We continue our series on the commands of Jesus Christ. This week, we come to a command that Jesus gave to a religious leader who came to Him at night. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”
This command is one of the most important in all of Scripture. It is not a suggestion. It is not an option.
It is a necessity. Jesus said, “You must be born again.”
Without the new birth, no one can see the kingdom of God. Without the new birth, no one can enter the kingdom of God. This command is not about joining a church, becoming religious, or trying harder to be good. It is about a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that transforms a person from the inside out.
First, being born again means receiving a new life from above.
The Greek word Jesus used is “anothen”, which can mean “again” or “from above.” The new birth is not something we produce. It is something God gives. It is not a decision we make to improve ourselves.
It is a miracle that God performs in us. Just as we did not choose to be born physically, we cannot choose to be born spiritually. We can only receive it by faith.
Jesus explained this in John 3:5–6: “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit. He takes a dead, sinful heart and makes it alive. He takes a heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh. He gives us a new nature, a new identity, and a new destiny.
Second, being born again produces a changed life.
The new birth is not just a theological concept. It is a lived reality. If anyone is in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The new birth changes our desires, our priorities, and our direction. It does not make us perfect, but it makes us new. It gives us a new love for God, a new hunger for His Word, and a new power to obey His commands.
This is why Jesus said, “You must be born again.” It is not because God wants to complicate your life. It is because you cannot live the Christian life without a new heart. You cannot obey the commands of Jesus without the Spirit of Jesus living within you.
The new birth is the foundation of everything else. It is the beginning of the life of discipleship.
Have you been born again? Not do you know about it. Not have you heard about it. But have you experienced it? Have you received a new life from above?
If not, the invitation is open. Jesus said, “You must be born again.” It is not a suggestion. It is a command. And it is a gift. Come to Him. Trust in Him. And receive the new life that only He can give. | NWI
