all of Titus 3.
Common misconceptions about the new birth
First misconception: confusing it with family religion. You are not born a Christian because your parents are. Jesus says this to a very devout man: everyone must experience this birth personally.
Second misconception: thinking you must feel a strong emotion. Some have a defining moment, others gradually discover that they have faith. The wind, Jesus says, cannot be seen; it is its effects that we observe. What matters is trust in Christ and the change that follows from it.
Third misconception: believing you become perfect overnight. A newborn has everything to learn. The new birth is a beginning, followed by growth.
How to live out the new birth every day
If you believe in Jesus, you can tell God that you want to be born again, with no imposed formula. Then thank him for giving you spiritual life, even if you feel nothing in particular.
Nourish this life the way you feed a child: read the Bible, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. He is God's presence in you, and he helps you discern what is right.
Finally, surround yourself with more experienced believers. A local church will help you grow, ask questions, and live out your new identity without exhausting yourself trying to succeed at everything alone.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I be born again?
Jesus ties the new birth to faith in him. You acknowledge that you need God, you believe that Jesus died and rose again for you, and you ask him to renew you by his Spirit. The birth itself is God's work; you simply welcome it.
What does it mean to be born of water and spirit?
The text of John 3 has been understood in several ways: baptism, physical birth followed by spiritual birth, or inner cleansing by the Spirit. Christian traditions differ, but all hold that the new life is produced by the Spirit of God.
Is being born again the same as being saved?
The two go together. Salvation describes the deliverance God grants, while the new birth describes the new life he gives to the one he saves. They are two facets of the same work of God in you.
Can you be born again more than once?
No, the Bible presents this birth as unique, like a physical birth. After that you grow in faith, you repent, you are renewed day by day, but you are not born again each time you stumble.
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