What It Means to Be Born Again According to the Bible
The phrase “born again” is the most important and life-changing truth in the entire Bible. It is not simply a religious slogan, nor is it a cultural label reserved for a particular group of Christians. Instead, it is a biblical command from Jesus Christ Himself—a spiritual reality that every person must be if they want to enter the kingdom of God.
In John 3:3 (NASB95), Jesus declared to Nicodemus:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
1. The Biblical Foundation of “Born Again”
Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus
The most well-known passage on being born again comes from John 3:1–21. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night. He was a religious leader, deeply knowledgeable of the Scriptures, yet Jesus told him that none of his religion, traditions, or good works could save him.
John 3:7 (NASB95):
“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Jesus used the imagery of birth to explain spiritual transformation. Just as a person has no role in their physical birth, so too salvation is not something we accomplish by effort but something God accomplishes by His Spirit. We are cleansed of our sins, washed clean of our sins, forgiven of our sins – past, present, and future – when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
2. Why Must We Be Born Again?
a. The Reality of Sin
Every person is born physically alive but spiritually dead because of sin. Romans 3:23 (NASB95) says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Ephesians 2:1 describes us as “dead in your trespasses and sins.” This spiritual deadness separates us from God, leaving us under His judgment and destined for eternal separation (Hell).
b. Original Sin
From Adam, all humanity inherited a sinful nature – (Romans 5:12):
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”
No matter how religious, moral, or charitable we try to be, our sinful nature corrupts us at the core. All of us inherited the sin virus from the first Adam of Adam and Eve. That is why Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to try harder, but to be born again—a total transformation from death to life.
3. What Does “Born Again” Mean?
The phrase comes from the Greek word anōthen, which can mean “from above” or “again.” This shows that being born again is both:
- A new beginning: a second birth, a fresh start.
- A heavenly origin: it comes from God above, not from human effort.
Spiritual Regeneration
Being born again is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit whereby He imparts spiritual life to the sinner. Titus 3:5 (NASB95) says:
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
4. How Does the New Birth Happen?
a. Through the Word of God
1 Peter 1:23 (NASB95) explains:
“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”
The Word of God acts as the seed that, when planted in the heart, brings forth new life.
b. By the Spirit of God
John 3:5–6 (NASB95):
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, opens our eyes to the truth of the gospel, and transforms us from within.
c. Through Faith in Jesus Christ
John 1:12–13 (NASB95):
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Being born again happens when a sinner places his or her faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Where does faith come from? Faith is a gift of God. Romans 10:17 (NASB):
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
5. The Evidence of Being Born Again
a. A New Heart and New Desires
Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB95):
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
A born-again believer desires to please God and obey His Word, not out of duty but out of love.
b. Victory Over Sin
1 John 3:9 (NASB95):
“No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
This doesn’t mean Christians never sin, but rather that their relationship to sin has changed. They can no longer live comfortably in sinful, repeated, rebellious behavior.
c. Love for God and Others
1 John 4:7 (NASB95):
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
Love becomes the distinguishing mark of the born-again life.
6. Common Misunderstandings About Being Born Again
a. It’s Not About Religion
Many equate being born again with attending church, being baptized, or following certain rituals. While those may have value, they cannot produce new birth.
b. It’s Not About Self-Improvement
The new birth is not turning over a new leaf or trying harder. It is a radical transformation by God’s power.
c. It’s Not Just an Emotional Experience
Although emotions may accompany conversion, being born again is a spiritual reality grounded in God’s promise, not in feelings.
7. The Results of the New Birth
a. Adoption into God’s Family
Galatians 4:4–5 (NASB95):
“so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
When we are born again, we become sons and daughters of God, heirs of His promises.
b. Eternal Life
John 3:16 promises eternal life to all who believe in Jesus. This is the most famous verse because it captures the heart of the gospel.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
c. Transformation of Character
The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) begins to manifest in the life of the born-again believer—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
8. Practical Steps: How to Be Born Again
- Acknowledge Your Sin (Romans 3:23).
- Recognize Your Need for a Savior (Romans 6:23).
- Believe in Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
- Confess Your Belief in Christ – (Romans 10:9)
- Repent and Turn to God (Acts 3:19).
- Receive Christ by Faith (John 1:12).
9. Living as One Who Is Born Again
The new birth is not the end but the beginning of the Christian journey. Believers are called to:
- Grow in the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2).
- Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
- Live in Holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16).
- Share the Gospel (Matthew 28:19–20).
10. An Invitation to You
If you are reading this and have never been born again, Jesus’ words to Nicodemus are the same words He speaks to you today: “You must be born again.”
This is not optional. It is the doorway into eternal life. The good news is that God’s gift is free, offered by His grace through faith in Christ.
Only God can save you. You cannot save yourself. If you are not saved and you feel a prompting in your heart, it may be God drawing you.
Jesus said in John 6:44 (NASB95):
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
And for anyone who fears that they could lose their salvation if they “mess up” after they have already received salvation, Jesus said in John 10:28-29 (NASB95):
“and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
The writer of Hebrews wrote down the Holy-Spirit word of God in Hebrews 7:25 about Jesus:”
“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Jesus prays for you if you are a Christian!
What Do I Do to Be Born Again?
Being born again is the central message of the gospel. It is God’s work of regeneration in the heart of a sinner, bringing spiritual life where there was death. It cannot be earned or manufactured, but it can be received by faith in Jesus Christ.
When a person is born again, everything changes: their heart, their desires, their identity, and most importantly their eternal destiny. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB95) declares:
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
The question that remains is personal: Have you been born again? If not, the fact that you are reading this message may be an indication that God is working in your heart and drawing you to receive Christ. Ask Jesus into your life, ask forgiveness of your sins, repent (turn away) from sin, and proclaim Him your Lord and Savior.
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Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible 1995® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 and from the Legacy Standard Bible © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org