You may have heard the statement, “You must be born again.” But have you wondered what in the world that means? How can anyone be born again, and why would you want to be born again? Well, you are in luck; someone has answered this question. I will do my best to explain it to you.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8
Jesus Christ spoke those words to Nicodemus, who was a teacher of the Jews and a scholar who spent his life studying the Old Testament of the Bible. Still, he needed to understand what the requirements were to enter heaven.
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? John 3:9-10
Right here, I need to explain some important things Nicodemus needed help understanding. Some background details and truths are vitally important, so you understand why “you need to be born again.” It is not physical rebirth but spiritual. It is not just the knowledge you need; it is understanding. God created all things at the beginning of time. He created the entire universe and everything in it.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, was the Word(Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5
He created man in His image and made it all perfect. But man sinned and broke His rules that He commanded them to keep. Because of sin, there came a separation between God and man, and death entered the world. Now all mankind has a sinful nature, meaning you are inclined to do what is wrong instead of what is right; God gave His Law, the Ten Commandments, for all men to obey because we do not naturally desire to obey.
This point is most important. Do you keep God’s Law? Do you lie? Do you steal? Regardless of how big or small the lie or theft is, you have become a law-breaker if you have. If we are honest, we all are liars and thieves. Have you ever hated anyone or insulted anyone? Have you lusted after anyone? If so, in God’s eyes, you are a murderer and an adulterer at heart. It is even worse if you have committed outright murder or adultery.
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:21-22
Jesus also said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
Are you starting to see how serious this is? God sees you as a law-breaker and a criminal. You will have to stand before Him, who is the ultimate judge, and someday you will have to pay for your crimes when you die. He will send all criminals and sinners to Hell for eternal punishment.
Just like if you break the laws here on earth and get caught, you will have to be sentenced and pay for the wrong you have done. You will be guilty because He has recorded every wrong you have ever done, and there is no escape without a savior.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
God is perfect, and you have a sinful nature bent on sinning. Therefore, you need to be born again, not in the flesh but in the spirit, to be made new again like God, in the Spirit of God. He will not accept anyone into His Heaven who is not born again.
But there is good news. Jesus Christ made a way that you could be saved and born again. He came to this earth, lived a perfect life, He never sinned. He sacrificed His life and shed His blood for you, taking the entire Wrath of God that you deserved on your account to pay for your sins. He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, defeating sin and death.
He was both fully God and man. He was the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. But you need to confess your sins to God and repent, which means turning away from your life of sin. Then follow and obey God’s commands seeking to do everything the Lord tells you to. If you repent, confess with your mouth, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will be born again.
Like anything else, you are a liar if you say something with your mouth but do not believe in your heart. God knows who is truthful and who lies. But, if you are true, He will give you rebirth in the Spirit, filling you with the Holy Spirit of God. He will provide you with a new mind, heart, and desire to follow and obey Him.
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:25-27
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:16-21
The choice is yours, this day, what will you do? Will you turn to God and repent for your many crimes and sins? Will you confess with your mouth and believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for your sins, paid the price for you, and rose from the dead so that you may have life everlasting?
Will you seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? For He promises that if you seek Him, you will find Him. If you knock at His door with a humble and broken heart for the sins you have committed, He will open it, come to you, and save you. He will give you His new heart, mind, and spirit. Then you will be born again.
The Soul Sower 