“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
One of the most amazing doctrines in the word of God is the doctrine of rebirth, or regeneration, or what it means to be born again. As we see in the above verses from the gospel of John, Jesus Christ came to this world to save His people, those who believe in Him. And everyone who truly believes in Christ as Lord and Savior are born of God as children of God. God’s Word unveils the doctrine of rebirth even further in John chapter three:
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:1-3
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, probably secretly so no one would see him, and he knew there was something very special about Jesus from the many signs (miracles) that Jesus was doing in plain sight. However, Nicodemus did not realize he was talking to one much greater than a Rabbi (teacher). He was talking to the very Son of God and Savior of the world. Jesus did not receive Nicodemus’ flattery and praise because He knew the heart of man and “did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people” (John 2:24). Instead, Jesus cut right to the heart of the matter and said the words that continue to penetrate hearts even today, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus did not say “may not,” He said “cannot.” Unless you are born again – born of the Spirit – you “cannot” enter the kingdom of God. You are born once in the flesh as the child of your earthly father and mother, but to be a Christian and child of God, you must be born again by the Holy Spirit. “How great the love the Father has lavished on us that we (those who are born again) shall be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). It is only through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ that you are born again into the Kingdom of God as a child of God. And it is only by God’s grace through faith in Christ that this supernatural event takes place in a person’s life. God’s Word sheds even more light on the doctrine of rebirth in 1 Peter 1:3:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
When we are born again into the Kingdom of God, we enter a new life – a spiritual life – and are delivered from the kingdom of man and darkness into the Kingdom of God and light. Although Christians continue to live in this sinful world and battle sin in our sinful nature for the rest of our lives, we are set free from sin and have the power to repent from sin and obey God’s Word. Listen to Colossians 1:13-14:
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
The doctrine of rebirth is foundational to the Christian life. A Christian is born again and one who is born again is a Christian – there is no other way to enter the Kingdom of God.
May God bless you with His grace, love, and truth!