What Does it Mean to be Born Again?

(John 3:1-7) "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again." 

In this passage we read about a man of the Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus.  He went unto Jesus and was asking Jesus a question about the miracles that he performed.  Jesus had performed a miracle at the marriage of Cana in Galilee.  Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and told him that a man must be born again.  If he's not born again, there's no way he can see the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God is only entered into as a result of the new birth.  We must be careful in distinguishing between the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God".  The Kingdom of Heaven will be established upon this earth during the Millennial reign of Christ for a thousand years.  There will be a thousand years of peace and tranquility when Jesus comes back with his bride upon this earth.  There will be no more sickness and sorrow.  Sin will be done away with.  Jesus will establish his kingdom at the Mount of Olives.  The Kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom without end.  It is a Kingdom in which no man can be a part of unless he repents of his sins and accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.  It's a spiritual kingdom.  It's not a literal physical kindgom like the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Kingdom of God is a kingdom without end.  It will be around when the New Heavens and the New Earth is established following the Millennial reign of Christ. 

It was apparent according to Nicodemus' response that he seemed to be confused about the concept of being born again.  He asked the question could a man enter into his mother's womb for a second time.  There's no way that's possible.  He was thinking of being born again in physical terms.  Man is born once from his mother's womb as an infant.  Once a child is born upon this earth, there's no way from a physical standpoint a child can be born again in the physical sense.  However, what Jesus was speaking of was of a spiritual nature.  Mankind can never be born again from a physical standpoint.  Mankind is born once upon this earth as a sinner. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  The Psalmist David in Psalms 51:5 that in sin did my mother conceive me (paraphrasing).  Mankind is born in sin.  There's no hope for man apart from God.  However, Jesus came to this world to die upon a cruel cross so that we can be reconciled to God.  What is the way to reconciliation?  It's through the new birth.  Man is born once physically upon this earth as a sinner.  The new birth which is referred to as being born again is spiritual in nature.  This new birth means that a sinner has been regenerated.  The sinner has been made a new creature.  How does a sinner become regenerated?  He must be convicted by the Spirit of God.  He must recognize and admit that he's a sinner who's sinned before God.  He must realize that he's hopeless and apart from God.  Once he recognizes that truth, he must repent of his sins and ask Christ to forgive him and come into his heart.  Once that act takes place he is born again.

John 6:44 states that unless the Spirit of God draws a man he cannot be saved.  In order for a sinner to be saved, he must first be drawn by the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God will make the sinner aware about his sinful condition.  Unless that takes place, a sinner cannot come to God.  Salvation is a spiritual process and God must make the first step towards initiating.  A sinner cannot make that first step unless the Spirit woos him.  Once that happens, a sinner is a great candidate for salvation.  The sinner then must repent of his sins and turn to God.  II Corinthians 7:10 says that Godly sorrow worketh repentance.  A sinner that possesses a Godly sorrow for his sins is in the position where he can be saved.  There must be an awareness of your sinful state and then you must turn to God and turn from your sins and trust him.  Unless a sinner does that they can't be saved.  Salvation is a work of God, not of man.  Mankind cannot work up salvation by himself.  It takes the Holy Ghost to begin the process.  Then it's incumbent upon the sinner to do business with God. 

What does it mean to be born again?  II Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  A person that's born again is a new creature.  He possesses a new appetite.  The things that he loved prior to salvation he no longer loves because God has created within the regenerated man an appetite for spiritual things.  He desires to attend and be faithful to church, pray, seek God, read the Word of God, serve God, etc.  His whole life centers around the things of God.  A born again experience will clean up his language, his appearance, his philosophy, his whole outlook on life, and his relationship with others.  Things are different.  There will be a unique and distinct difference within him.  God has created the child of God to be conformed to the image of Christ.  God saves us to serve him and be a witness and testimony before the whole world.  There's nothing greater than being born again knowing your sins are washed away.  What a joy it is to serve the Lord and know when you die you'll enter into Heaven for eternity.  That's what being born again is all about.