Ye Must Be Born Again

by John Waddey⁽⁴³⁾
firstcenturychristian

John's gospel records a number of Jesus' interviews and personal teaching situations. Among the most notable of them was the one with Nicodemus, a prominent Jewish religious leader. It was to this man that out Lord uttered those immortal words, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7 KJV).

A Profile of Nicodemus

We are told that Nicodemus was a Pharisee (John 3:1). They were a small sect of the Jews numbering some 6,000. They were an elite group of religious leaders, providing the teachers for the synagogues, or local congregations of Israel. In the New Testament, they are portrayed as self-righteous hypocrites who were the chief enemies of Jesus (See Matt. 23:13-36). Obviously Nicodemus was of a different cut than most of his Pharisaic brothers; else he would not have approached the Lord as he did. Our subject was also a ruler of the Jews. This means he was a member of the great Sanhedrin Council that supervised the social, political and religious life of the nation. The council consisted of seventy members, plus the high priest. Thus, he held an important position of leadership in the life of the nation. We know that he was a wealthy man because he provided the burial ointments for Jesus, which were very costly (John 19:38-40).

The Situation and Setting

The Lord had just brought his ministry to Jerusalem from Galilee. He had shocked the citizens of Jerusalem by driving the corrupt money changers out of the Temple (John 2:13-22). Large numbers of people believed on him, beholding his signs (John 2:23-25).
We are told that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Many have raised questions about his choice of time. Was he afraid of his fellow Jewish leaders? Was he just timid? Was he too proud to be seen with such a lowly man? The Jewish rabbis said that the best time to study the law was at night, when undisturbed. Perhaps he sought privacy for a serious talk with the Lord. Maybe he just felt that he could not wait until morning to ask his questions. Rather than fault him, we say it is to his honor that he came. It tells us he was seeking knowledge of spiritual things.

The Conversation

Nicodemus began the conversation with several concessions (John 3:2). He calls the young Nazarene "Rabbi" (teacher), which was a title of distinction. He admitted that Jesus was a teacher come from God. He acknowledged the miraculous signs Jesus had performed. He recognized that God was with him. We are not told that he recognized his Messiahship at that point.

Christ's response was quick and pointed: Except one be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (3:3). Evidently Nicodemus felt that his race and position as a ruler would entitle him to a place in the kingdom. This was typical for a Pharisee. But Jesus was not intimidated by this powerful dignitary, nor did he adjust his message for him. It is noteworthy that our Lord by-passed all formal niceties of introduction and small talk and took his guest right to the heart of his problem. While Nicodemus would have talked of signs and wonders and traded compliments, Jesus waved these aside as unimportant and talked about a change of heart and life.

Nicodemus' real need was brought into clear focus. He needed a new birth if he hoped to enter the Lord's kingdom (John 3:3-5). He was a man that had everything birth and breeding could provide and yet the Galilean dared to tell him he must start all over again. No doubt it was stunning to such an aristocrat. Surely it seemed audacious for a young teacher to speak thusly to a man of his station.

In the original Greek language "born again means from the beginning, completely, radically." It likewise connotes "for a second time" and "from above, from God" (William Barclay's Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of John, Vol. 1, p 113). All of those thoughts are included in Jesus' words. To be born again means to change one's life radically and completely. Such a change is like starting life all over again. Man cannot accomplish such a feat alone, so he must have heavenly assistance.

Nicodemus had a problem. He did not grasp what Jesus meant. "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb…." (John 3:4). It never occurred to him that Jesus spoke of a spiritual birth; he could think only of the physical. But, on numerous occasions, even the Apostles failed to comprehend the spiritual import of Christ's words.

Nicodemus was not being dishonest; he just had not reached the stage of knowledge and experience where he was able to grasp such truths.

The New Birth Explained

Jesus kindly proceeded to explain his words to the perplexed leader. It was not a birth of the flesh such as childbirth, but one of "water and spirit" of which he. Paul had the same experience in mind in his letter to Titus "...he saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit…" (3:5). Peter preached the same new birth to the Jews in Jerusalem saying. "Repent ye and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Compared together their identical meaning is clearly seen:

1. Born of water, and spirit…..enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).
2. Washing (water) of regeneration….renewal of Holy Spirit…. saved (Titus 3:5).
3. Be baptized (water)…..receive gift of Holy Spirit ….for remission of sins….added to the church (Acts 2:38, 47).

Jesus told Nicodemus that the new birth of water and Spirit puts on into the kingdom or church of God (See Matt. 16:18-19). But Christian baptism puts one into the church which is his kingdom (Matt 16:18-19; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22). Therefore, Christian baptism is the new birth.

When one is born again, he becomes a new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17). But one is baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27). Therefore, one is born again when he is baptized into Christ.

The new birth is made possible through instruction of the Word of God (I Pet. 1:22-23). Apart from the gospel no one would have any idea what to do to be born again. In the Scripture we learn it consists of two elements; water and Spirit.

Jesus went on to explain to his student that it is the Spirit of man that needs to be reborn, not his fleshly body (John 3:6). "That which is born of the flesh (natural birth) is flesh (body) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (i.e., the inward spirit of man). This birth of the spiritual man is like the movement of the wind. "The wind bloweth where it will and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not where it cometh, and wither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). The wind is an invisible force and power. One cannot see the wind but he can see the results of the wind's presence. So in the new birth, it is the invisible spirit of man that is reborn or changed by the invisible Holy Spirit of God. Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit at work upon the human spirit, we definitely can see the results.

Nicodemus' response was one of perplexity. "How can these things be?" he asked (John 3:9). It was not that he questioned the desirability of the change, rather he doubted the possibility of it. When one is old, it is hard to make radical changes. The more prominent and powerful one's position, the more difficult it is to change. Evangelism reaps its greatest harvest among the young; not because they are gullible, but because they are less hardened in their ways. Humanly, such dramatic change as Jesus spoke of is impossible, but the Spirit of God is able to affect it. "Nothing is too hard for Jehovah" (Gen 18:14). God can make the chief of sinners into to the chiefest apostle (I Tim 1:15; II Cor. 11:5).

The Conclusion

Jesus responded to the Pharisee's doubting comment by asking, "Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?" (John 3:10). How could he effectively teach others if he could not perceive such a simple point? Then the Lord rebuked the distinguished ruler, saying, "Ye receive not our witnesses" (John 3:11). His problem was not so much perception as rejection. "If…I told you earthly things and ye believed not how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (3:12). The bottom line is reached in (3:14). "...As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the son or man be lifted up (crucified) that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). Nicodemus would have no problem with being born of water and Spirit if he ever reached the point of saving faith in the Son of God. So, today the person who refuses to concede his need for Christian baptism (Acts 2:38) is really suffering from a faulty faith. Saving faith always is anxious to obey the Lord's commands (Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 10:48).
Have you been born again?

Article submitted Monday, August 17, 2009 & read 31 times.

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