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The Biblical Way to Find New Life

In John chapter 3, verses 1-15, we find one of the best known New Testament passages. Jesus has a personal encounter with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was one of the most powerful and influential men in all of Israel during this time period. He was a wealthy, powerful, religious guy. Yet he was a man with a restlessness that neither he nor his money nor his power could shake.

During the course of this conversation, Jesus refers to Nicodemus as "a ruler of Israel." This tells us a lot. It tells us Nicodemus was an educated man. But despite his learning, there were some things this guy did not know.

So one night, this rich, powerful, educated man found himself alone in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. What Nicodemus was awakened to that night would prove to be the greatest lesson of his life.

Nicodemus came to Jesus for some answers about religion. What he received were some answers about redemption. He came to Jesus with questions about Jesus. He went away with more knowledge about Jesus and about himself than he ever could have imagined. He came to Jesus that night to ask some questions about life. He left with information about the new birth.

Let's listen in as this teacher gets taught.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "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."

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to him, "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 answered, "Truly, truly, 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. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit."

Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

And Jesus answered him, "You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

— John 3:1-15

Do you see that? Whoever believes in him will have eternal life.

Part One: The Requirement of the New Birth

Don't miss this.

The new birth. Being born again. We've heard it, haven't we? It's not a new phrase if you've studied the New Testament at all. First Peter speaks of the new birth. James mentions it in chapter 1. John the Apostle in the little First John book mentions it five times—in chapter 3, chapter 4, and three times in chapter 5.

So then, what does it mean to be born again?

The little phrase means in literal fashion to be born from above. That's key. It carries the idea of getting a fresh start, a new life from heaven. We call this experience being saved or being redeemed. Titus 3:5 uses the term "regeneration." It means the exact same thing. When you are regenerated, you get a new life. You get a new start.

So many folks have this confused. They are seeking a reformation. That is, they are trying to turn over a new leaf or trying to get a new lease on life. What the human being in its sin nature needs is not reformation. It needs regeneration.

Every person under the sun needs regeneration and not reformation.

You see, reformation is just whitewashing. But regeneration is washing you deeper than you can imagine.

Reformation will put new clothes on a person. But regeneration will put a new person in those clothes.

Much different.

What the world needs, what you need, what I need is regeneration.

Born Once, Die Twice — Born Twice, Never Die

If you've been born only once, then you're going to die twice. But if you have been born twice, you will never die because death has been swallowed up in life.

Look at this very cool passage out of John 11:25-26. This is Jesus speaking:

"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

— John 11:25-26

I don't know if the King could be any more straight up than that.

Paul doubles down on this in 1 Corinthians 15:54:

"When the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"

— 1 Corinthians 15:54

That's big doings. That's what we're about. That's what all of this is about.

Why the New Birth Is Necessary

With all that in mind, let me share with you the why of the new birth. Let me show you why it is necessary if you want to get to heaven and you want peace with God.

For starters, the nature of humanity makes it a requirement. Don't miss that. The nature of humanity makes this a requirement. Our sin nature makes it a requirement.

Now, old Nicodemus has received a lot of criticism over the years for approaching Jesus at night. Even in some of the modern tellings of the New Testament, especially in film, you see Nicodemus sneaking around to go meet Jesus. Some people have suggested he was trying to hide what he was doing.

I used to believe that. I thought that was a fair assessment on one hand—until I really thought it through.

When you really get down to the core of what's going on here, it's possible that he came at night simply because he was a very busy man and Jesus was a very busy man and the conversation he wanted to have with him would have been chaos during the day with all the people around. I think he came at night because he wanted some uninterrupted time with Jesus. He didn't want the interruptions that the day would have brought.

Also think it through. He's a ruler of Israel. Jesus was becoming more and more public. This guy, Nicodemus, would have zero reason to be secretive. In fact, many of the people that were around his influence would have wanted to hear how the meeting went.

Notice how he came to Jesus. This is key. He came humbly and was very complimentary to Jesus. He came with some serious questions, but I dare say he did not expect the answer he received.

Jesus told him in verse 3 and verse 7, "You must be born again."

Surely Nicodemus at that moment had to think this was a mistake.

Everything Going for Him — Still Not Enough

Now, look at Nicodemus. Think about this guy and all that he had going for him. You'd never expect him to need to be born again. Not Nicodemus. Maybe some other folks, but not Nicodemus. One glance and you would have thought old Nicki had everything going for him. He had all the pluses and none of the minuses from the human perspective.

Just look at all what he had going for him:

Nicodemus was a rich man. Tradition tells us that Nicodemus was one of the three richest men in Jerusalem. He had more money than he knew what to do with.

Remember: what we have does not change what we are. You can have plenty of money—it does not change the fact you're still a sinner and need a savior. Your money can buy you many things here in this world, but guess what? In the kingdom of God, in heaven, it's going to buy a grand total of zero. Zip. Nada.

