The New Birth

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 3:1-21

 

John 3:14-17

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should ^[c]not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

(NKJV)

 

Unfortunately, there seems to be little mention in many Churches today about the new birth or being born again. In the text of John 3:1-21, Jesus has a nighttime encounter with Nicodemus a Pharisee who believes Jesus is a teacher come from God. Jesus begins his discourse by telling him he must be born again to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). This indicates the importance Jesus places on this truth and why the Church must return to making this a foundational teaching in the Church for it is the door opening up an intimate relationship with God.

 

This text begins with the introduction of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who comes to Jesus at night, believing Jesus to be a teacher from God based on the signs he has performed (John 3:1-2). In response to Nicodemus, Jesus tells him he must be born again to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Nicodemus is confused because he believes Jesus is speaking of one experiencing physical birth as an old man (John 3:4).

 

Jesus provides clarification by telling Nicodemus he speaks of birth by the flesh or water and a new birth in the Spirit (John 3:5-6). He tells Nicodemus not to marvel at Him telling him one must be born again (John 3:7). Jesus then compares birth in the Spirit to the wind which blows with us able to hear it but since it is invisible, we cannot see where it comes from. Such is everyone born in the Spirit (John 3:8). However, Nicodemus is still confused and wonders how what Jesus says can be (John 3:9).

 

Jesus challenges Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, wondering why he does not know such things (John 3:10). Jesus tells Nicodemus We, speaking of the trinity, speak what We know, and testify what We have seen but he does not receive Their witness (John 3:11). Jesus again challenges Nicodemus by asking him how he can learn of heavenly things if he cannot believe the earthly things He tells him (John 3:12). Jesus tells Nicodemus no one has ascended to heaven but the Son of Man has come down from heaven (John 3:13). Jesus uses the symbol of the serpent lifted up in the wilderness by Moses, Jesus tells Nicodemus the Son of Man must also be lifted up (John 3:14). Those believing in the Son of Man will have eternal life for God, out of love, has given the world His only Son, not to condemn humanity but to save humanity (John 3:15-17).

 

Those choosing to believe in the Son of God are not condemned with one choosing not to believe condemning him or herself due to their unbelief (John 3:18). Condemnation comes to those choosing to remain in darkness even though Light has come into the world through the Son of God (John 3:19). One practicing evil hates the light because the light exposes their evil (John 3:20). One doing the truth comes to the light so his deeds are clearly seen and that they have been done in God (John 3:21).

 

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus at night believing Him to be a teacher from God, coming at night so as not to be seen by his fellow Pharisees (John 3:1-2). Instead of receiving some great theological insight, Jesus tells Nicodemus about the new birth. Nicodemus has a serious flaw in his theology, believing Jesus is a teacher from God and not God Himself coming down to teach. Nicodemus also confuses natural birth with the spiritual birth of the Spirit of God through belief in Jesus (John 3:16). While this text does not tell us if Nicodemus ever experienced the new birth, there is evidence this discourse affected his life. It was Nicodemus, a Pharisee, who cautioned the Pharisees rejecting Jesus not to convict him without hearing him to know what he was doing (John 7:45-52). It was also Nicodemus who brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to the tomb (John 19:38-42). This evidence indicates Nicodemus may have become a believer during Jesus’ ministry. Many do come to believe in Jesus as their Savior, experiencing new birth, over time, and why we must never stop praying for our lost friends and family members.

 

In many Churches, there is little mention of the new birth with sermons more about encouraging the flock and making them feel good. While encouragement is one of the 4 E’s of discipleship, discipleship begins with Evangelism or one experiencing new birth in Christ. Listen to this song from Leon Patillo that describes his excitement over experiencing the new birth.

 

The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). However, if the Church neglects to teach about the new birth as how one enters a relationship with Christ, it is doing people who do not know Christ as their Savior a disservice. I call on Church leaders to lift up Jesus Christ and point people to experiencing the new birth and then to continue discipling through equipping with the Word of God, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and encouragement so they can disciple others.

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief in Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.