The new birth experience is one of the most important subjects in the scripture. Everything in God’s word illustrates and culminates in it. Therefore, everyone, including those involved in helping people in the way of the Lord, must understand the subject, experience it and emphasise the new birth above everything else. Anyone who lacks the knowledge and experience of the new birth will be miserable in eternity.
Being born again, born anew, born of God, born of the Spirit or regenerated is what qualifies a person for heaven. Regeneration happens by the water (the Word of God) and the Spirit of God. Except a person — religious, well-informed, wise, rich, fortunate or not — experiences it, he or she has no relationship with God. “Jesus answered and said unthim, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” (John 3:3).
Regeneration brings about righteousness that is internal. It is quite unlike the external show of self-righteousness by the Scribes and Pharisees, or modern day religious people. Christ repeatedly used the word “except” in the scripture to affirm the indispensability of salvation as condition for entering God’s kingdom. Being born again does not mean entering into one’s mother’s womb to be re-born, but it is a miraculous conversion, transformation or rebirth of the inner man. Thus, in a new birth, there is a change of direction and disposition as Christa in depend on God for the supply of grace for the new life.
It is the new birth that brings man to his original sinless state, and it comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, saints like Prophet Isaiah foretold the expected new birth, justification and forgiveness of sin by Christ: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).
Repentance was emphasised and those who repented of their sins were forgiven. This explains why Christ was mildly surprised that Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, did not know that one must experience the new birth before he could get to heaven. The new birth is a greater mystery than re-entering the womb (if that were possible) to be- born the same natural , sinful person. It is not what anyone can do for himself. The sinful transgressor is converted only by divine operation the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Then, Christ forgives all his sins, justifies and makes him a new creature by His shed blood.
This great privilege was not available to the Old Testament saints. And this was why the Psalmist prayed ruefully for the creation of a clean heart and the renewing of a right spirit in him (Psalms 51:10). As the leprosy of Naaman was cleansed by the water of Jordan, God cleanses the spiritually-depraved and morally leprous with the water of the word and by the operation of His Holy Spirit. For God to admit anyone into His kingdom and His grace. Also, His power must recreate and activate such a person’s spirit.
• Further reading (King James Version): John 3:1-8; Matthew 5:20;18:3; Luke 13:3,5; John 12:24;15:4; Revelation 2:5;vJohn 3:3,4,9,10; Psalm 51:5-10,13; Isaiah 53:11; Galatians 4:19; Isaiah 53:3-6,11; Hosea 2:23; John 3:4; Revelation 3:20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 10:19-22; John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 2 Kings 5:14.