Nicodemus was a respectable man. When he walked down the streets, people knew who he was and they would point him out to their children. "This is what success looks like." He was held in great esteem by all who knew him and saw him. He was after all a ruler and a great teacher in Israel.

Still, what we achieve does not change what we are. It's good to be respected. It's awesome to have a good name among people, but that will not provide you a place in heaven, a place in the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus was a religious man. He's a Pharisee. He kept the law. He was morally pure to a degree that you and I have trouble to even imagine. Even Jesus recognized the religious efforts of guys like him in Matthew chapter 5. He paid his tithes. He did everything the law said to do. He kept the written law and the traditions of the elders. He would not come into contact with a sinner.

Oh boy. He was such a holy dude.

Still, what we do does not change who we are. In spite of the outward attempts at righteousness, Nicodemus was a religious man in need of redemption. In need of a redeemer.

Look, it's cool, it's awesome to live a clean, holy, intentional life, but that ain't going to save your soul. Your religious activities won't do the job either.

Here's where many well-meaning folks are confused. They think if they can be good enough or do enough, it'll guarantee them access to heaven or better the odds. Better the odds, right?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Salvation only comes through the new birth.

Why? Because no matter what you have or what you do or who you are, you are still a sinner born with a sin nature. Nothing you have, do, or are changes what you are—a sinner in need of a savior.

That is why the new birth is not an option. It is not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. It is a divine requirement. If you want to miss the second death and have a place in the kingdom of heaven, you must be born again.

The nature of the human demands it.

The Nature of Heaven Demands It Too

Next, the nature of heaven. The nature of heaven itself makes this a requirement.

In verse 3, Jesus says that without new birth, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. So what kind of place is that, the kingdom of God? Do you understand what he's saying?

It's a heavenly place that is prepared for prepared people.

Did you know that this is true? It's a prepared place for prepared people.

One of the most precious benefits of the new birth is the fact that we receive a new nature when we are saved. When you receive redemption, you receive God's nature, a nature from heaven. The new birth prepares you for life in a new kingdom.

The only way you can get into heaven is for you to first get heaven into you.

Besides, think about it. If you went to heaven with a lost, fallen nature, you're going to be miserable. Heaven would become kind of like a hell for you. You would never enjoy that land unless you had the new nature. All the worship, the praise, the glories of heaven would be offensive to you if you went there lost. It would be against your nature to enjoy anything in that land.

That is why we need a new birth. It prepares us to enter in and enjoy that new land. It gives us a new nature and a new life.

That's what we do as Christians who have that new nature. We celebrate that day after day, week after week. It affects our whole life in such a glorious, wonderful way. And the result is a phrase you're going to hear a lot: contentment with godliness is great gain.

It's Against Their Nature

So sidebar—all this business of new birth got me to thinking:

You'll never see a bird washing windows. Why? It's against its nature.

You'll never see a cow delivering the mail. Why? It's against its nature.

You'll never see a pig flying from tree limb to tree limb. No matter what anyone tells you, you'll never see it. Why? It's against its nature.

Listen, you will never see a lost sinner in heaven. You won't. Why? Because it's against their nature.

Is this making sense?

If you're going there, you need a new nature. The only way to get that nature is through a new birth.

Your first birth provided you with a physical, fleshly nature. You need a new birth, a birth from heaven, to provide you with a new spiritual nature. That's what verse 6 is about. That is why Jesus says you must be born again. It's not an option.

Please don't settle for "maybe so," "I hope so," "I think so" kind of salvation. Become born again totally. Lay yourself down in need of redemption and ask Jesus to take away your sins. Turn from that lifestyle. That is belief evidenced. When you really believe, you're not hedging your bets—because new birth is a requirement.

Part Two: The Mystery of the New Birth

When Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again, it messed with his mind. He could not grasp how that could be. He imagined that he might have to go back into his mother's womb to be born a second time—or he was just talking hyperbole. But let's be honest, I bet all the moms out there would say, "No, not going to do that."

So he wanted to know, "How could this happen?" It's a mystery.

He asked Jesus about the details of the new birth. Nicodemus knows he's in the presence of a mystery now and he wants the answers. He doesn't want to be right. He wants the answers. He doesn't want all of his past religious teachings to be justified. He wants the answers from the King.

There is no doubt that this new birth is a mysterious thing. Let's be honest. Let's just bottom line it. None of us completely understand everything there is to know about it. It's still a mystery, even to some of us who have experienced it.

However, don't let the fact that it's a mystery cause you to avoid it altogether—or worse yet, doubt it after you receive it.

Don't let the mystery of electricity cause you to sit in the dark. You don't do that, do you?

Or how about the mystery of how a brown cow can eat green grass and give yellow butter and white milk—don't let that stop you from enjoying butter, milk, and ice cream, right?

There are many things we do not understand in life, but we still believe in them. Do not allow the mystery of the new birth to keep you from being sure in your redemption or from coming to Jesus for redemption if you are still in your sins.

