Why Jesus Said You Must Be Born Again

In the Book of John, we read about Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He was one of the Pharisees and known as the Teacher of Israel. Contrary to the rest of the Jewish council, Nicodemus recognised that Jesus had to be from God because of all the miracles He performed. 

So here was Nicodemus, meeting with Jesus in secret, looking for answers. 

Of all the things Jesus could have talked to him about, Jesus said to Nicodemus that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” - John 3:3 

This left Nicodemus confused and puzzled, and understandably so. Imagine you met with Jesus like Nicodemus did. It would have been like finding a treasure containing the answers to God’s Kingdom, heaven, and how to obtain eternal life, but only to be left confused with more questions than answers. 

Nicodemus’ Response

In John 3:4 Nicodemus responded by asking how a man can be born again when he is old. Clearly confused, he also stated the obvious, saying that a man cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time. 

From Scripture it is clear Jesus was not referring to returning to the womb. Jesus was talking about spiritual things instead, and that no one can go to heaven unless they are spiritually born as well. In John 3:5-6 Jesus continued, saying that unless a man 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. 

If what Jesus said is true, then we owe it to ourselves to figure out why He said that you must be born again to be able to go to heaven... especially when you consider the weight of those words, in light of all eternity... 

So, to investigate this claim, we need to go back in time. And I mean, way back in time, right back to the beginning... 

Two Kingdoms

To know why Jesus said we must be born again, we need to understand the Bible talks about the Kingdom of Light, and the Kingdom of Darkness. This implies that all who are not born again belong to the Kingdom of Darkness, and can only cross over to the Kingdom of Light if they are born again. 

Admittedly, this sounds absurd, but let’s investigate. As part of our investigation, there are 10 points to consider: 

1. God Created Man In His Own Image

In Genesis 1 to Genesis 3 (way back in the beginning), we read how God created the heavens and the earth. We also read that God created the first man - ADAM! as well as his wife - EVE! - in His own image and likeness. 

Therefore, the first point is that God created man in His own image and likeness, as part of the Kingdom of Light. 

God then placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where He would visit them and have communion with them. 

They were free to eat from every tree in the garden, except for one. God warned that if they did not heed His commandment, they would die in that same day. 

Here we need to discern. The Bible teaches us that God created us body, soul and spirit. It is therefore important to recognise that when God warned Adam that he would die if he ate from the forbidden tree, God was in fact saying that Adam would die a spiritual death. 

2. Man Sinned

In the garden, Satan then came in the form of a snake and tricked Adam and Eve by enticing them with the forbidden fruit. 

Unfortunately, his trickery worked. 

Adam decided to listen to the voice of Satan instead of the voice of God, and made the choice to sin and eat of the forbidden tree. Figuratively speaking, of all the doors he could have opened, Adam chose to open the one he was not allowed to open, and drank the poison. 

So, the 2nd point is that man sinned. 

3. Man Died A Spiritual Death

As a result, man died a spiritual death and, in a sense, became disconnected from God. While Adam started in the Kingdom of Light, sin severed the relationship between man and God and Adam was transferred from the Kingdom of Light and into the Kingdom of Darkness. 

As Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your wickedness has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” 

4. Man No Longer Looked Like God

This resulted in a devastating dominoes effect, as Romans 5:12 declares that “through one man sin and death entered the world... ...and death spread to all people, with no one able to escape its power.”  

Because Adam was now spiritually dead – with physical death to follow – he no longer looked like God. On a spiritual level, his nature had changed. 

This may sound confusing, but bear with me here, as all will begin to make sense in a moment.

5. Man Had A Son... In His Own Image

In Genesis 5 we then read that Adam had a son in his own image and likeness.  

Keep in mind that Adam was now spiritually dead and no longer looked like the perfect image of God. In a sense, Adam had taken on the nature of Satan. It is only when we understand this that it makes sense why Jesus said to the Pharisees that they are of their father the devil (see John 8:44). 

This is also why King David wrote in Psalm 51:5 that he was born in a state of wickedness, and in sin did his mother conceive him.

