What does it mean -You must be born again?

Question -Recently I have seen the quotation “You must be born again” on a young man’s T-shirt. I have seen eBay and Amazon have T-shirts for sale on their website. I have also noticed a hefty price tag of $299, $399, etc., in some online stores. What does it all mean?

An essential question to be answered. Thank you for asking.

“You must be born again” is the statement of Jesus made to a rich ruler called Nicodemus. You can read the conversation of Nicodemus and Jesus in the Gospel of John Chapter 3. 

After the dark one night, Nicodemus came to visit Jesus. He was a Jewish religious leader – a man of the upper class. He was religious and belonged to a strict sect called Pharisees. He wanted to hear from Jesus on essential issues of life.  

Nicodemus began the conversation by saying to Jesus, “we all know that God has sent you. Your miracles are proof enough of this.” 

Jesus replied by saying, “Amen, Amen I tell you (means with all the earnestness I have, I tell you this), unless you are born again, you can never enter into the kingdom of God.”

What Jesus said to him confused Nicodemus. He exclaimed, “Born again!” What do you mean,” How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 

You see, people still today are confused about the meaning of “born again.” We will unpack the definition of ‘born again’ here in this article. Let us learn the answer of Jesus to Nicodemus. Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” It means men can only reproduce human life. However, the Holy Spirit of God causes man to be born again from heaven. Notice the first reference of the ‘Spirit’ is in capital referring to the Holy Spirit of God and second reference of the ‘spirit’ referring the human spirit inside him. In simple terms, the Holy Spirit of God causes and allows men to be born again from heaven. 

In our physical birth, which is the first birth, each of us is born to our parents in our parent’s home. In the Spiritual birth, which is the second birth, we are born to God, our Father in heaven, into our heavenly home. 

Jesus repeated to Nicodemus emphatically again and said, do not be amazed, “You must be born again.” This statement of Jesus is what you read on the T-shirt. 

You see, unless one is born again, they can not enter into the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was a religious leader, a strict Jew, and a conservative religious person. However, his religious position and strict adherence to the Jewish religion and laws would certainly not make him born again to enter God’s kingdom and heaven. This is the meaning of ‘you must be born again”.

How be an individual born again to get qualified to enter into God’s kingdom?

Jesus took Nicodemus to the Old Testament Scriptures and said, “just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.” (Vs. John 3:14-15). Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher of the Law, is well familiar with Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, as explained in Numbers 21:4-9. See below for details. 

1. The Israelites in the wilderness were disobedient, grumbling, and unthankful to God. 
2. They were judged and punished for their sins, and multitudes died. 
3. They died by poisonous serpent’s bites
4. They were unable to rescue themselves from the poisonous serpent’s bites, as people were dying around them
5. The object elevated on the pole was the emblem of their judgment
6. Moses lifted up the serpent on the pole and asked and urged them to look at the serpent to receive life 

Jesus said to Nicodemus He will be lifted up (a word used for crucifixion in John 8:28; 12:32-34) so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. They can enter into God’s kingdom because He is lifted p for them for their disobedience and sins. They will be saved from judgment and consequent eternal death away from God. Eternal death means being away from God in hell. Eternal life means living in heaven with God at the moment of your death. 

Immediately after the reference of the lifting up/ crucifixion of Jesus comes the famous John 3:16 verse. It says, ” For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, (Jesus) so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Why? God did not send Jesus into the world to judge the world, but so that the people of the world might be saved through Him. Everyone who looks at the cross where he died for their sins and believes is not judged. The only reason for judgment is because people won’t believe in the provision of God for their forgiveness. The people can not save themselves. They need the savior God gave to enter into God’s kingdom. That savior is Jesus. 

‘Born again or ‘born from above’ or ‘born by the Holy Spirit’ (all referring to the same event) happens at the time of repentance and profession of belief in Jesus as the savior. Look to the cross where Jesus carried your sins on his body. He shed his divine and sinless blood to qualify to come to God and His heaven. You would never earn it with your best efforts. You will enter into God’s kingdom by faith in Jesus, who died on the cross for you. 

Now, May I ask you- are you born again? You can be born again by faith in Jesus right now. This is a divine and excellent opportunity to begin all over again by acquiring a brand new life by birthing into God’s family. A brand new divine and heavenly beginning. I can help you to do this right now. Pray after me. Prayer is not what qualifies you to be born again into God’s kingdom. Remember, what allows you is repentance of your sins and professed faith in Jesus, as you pray after me now.  

“God, I want to be born again and get into God’s kingdom. I also know the only way to receive salvation and eternal life is by believing Jesus died, buried, and rose again in my place to save me. I repent of my sins and believe in Jesus, and accept your invitation to enter into God’s kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”