John 3:3-6 is a pivotal passage in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. This passage holds deep theological significance, as it reveals the necessity of being "born again" to enter the Kingdom of God. Let's explore the meaning and implications of these verses and how they apply to our lives.
- The Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth
In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom." This statement immediately confounds Nicodemus, who takes Jesus’ words literally and questions how a person can be physically born again. But Jesus is not speaking of a second physical birth; He is speaking of a spiritual transformation that must occur in order to truly know and experience God's Kingdom.
Jesus clarifies in John 3:5-6: "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Here, Jesus distinguishes between physical birth ("born of the flesh") and spiritual birth ("born of the Spirit"). Every one of us is born physically into this world, but that alone does not grant us access to God’s Kingdom. We must be born spiritually through the work of the Holy Spirit.
- What Does "Born of Water and Spirit" Mean?
The phrase "born of water and Spirit" has been interpreted in different ways. Some see "water" as a reference to baptism, an outward expression of inner faith. Others interpret "water" as symbolic of purification and renewal, much like how the Old Testament often associates water with cleansing (Ezekiel 36:25-27). In either case, Jesus emphasizes that it is not enough to be born naturally; we need the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit to transform us into new creations.
Titus 3:5 echoes this truth: "Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." This aligns with Jesus’ teaching—salvation is not something we achieve through human effort but something that God accomplishes in us by His Spirit.
- Flesh vs. Spirit
Jesus further emphasizes the distinction between the physical and the spiritual in John 3:6: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." This highlights an essential truth: human nature, in its fallen state, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. No matter how moral or religious we try to be, our fleshly nature is incapable of producing the righteousness required to enter God's presence. Only the Spirit of God can transform us into the kind of people who can truly belong to His Kingdom.
Paul reinforces this idea in Romans 8:7-9: "Because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you." This underscores the necessity of spiritual rebirth. Without the Spirit, we remain in the flesh, separated from God, unable to understand or follow His ways.
- The Role of Faith in Spiritual Rebirth
This passage is foundational to our understanding of salvation. Being "born again" is not a result of good deeds, religious rituals, or personal effort. It is the result of faith in Jesus Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Later in the same chapter, Jesus declares in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Faith in Jesus is the key to receiving the new birth.
Nicodemus initially struggled to understand this concept, but his later actions suggest that he eventually came to believe. He defended Jesus before the Pharisees (John 7:50-51) and later helped prepare Jesus’ body for burial (John 19:39-40). This transformation indicates that he may have experienced the spiritual rebirth that Jesus described.
Applying This Truth to Our Lives
We must recognize that our natural, fleshly state is insufficient to enter God’s Kingdom. We need a spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit.
True transformation does not come from religious traditions, personal morality, or human effort. It comes from faith in Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
If we have been born again, we should walk in the Spirit, growing in our relationship with God and reflecting His love and truth to the world.
In conclusion, John 3:3-6 reveals one of the most essential truths of the gospel: we must be born again, not physically but spiritually, in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God. This transformation is a work of God, accomplished through faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. As we reflect on this passage, may we continually seek to grow in our spiritual walk, embracing the new life that God has given us.
John 3:3-6. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”