Born of the Spirit
TRANSLATION
(1) Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. (2) This man came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one could perform the signs that you are doing if God were not with him.” (3) Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
(4) Nicodemus then asked him, “How can someone be born again when they are old? Can they enter a second time into their mother’s womb and be reborn?” (5) Jesus answered, “Truly, I tell you that unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (7) Do not be surprised that I told you that you must be born again. (8) The wind blows wherever it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
OBSERVATIONS
The key word in this passage because of its eightfold repetition was clearly the verb, “born,” (vss. 3-8). Other repetitions included “man” (vss. 1 & 2), “again” (vss. 3 & 7), “God” (three times in vss. 2 & 3), “Spirit” (four times in vss. 5, 6, & 8), and “flesh” (twice in vs. 6). This famous conversation between Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, and Jesus took place under the cover of darkness when he could come in secret. It contained essential information which everyone needs to know regarding spiritual regeneration, that is, how we receive the gift of eternal life.
OUTLINE
I. Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night looking for God’s truth. (1 & 2)
II. Jesus immediately challenged Nicodemus with his need for spiritual rebirth. (3-8)
IDEA STATEMENT
All who have been born once must experience a second birth, the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit, in order to possess the gift of eternal life.
APPLICATION
Understanding what it means to be born of water and the Spirit is clearly at the heart of today’s passage. That was precisely the knowledge that Nicodemus should have possessed when he came by night to Jesus. His inability to articulate what was lacking in his own life showed that he had no understanding of Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding the New Covenant God would make with Israel. That is why he struggled to grasp what Jesus was saying when he spoke about being born the second time.
Alva J. McClain’s classic volume, The Greatness of the Kingdom, contains the following explanation: “…a comparison of John 3:5 with Ezekiel 36:25-27 demonstrates beyond dispute the Old Testament derivation of our Lord’s doctrine of regeneration.” The passage from Ezekiel’s prophecy reads, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” In John 3:5 there are three things (to note): the new birth and the two indispensable factors which produce it, “water” and “spirit.” In Ezekiel, we find the same three ideas: the “new heart” which is then related to “clean water,” referring to the forgiveness of our sins, and God’s “Spirit,” referring to the One who regenerates us. To partake of the spiritual transformation promised in the New Covenant, we must be “born again” or “born from above.” It takes the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within our hearts to cleanse us from sin and to give us eternal life. That is what Nicodemus was lacking and what Jesus knew he desperately needed when he paid his visit to the Savior under the cover of darkness.