Have You Been Born Twice?

Most parents never forget the instant their child entered the world, and Jesus used this very image, something every human being has in common, to describe the most important event that ever happens in our lives. 

Nicodemus was the kind of man who probably thought he had everything figured out. He was a Pharisee and had spent his entire life studying Scripture, keeping the Law, performing the rituals, and earning the respect of the religious community. Then Jesus came along, and he was genuinely unsettled. So Nicodemus came to Jesus at night privately and said, 

“Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” John 3:2

Jesus saw his need and cut straight to the heart of the matter and said: 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Nicodemus was baffled and asked: 

“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” John 3:4

And then Jesus responds by opening the door to the beautiful knowledge of salvation: 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

What was Jesus saying here?

Jesus knew He was speaking to a student of the 

Law and this phrase, “born of water and Spirit,” had at least three layers of meaning. 

First, the physical layer. Unborn babies float in fluid in the amniotic sac for nine months. When the time for birth arrives, the amniotic sac bursts, and the baby is born in a rush of water. Jesus was saying, you understand physical birth, and it is a picture of what spiritual birth looks like. Just as a baby contributes no effort to the birth process—the work is done by the mother—so it is with spiritual birth. The Redeemer did all the work! We are merely the recipients of God’s gift of salvation. 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Second, let’s look at the ritual layer. Nicodemus had grown up familiar with a world of washings. Before a priest could enter God’s presence, he washed. Before worship, there was purification. When a Gentile converted to Judaism, the proselyte was immersed in water. These weren’t empty ceremonies. They were God’s ongoing visual sermon to His people. Throughout the Old Testament, water was used figuratively for spiritual cleansing. Nicodemus, a teacher of the Law, was surely familiar with the concept of physical water representing spiritual purification.  

Third, the prophetic layer. Here is where it all comes together. Centuries before this conversation, God had spoken through Ezekiel:

“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ 

With Ezekiel 36 as context, Jesus’ juxtaposition of water and Spirit makes perfect sense. Jesus looked at Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, and essentially said: Do you not see it? Everything your Scriptures have been pointing toward, every washing, every purification, every promise of a new heart, that is what I am offering you right now. Which is exactly why He followed with a gentle rebuke: 

“Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” John 3:10

 The shadow of the Law was fulfilled by the reality that the Lamb of God was standing in front of him! This may have stung Nicodemus, because it strikes at the heart of what every religious person secretly fears. All his learning, his discipline, his devotion, and his reputation could not give him eternal life. Jesus was explaining that you cannot wash yourself into a new heart or study your way into spiritual life. You cannot be moral enough, religious enough, or committed enough. You must be born again. 

Birth is something that happens to you. 

Jesus said plainly: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) You can improve the flesh. You can educate it, discipline it, and clean it up. But the flesh cannot make the spirit alive. Spiritual rebirth is wholly a work of God, not the result of human effort. Paul described it this way: 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Why does this matter today?

Well, there are a lot of folks just like Nicodemus, sincerely religious, knowledgeable, and doing many right things. But the message of Jesus is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago: “You must be born again.” (John 3:7) You were born once, and that gave you life and entrance into this physical world. But entrance into God’s eternal kingdom requires a second birth, a spiritual birth. That birth is available to you, right now, through believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is not earned. It is received. Our first birth gave us physical life, but spiritual birth gives us spiritual life. Physical life terminates at death, but the spiritual life imparted through salvation is everlasting.

The entire history of Israel’s water purifications was God saying: You are performing this ritual to demonstrate the Gospel, the day when the Messiah will come. That day arrived with Jesus. And He extends everlasting life to everyone who believes: 

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Jesus purchased our redemption, and TODAY is the day of salvation!

“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, that You did not leave us to live in the futility of trying to earn our way to You. Thank You that You sent Your Son, the fulfillment of every promise, the answer to every longing, to make my new birth possible. Help me to be a vessel of Your glorious Gospel of salvation to every person I encounter today. Fill me with Your Spirit to carry the words of life and be guided to the lost and dying around me. May my words and actions reflect You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.