Introduction
A ruler of the Jews once said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:2-3.
Any birth which is essential to seeing or entering into the kingdom of God must be extremely important and warrants our careful study. This birth, usually called the new birth, is discussed in John 3:1-13. The student should read these verses at this time before proceeding further with this lesson.
THE NATURE OF THE NEW BIRTH
The question in the mind of Nicodemus when Jesus first mentioned the new birth was how it might be possible for a man to experience a second physical birth.
When Jesus said, “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5, he showed that the new birth is spiritual rather than physical. But it is a birth because it changes our spiritual relationship just as a physical birth changes our physical relationship.
The new birth is only one birth, not two, not one of the water and another of the Spirit, but a single birth in which both the water and the Spirit have a part.
It may clarify our understanding if we think of the water and the Spirit of the spiritual birth as corresponding to the mother and the father of the physical birth. Just as one cannot be born physically without both parents, so one cannot be born spiritually without both the water and the Spirit.
In the Greek language (in which the New Testament was written) there is but one word which is variously translated in the English version as “beget” or “born”.
Literally it means “to bring forth”. When applied to the father it is translated “beget”. Matthew 1:2. When applied to the mother it is “born”. Matthew 11:11. Sometimes in the King James Version “born” is used when “beget” would be more appropriate. Let us now examine the parts played respectively by the Spirit and the water.
THE SPIRIT’S PART
Briefly, the birth of the Spirit is the inward, spiritual change wrought by the Holy Spirit of God when the word is planted in the heart of man and believed.
In birth two things are necessary, (1) begettal; (2) delivery. This is true in the animal and vegetable kingdoms and likewise in the spiritual realm.
Notice the following passages from the American Standard Version which show that we are begotten of God: “Every one that loveth is begotten of God.” 1 John 4:7.
“Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God.” 1 John 5:1.
“But as many as received him to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.
This begettal is accomplished through the planting of seed. Later, as this seed grows, it is brought forth (delivered) as a new creature.
“Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and abides … And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:22, 23, 25 A.S.V.
Notice that the begetting is accomplished through the word of God, which is the incorruptible seed.
Again, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” James 1:18.
In the parable of the sower Jesus explains, “The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11.
Putting all of this together we learn that we are begotten of God when the seed is planted in our hearts and germinates or, in other words, when the gospel is preached and believed.
Where does the Holy Spirit enter in? The Holy Spirit is the agent of God in planting the seed. When Jesus left his disciples he promised them a comforter who was the Holy Spirit.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13.
The role of the Holy Spirit, then, was to act as the agent of the Lord in setting forth the word of God though the apostles. When they wrote the books of the New Testament, they wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
When one believes these teachings inspired by the Holy Spirit and on that basis resolves to accept Christ, he has been begotten by the Spirit. The word of God, the seed, has been planted in his heart by the Spirit of God, and the part of the new birth that pertains to the Spirit has been accomplished.
Of course, there are differences between physical and spiritual birth. We had no choice in our physical birth. But the one who is begotten by the Spirit by believing the gospel is voluntarily begotten.
We must “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls,” James 1:21 A.S.V. or, in other words, believe. If we do not believe, no begetting takes place. We are told, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God.” 1 John 5:1 A.S.V.
The begetting by the Spirit works an inward change. This change is expressed in repentance. Repentance is a change of heart and is necessary to salvation. “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:3.
The one who truly repents will live a different kind of life after he has turned to Christ. Having been begotten by the Spirit, he will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:9. This will be studied in another lesson.
THE WATER’S PART
It is possible for one to be physically begotten without being brought forth as a living creature. Likewise, one can be spiritually begotten by believing without being delivered and, hence, without entering the kingdom of God.
Both the water and the Spirit are necessary for entrance into the everlasting kingdom. As we are begotten by the agency of the Spirit, so we are delivered by means of the water.
Some contend that in this passage water is figurative and means word, and that to be born of the water is to be born of the word. This cannot be since any fair interpretation requires that both water and the Spirit be understood in the same manner, either literally or figuratively.
If water means word, Spirit cannot mean Spirit. But since virtually all agree that Spirit must be understood literally, water must also be literal and must mean water and nothing else.
The only important use of water in the New Testament is in connection with baptism.
Consider these passages.
“Eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 3:20-21.
“And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:38. Therefore to be born of water is to be baptised in water.
How is the water to be applied in baptism? In physical birth one cannot be born of that which is smaller than himself. So, in spiritual birth, the element in which we are delivered must be larger than the individual so that only in immersion in water can one truly be born of water. In sprinkling or pouring there is too little water, and the figure of birth is not carried out.
This agrees with other passages which show that water baptism is a burial in water. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death.” Romans 6:4. “Buried with him in baptism.” Colossians 2:12. A burial implies a complete immersion. In both figures, birth and burial, immersion in water is clearly taught.
IS THE NEW BIRTH NECESSARY?
Jesus teaches that the new birth is essential to entering the kingdom of God. He says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God … Ye must be born again.” John 3:3, 5, 7.
The words “except” and “must” denote essentiality. No other construction can fairly be placed upon them, especially since they are the words of Christ himself.
It, therefore, follows that since the new birth is accomplished by one’s believing the words of the Spirit and by being immersed in water, then both faith and baptism are essential to entering the kingdom of God.
Since the kingdom of God is composed of the saved, see Matthew 19:23-25, faith and baptism are also essential to salvation from sin.
Most will grant the necessity of faith, but since some deny the necessity of baptism a few more scriptures should be noted. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:16. This places baptism between faith and salvation.
“This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also”. 1 Peter 3:21. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Acts 2:38. “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” Acts 22:16.
Since the washing away or remission of sins is necessary to salvation, we must conclude that baptism is essential to salvation. This does not make water our saviour. Christ is our saviour. But only by the birth of water and the Spirit can we get into Christ where salvation is. For this reason both the water and the Spirit are necessary.
IS THE NEW BIRTH MYSTERIOUS?
In John 3:8 we read, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Some have thought that in some mysterious way, we are born again when the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and tells us we are saved. Since in nine cases of conversion in Acts, we have no example of such a mysterious “experience”, we must conclude that this theory is not founded upon the Bible.
Then what does this verse mean? The answer is in the expression, “So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Jesus is comparing the one born of the Spirit with the wind. As you cannot see the wind, but can see what it does, so with the one born of the Spirit.
You cannot see an outward or physical change in him, after his new birth. But there is a difference in the way he acts, speaks and lives. There is a change, but it is no more visible to the naked eye than the wind. The change is in the manner of life, not the physical appearance.
SENDING YOUR ANSWERS
Please proceed and fill in the evaluation sheet below with your answers. Thank you and God bless your studies.
