The term “born again”, depending on which translation of the Bible you are looking at, is only found a few times and only in the New Testament. The New King James Version of the Bible gives only three instances where it is used— John 3:3 , John 3:7 , and 1 Peter 1:23 . The first two instances were used by Jesus in the same account.

To set up this instance, Jesus had already established Himself as an enemy to the Jewish Pharisees who were a segment of the Jewish leadership of the day, which also included the Sadducees and Scribes. Jesus’ teachings had frustrated the Jewish leadership to the point where they were trying to figure how they could rid themselves of Jesus.

In the account in John chapter 3, we read in verse 2, that a Jewish Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus by night to speak with Him. This account does not elaborate, but it is assumed that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, so not to be seen in fear of a backlash from other Pharisees, as well as other Jewish people. Nicodemus than says to Jesus in verse 2. “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.”

It is clear here that there is at least two or more Pharisees, including Nicodemis, that have been moved by Jesus’ teachings and the miracles that Jesus performed. We know this much, because although Nicodemus does not say exactly, he does mention “we” in reference to those that know he is from God. We also assume that they are keeping their beliefs hidden from Caiaphas, the high priest and leader of the Pharisees, and other Pharisees who condemned Jesus.

Jesus answered Nicodemus in verse 3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This answer from Jesus confused Nicodemus, and he answered Jesus in verse 4, “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 followed in verse 5 and 6, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” You see, Nicodemus was trying to comprehend in the physical realm what Jesus was referring to in the spiritual realm. When Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit ”, He was saying that there is a difference between living according to man's way of life and living according to God’s way of life.

Living in the physical flesh, or man’s way of life, we rely solely on the physical five senses of taste, touch, seeing, smell, and hearing. When trying to understand something, we apply these physical five senses—if these five senses cannot comprehend it, than in the physical sense, we cannot accept it as truth. But, when living according to the Holy Spirit, you will have available to you the ability to comprehend a sixth sense—that being the spiritual realm where God’s blessings are released.

In verse 7 and 8, Jesus says to Nicodemus, “7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jesus is telling Nicodemus not to dwell to much on the physical aspect of what I told you, because it is from the Spirit that you must be born again. He also describes what the Spirit is like. He likens it to the wind, you hear the wind blow, but you cannot see it—that’s how it is with the Spirit. The Spirit is there, but it is not detectable to the physical five senses. Only those who are born again will have the ability to detect the Holy Spirit.

Nicodemus followed in verse 9 and said, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered, “10) Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11) Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12) If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”

Because of Nicodemus’ hardness of heart toward spiritual things Jesus rebuked Nicodemus and basically told him that it is useless to explain exactly what He was referring to in regards to spiritual things, because Nicodemus seemed to be having difficulty understanding earthly things, or things that can be comprehended with the physical five senses.

Nicodemus’ hardness of heart stemmed from pharisaical self-righteousness. The Pharisees, who Jesus calls here, "hypocrites", did everything that would be seen by others by the letter of the law and neglected those things that Jesus called "the weightier matters of the law", but yet went out and condemned others for doing the same thing. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

One of my favorite examples of this comes in John chapter 8. While Jesus was teaching at the Temple, the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Him whom they caught in adultery. In verse 4 and 5, the Pharisees, who were looking for a way to entrap Jesus and accuse Him of wrong doing, inquired to Jesus on what to do with the woman,
“4) Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5) Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

Jesus responded by stooping down and writing on the ground with His finger, as though He didn’t hear them. They continued to repeat their request to Jesus when finally He stood up. In verse 7, Jesus answered them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” With this, Jesus stooped back down to write on the ground.

Now, this account does not tell us what Jesus was writing on the ground, but what would have condemned the Scribes and Pharisees more than Jesus writing their own personal sins on the ground in plain view for them to see? I say nothing! Although, just conjecture on my part; this would have been a powerful way for Jesus to get His message across clearly to both the Scribes and Pharisees.

While they were standing there waiting for Jesus’ reply and holding rocks that they were about to stone the woman with, as per the Law of Moses, how could they not feel ashamed and convicted while seeing Jesus write their own personal sins in the dirt for all to see. Not one of them questioned Jesus further or threw a stone toward the woman. The account tells us that the Scribes and Pharisees left the scene one-by-one, beginning with the oldest.

