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While growing up, the story of Nicodemus was very funny to us. We normally wondered how a man of such status could not know what it means to be born again. But that is the reality today also. There are pastors and believers that have been in church for ages who don't know what it truly means to be born again (John 3:1–7).
To be born again is the number one condition to have a relationship with God and enter into heaven, but it’s not optional as long as you are still on this earth.
John 3:3 – Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth: no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again."
The Spiritual Meaning of Being Born Again
To be born again, though a physical action, has a deeper spiritual undertone. It is the initiation into the brotherhood of Jesus Christ. The prayer of salvation a man makes on the day of accepting Jesus is his initiation ceremony into Jesus’ brotherhood.
To be born again means to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is symbolized by water baptism by immersion of a believer.
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The death means you are dead to sin.
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Your life is then buried in the life of Christ.
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You are resurrected with Christ into heavenly places above the powers of darkness.
John 3:5 and Ephesians 2:6 affirm this truth: “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”
So to be born again means you have denounced the life of Satan (sin) and buried your life in Christ (righteousness), which then places you above Satan and empowers you to exercise the authority of Christ over him.
From this truth, you can see that every believer must undergo water baptism by immersion. Failure to do this is cheating yourself of the benefits in Christ. We are not talking about water baptism here, but I am tempted to touch on it a little for better understanding.
Born of Water and the Spirit
John 3:5 brings us another meaning of being born again, which is to be symbolically baptized in water by immersion and transformed by the Holy Spirit in our inner man. To understand this better, let’s read Ezekiel 36:25–27:
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I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean from all your idols and everything else that has defiled you.
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I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart.
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I will put my spirit in you and I will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you.
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Verse 25 speaks about the symbolism of water baptism in being born again.
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Verses 26–27 speak about the transformation the Holy Spirit carries out on a soul during the process of salvation.
He transforms the spirit of sin (inherited by every human) into His Spirit of righteousness, making that person now born of the Spirit (John 3:6).
It is this Spirit of God now in a man—the Spirit of righteousness—that propels him to walk in obedience to God’s ways, as stated in verse 27 of Ezekiel. If you read further to verse 28, you’ll discover that when verses 25–27 have taken place, then verse 28 can now take place: “Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” This confirms what Jesus said in John 3:5.
God’s Promise of Transformation
John 4:10 also talks about the cleansing power from sin, symbolized by water baptism. Ezekiel 36:25–27 was God’s promise to humanity six centuries before the coming of Jesus Christ—that a time would come when there would be a transformative new beginning for every sinner, characterized by:
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Cleansing from sin (symbolized by water baptism), and
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The powerful gift of the Holy Spirit during salvation, transforming the heart of man from sin to righteousness.
This is what God declared in John 3:5 as the condition a man must fulfil if they will see and enter His Kingdom.
The Mission of Jesus
Jesus was sent to save mankind from the default nature of sin inherited from Adam and Eve (John 3:16–17; John 1:29).
He sowed His life on the cross for the salvation of humanity. He did the work of redemption, while we Christians are reapers—harvesters of souls for His Kingdom (John 4:35–38).
How Can a Man Be Born Again?
For a man to be born again, three steps must be taken:
1. Hear the Message of Salvation
Luke 24:47 – “…and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.”
Romans 10:17 – “So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.”
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) commands every believer to preach the message of salvation to the unsaved. Through preaching—whether in church, online, or through recorded messages—sinners hear the message. As they listen, faith for salvation arises in them.
2. Have Faith for Salvation
Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.”
John 3:16 – “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
Belief here refers to faith for salvation. Whoever has this faith in Him will not perish but be saved. Faith is the key to salvation—not our good works or natural efforts.
Romans 10:10a – “For it is by our faith that we are put right with God.”
3. Confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
Romans 10:10b – “…it is by our confession that we are saved.”
If you have faith to be saved but do not confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not yet saved—your faith is still passive. When you confess Him, your faith becomes active, and it is only active faith that God counts as righteousness.
James 4:2b – “You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.”
In the same way, you cannot be saved until you confess your salvation.
Conclusion
The whole truth is summarized in Romans 10:13–15:
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As the Scripture says, “Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.”
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But how can they call to him for help if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?
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And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out?
Jesus is the only gate that can make you born again. Other gates exist only to steal, kill, and destroy. Many have walked through them thinking they would find Jesus but ended up pierced with sorrows.
Accept this offer now, while breath is still in you. There is no guarantee you will still have the opportunity the next moment, for Jesus will come like a thief in the night when many are distracted by worldly pleasures.
The day Jesus comes for you is not only at His second coming—the day a person closes their eyes in death, that is the day Jesus comes for them. That day becomes their judgment day.
Prayer of Salvation
🙏 Pray this prayer sincerely if you want to be born again:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for dying on the cross for my sins.
I believe You rose again to give me eternal life.
Today, I confess You as my Lord and Savior.
Forgive me, cleanse me, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
From today, I choose to follow You and live for You.
Thank You for saving me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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