6. All Are Born In Sin, Spiritually Dead

Therefore, because Adam had a son in his own image and likeness - which included a dead spirit - All are born in sin... spiritually dead, with an inherited evil nature. 

Ephesians 2:3 describes the state of those who are not born again as unbelievers who live in the passions of the flesh, with their behaviour governed by the sinful self. They indulge in the desires of the inherited human nature and are, as a result, under the sentence of God’s wrath. 

When you only look at that which can be seen with the physical eye, everything might appear to be normal... however, if you had a special lens that could make you see beyond the body and into the spirit world, the true state of those who are born in sin will shock you. 

To substantiate this claim, consider the evidence. 

How much death and destruction are there in the world that have been caused by humans? 

What about all the wars, the senseless killings and violent crime that is rampant? 

Jesus said that in Him is life in abundance, but referred to Satan as the one who comes to Kill, Steal & Destroy (see John 10:10). 

So, when you look at all the loss, the heart ache, trauma and all the pain in the world because of human behaviour... do you see the nature of God - who is love - or do you see the nature of Satan? 

While we like to think of ourselves as inherently good people, the character of Satan is evident when we look at ourselves objectively. 

For instance, think about all the lies you have told in your life. Or think about why you never have to teach a child to lie. Lying comes naturally to us because Satan is the father of lies.  

Also think about every time you felt hatred towards someone else... you don’t by default love those who hurt you or who are out to get you. Our default reaction is to go into defence mode and even harbour hatred towards our enemies, and we must choose to override the hate with love instead. 

Or think about every time you looked at pornography or lusted after someone. 

Jesus said in Matthew 5 that if you hate you commit murder in your heart, and to look with lust is to commit adultery in your heart. 

The Bible teaches us that God is the judge of the universe, and just as Adam died when he sinned, the Wages for our Sin, is Death (see Romans 6:23). 

How many things have you done in your life which you knew were wrong? The Bible explains to us that no thief, no adulterer, no fornicator, and no liar can enter the kingdom of heaven and instead shall have their part in the lake of fire (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Revelation 21:8). 

Because God is a fair and righteous judge, Ephesians 2:3 says that “we were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].” 

7. Jesus, Sinless, Paid For Our Sin

While this is all doom and gloom, there is good news... Jesus, who was sinless, paid the wages for our sins on the cross. 

2 Corinthians 5:19 says that God IN CHRIST Reconciled the World to Himself, not Counting People’s Sins Against Them... 

Romans 8:1 says that There Is No Condemnation for Those Who Are IN CHRIST!! 

The dominoes effect was countered, as Romans 5:17-21 says that Just as the Sin of One Man (Adam) Brought Death to all... ...Righteousness and Life is Available to All Because of the Price Jesus paid on our behalf. 

Since there is still condemnation for those who are NOT in Christ, to be born again is for your position to shift from being outside of Christ, and to become IN CHRIST. 

A practical real-life analogy to explain the difference between being in Christ and outside of Christ is the concept of being on a boat versus being in the open sea. 

Imagine a person drifting in the open sea, far from any land, with no support or help in sight. The person is exposed to the dangers of the ocean like strong currents, waves, sharks, and exhaustion. The chances of survival are slim, and the person is in constant fear and peril. This represents life outside of Christ. 

Without Christ, a person is lost, unprotected and without hope as they are heading towards condemnation because of their sins. 

Now imagine that same person is rescued and brought onto a boat. The boat provides safety, support, and direction. It shields the person from the dangers of the sea, provides resources like food and water, and offers a means to reach the safety of the land. The person on the boat can rest, recover, and have hope for the future. 

This represents life in Christ. In Christ, a person is protected from the perils of sin and has the guidance and support needed to live a fulfilling life. There is a sense of security, purpose, and hope for eternal life, as there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 

However, to remain in the sea when you are given a lifeline so you can be rescued and brought into the boat, is to remain condemned, as you can only be saved when you are in the boat, and not outside. 

This is what it means to be born again, to move from being outside of Christ to being in Christ, the sinful nature which man is born with, must be changed. While we already experienced a physical birth – born of water - the spirit of man must also be birthed... rescued... restored... made alive... brought into Christ! 

