Born Again
Born of water and the Spirit
Born Again: The Necessity of New Life in Christ
The end of John 2 sets the stage for one of the most important conversations in Scripture. After cleansing the temple, many began to believe in Jesus because of His signs, but John tells us that Jesus “did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people” (John 2:24). This shows us something vital: superficial belief based on miracles is not saving faith. Christ sees through external appearances and knows the true condition of the human heart.
This truth leads directly into John 3, where Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night. He acknowledges that Jesus is a teacher from God because of His miracles, but Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Here the Lord confronts the reality of human inability. Being religious, moral, or well-educated in the Scriptures is not enough. The natural man is spiritually dead, and dead men cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is needed is nothing less than a new birth, a work of God by the Spirit.
Nicodemus, confused, asks how this can be. Jesus clarifies: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This points back to Ezekiel 36, where God promised to sprinkle clean water on His people, cleansing them from their sin, and to put His Spirit within them, giving them new hearts. Salvation, therefore, is not man’s work but God’s. It is regeneration by the Spirit that brings about faith in Christ.
Jesus explains that the Spirit’s work is sovereign and mysterious: “The wind blows where it wishes… so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Just as we cannot control or direct the wind, so no one controls the Spirit of God. He gives new life to whom He wills, according to the Father’s gracious plan of election. This is humbling truth, but it magnifies the mercy of God who saves helpless sinners.
When Nicodemus struggles to understand, Jesus points to His own authority as the One who came from heaven. Then He gives the heart of the gospel in John 3:14–15: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”
In Numbers 21, when Israel was plagued with deadly serpents, God provided a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole. Whoever looked at it in faith was healed. This was a picture of Christ, who would be lifted up on the cross, bearing the curse of sin. Just as the Israelites could not save themselves but had to look in faith, so must we look to Christ crucified. Eternal life is given not to those who rely on their works or religious status, but to those who, by God’s grace, look to the Son of Man in faith.
The lesson is clear: superficial faith is not enough. We must be born again by the sovereign Spirit of God, and we must look to the crucified Savior for eternal life. Jesus alone is the hope of sinners.
We always encourage everyone to check everything through the lens of the Scriptures. Be like the noble Bereans of Paul's day. Please visit us here for much more, and remember, Christ is enough.
We hope to see you next week and until we meet again...Lets go serve our King!
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