It would make sense to think that Jesus took each one of the Scribes and Pharisees, starting with the oldest and writing his name along with his sin. As each one saw their name and sin they just walked away with nothing to say. What a powerful moment that must have been.

Jesus then followed up and set the example of the weightier matters of the law that He mentioned in Matthew 23:23 , those being, justice, mercy, and faith, by addressing the woman who was caught in the adultery. He said to her in verse 10, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? ” In verse 11 the woman responded, “No one, Lord.” Jesus added, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

What a powerful example that must have been to the Scribes and Pharisees—at the very least, it must have been embarrassing to them in front of all the people at the temple who were being taught by Jesus. Jesus then, turned back to the people who He was teaching and said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

If we go back to our original topic with Nicodemus, Jesus also concludes his discussion with him in a similar way—in verse 18-21, “18) He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21) But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

In both John chapter 3 and John chapter 8, Jesus refers to Himself as a light to man. Of course, the light here symbolizes knowledge and an understanding of that knowledge. That knowledge being the “nearly to good to be true news” of the Gospel. In verse 18 above, Jesus tells us that those who believe are “not” condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already.

Those who Jesus is referring to here are not people who haven’t heard this good news of the Gospel, because, if they haven’t yet heard how can they be condemned. Those who He is referring to are those who heard and understand, but as He says in verse 19, loves the darkness more than the light. The darkness here represents worldly things or a worldly way of life, such as money or fame or anything that would be intriguing to the physical senses and are contrary to God’s way of life. Those who enjoy those things and do not accept Jesus, but reject the truth to hold onto that worldly way of life, are doing nothing but condemning themselves.

The word “futility” used in verse 17, means, “an action that has no use, purpose, or effect.” So the apostle Paul is saying here that the Gentiles thinking is of no use, purpose, or effect. That type of thinking is ignorance and due to the hardening of their hearts. He says this because, they have rejected the truth after hearing it.

Verse 19 is poignant, because it starts off, “Having lost all sensitivity”—if you look at our society today it is full of “lost sensitivity”. What I mean by that is that we see so much violence and hatred on news broadcasts, television shows, and movies, that our society has become insensitive or calloused to it. Even the video games our children are playing involve violence of all kinds, and that desensitizes many of them.

With this desensitization, compassion for those who genuinely need compassion are not receiving it. In cities like New York City, where compassion is in dire need, it is a perfect example. When it comes to homelessness and poverty, people, for the most part, look the other way. Similar to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10.

In verse 20, Jesus reminds us that we didn’t come to know Christ this way—Oh sure, many of us may have been called out of that lifestyle, but our understanding did not come until we made a commitment to seek the Lord with a willingness to abandon that lifestyle. It is then, that sensitivity comes to you and you feel a greater sense of compassion for those in need around you.

Verse 23 describes it well, it says, you need “to be made new in the attitude of your mind, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Your attitude in everything that makes up your life, and must change. You must transform yourself from “the self” to “the selfless”. Truly happy people in this life, are generally givers rather than receivers, or more people oriented. They generally consider others before themselves. People who are always down or depressed or are complainers, are generally people who are self oriented, always thinking of how to make their own life better. When people like that constantly focus on themselves, they never seem to satisfy their desires. Why? Because God programmed you with a heart of compassion, when you focus all you attention on yourself, you are working against the natural instinct of you heart, creating a conflict of interest. This leads to a miserable nature that is exposed on the outside of you. The only way to shake this miserable nature is to transform it.

This transformation, left to your own human devices, is difficult at best and nearly impossible for the rest of us, but the good news is that you are not left on your own—Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Now Jesus was speaking to those of His day, who did not have access to Scripture, as we do today, although we have the same Holy Spirit working within us, we also have it a lot easier, because we have easy access to the Bible today—God’s Word. If you do not have a Bible in your home, it is easy enough to go out and purchase one. And with the internet, you can easily access the Bible online for free! (www.biblegateway.com)

The Holy Spirit does not need to bring to your remembrance what Jesus said, you only have to dust off your Bible. The Holy Spirit will then help you discern the truths in the Bible, thus, transform your mind and you will be on your way to a fuller, richer, and more prosperous life.

May God Bless you on your journey!!

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