Like Nicodemus who was puzzled, this leaves us with 3 Questions that must be answered. The first question is, how can one then be born again?

8. Repent & Trust In The Saviour

To answer the first question, the next point to consider is that the Bible says we are to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation. 

While God is serious about the consequences of sin (so serious that the wages thereof is death), we also read in Ezekiel 18:32 that God has no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. Instead, God gives us a lifeline “to get into the boat to be rescued”, by inviting us to repent and turn from our sins so we can live! 

In addition, Romans 10:9 says that if you confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and believe He was raised from the dead, you will be saved. It is that simple. 

However, many will now ask the second question, but aren’t we all already forgiven? After all, 2 Corinthians 5:19 says that in Christ God reconciled the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them. Are we not all already reconciled to God? 

To think that everyone’s sins are already forgiven, and to think that the whole world is already reconciled to God, is to assume that all are already IN Christ. This is a common mistake that is made when you don’t read the next verse which states: “We plead with you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20) 

Furthermore, Acts 3:19 says you are to repent, you are to change your old way of thinking, regretting past sins... so that your sins might be wiped away. 

Salvation is a gift, and it comes with the condition that you submit under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gift is not given to everyone automatically, and you must still choose to accept it – in other words, you must choose to get into the boat, so to speak. 

Hebrews 9:27 says it is appointed for a man to die, and then judgment comes. The only way to escape the wrath of God is to be in Christ, as Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those who are IN CHRIST. So yes, everyone’s sins are forgiven, IN CHRIST.  Those who are IN CHRIST, are those who have repented of their sins and submitted themselves under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

This then brings us to the third question: how do I repent? 

To repent is to come before the Lord with a contrite heart, acknowledging your sins which have caused a separation between you and God. 

The Bible says in Proverbs 28:13, “He Who COVERS His Sins Shall NOT Prosper, but He Who CONFESSES & FORSAKES Them [Repents] Shall Have Mercy.” 

To repent is also to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord over your life, and asking God to forgive you your sins because of the price Jesus paid on your behalf. 

This is to take the lifeline given, and to be brought into the boat. 

9. Adopted As A Son Into God’s Kingdom

The moment you do that in sincerity and humility, is the moment you receive Light. God forgives you your sins and breaks the hold that death has over you. Your spirit man is no longer a slave to sin and death, as your Spirit is made alive IN CHRIST. 

You are no longer doomed, lost in the sea, but have been rescued, and are safe in the boat. 

In a moment, you cross over from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light, from the peril associated with the sea, to the safety of the boat. You do not have to wonder if this happened, because the difference in you will be like day and night. 

As William Gurnall said, “Can one king be dethroned and another crowned in thy soul and thou hear no scuffle?” 

Colossians 1:13 says of those who are saved that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of Jesus Christ... 

This is the process of being born again... and as part of this process the Bible says you are adopted as a son into God’s Kingdom. Romans 6:23 says we have been pre-destined to be adopted, and Ephesians 1:5 says God Foreordained Us to be Adopted as His Own Children Through Jesus Christ. In other words, to get into the boat is your destiny, but will you accept it? 

10. Made Righteous, Growing Into Holiness

God desires a family of people with whom He can have fellowship, like back in the Garden of Eden before sin created the separation between man and God (see Isaiah 59:2). 

1 John 1:3 explains it well and it says that “what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 

In addition, God also wants us to grow into holiness, becoming more like Jesus who was without sin. When you become born again, this is part of the transformation process, as 2 Corinthians 3:18 states that we “are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.” 

Or as 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.’” 

This is why Jesus said you must be born again. In the spirit, your nature is restored as you are born into God’s family (born again) and there is no longer a separation caused by sin between you and God. 

As evidence of your rebirth, those who are truly the sons of God are those who continually put sin behind them, who strive to live a life that is reflective of the new nature they received. As Jesus said in John 8:34, anyone who sins, is a slave to sin. But Romans 6:22 says Now that you have been SET FREE FROM SIN you are also Being Made Holy, and the Outcome is Eternal Life.