Jesus Compares It to a Birth

Notice how Jesus addresses this mystery for Nicodemus. He compares it to two things. He compares it to a birth and he compares it to the wind.

In verses 4-7, he compares it to a birth. Physical birth is a mystery. Even doctors who specialize in the field know that there's a part of human birth that is a marvelous mystery that no one can fully explain. The Christian will look at that mystery and say this is God giving life.

Jesus says, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." He is talking about physical birth and spiritual birth. He is telling us that for a man to get into the kingdom of God, he must have two birthdays. There must be a day when he was born into the kingdom of men and a day when he is born into the kingdom of God.

There are a few ways physical birth can be used to illustrate spiritual birth:

First, physical birth provides life.
Babies live because they're born. That's how they have life. Likewise, spiritual birth provides a person with spiritual life.

Second, physical birth happens only once.
Physically speaking, you can only be born one time. Spiritually, the same thing is true. Your spiritual birth is a one-time, for-all-time experience. It cannot be undone and it cannot be repeated. When you have new life in Christ, when you have been authentically cleansed of your sins, when you've truly repented, it's a one-time, for-all-time event.

Third, physical birth takes place because of the suffering of another.
It's been said that a mother enters the actual jaws of death to bring life into this world. I've been present for four of them. And the one thing that I know from each one is I'm glad it wasn't me. Men are not built to do that. There is a gift that women have to bring birth into the world that is from God. It's part of the awesomeness that makes us different and yet equally valuable—different set of skills. Jesus entered the cruel jaws of death that you might be born again. The new birth rests squarely upon the pain and suffering of another.

Fourth, physical birth gives an infant a brand new start.
No baby is born with a past. They have no past, only a future. And so it is with the new birth. When you get saved, you get a brand new start. Your past is wiped away and a new, clean future lies in front of you. And like babies, you need to be raised up. You need to feed. You need to grow.

The new birth is very much in harmony with the physical birth.

Jesus Compares It to the Wind

Then in verse 8, Jesus compares it to the wind.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that just as the wind can be felt, it can be measured, and its effect can be seen—but where it came from and where it went remains a mystery. The new birth is the same way.

You cannot see God do his work in a heart, but you can see the effects of the wind and you can see the effects of the Spirit saving a life.

When you see an addict leave their substance, you know God has been working.

When you see a wicked, hateful man turn into a sweet, loving, holy saint, you know this wind of the Spirit has been blowing in his soul.

When you see a vile, heartless woman become a clean woman, you know God has passed by.

It's a mystery. We do not see it happen. But there is no denying the effects of the power of God when he works in the human heart.

Jesus is saying, "Nikki boy, listen. I can save you, and when I do, you will never be the same."

That is what God does for all of those who come to him by faith. He changes them and alters their life forever.

I get really disappointed when people try to use this to play games to increase their own significance when the Bible's clear that I must decrease and he must increase. Why? Because we're new creations. We have new life.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come."

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Time to Act Is Now

By the way, the wind of the Spirit was blowing in the soul of Nicodemus, but he could not control that wind. It might be gone in an instant, never to return. The time for Nicodemus to heed God's call was when the wind was moving in his heart.

Do you see that in your text today?

Now listen. If the Spirit, the wind of the Spirit, is blowing in your soul, the time to act is now. He will not always deal with you.

Straight up.

The best thing you can do is come to him when he is near and calling. No man comes to the Father except the Spirit draw him first, says the scriptures. The only time you can come is when he is calling you.

"Well, I'll think about it maybe later this week."

Do you understand the gift that's being offered to you? And that's going to be your response? Jesus might just leave you where you are.

Part Three: The How of the New Birth

When Nicodemus hears these things, he wants to know how is this possible. Jesus takes these next few verses to explain to him and to us how the new birth can become a reality.

Let's break it down into two things: the role of the Savior and the role of the sinner.

The Role of the Savior

In verses 13 and 14, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Savior's part in the new birth was to leave heaven above and to come to this world to die for sin.

Do you see that? That is what Jesus did for you. He left heaven, took upon himself a human body, lived without sin, and died a horrible, awful death on the cross.

Jesus reminded Nicodemus of the time Israel sinned and God sent serpents in among them to bite them. As they did, many people in Israel died. That whole story is in Numbers chapter 21 if you want to look it up later.

When that tragic event took place, God commanded Moses to make a brass snake and put it on a pole. Jesus said that he was like that snake. He came to this world to be put up on a cross and he came to sacrifice and die for the sins of mankind. He came to die that we through his death might live, might be given the heavenly nature.

When he died on that cross, he paid for all of our sins. Sin debt is paid in full. There is nothing more owing on your account if you received him by faith and truly repented of your sins.

He did his part when he died and rose again from the dead.

That is the role of the Savior. That's the role of our King.

The Role of the Sinner

Then in verse 15, we see the role of the sinner. What must the lost, hell-bound sinner do to be redeemed?

The answer is right there in verse 15. It's a one-word answer.

Believe.

Just like the people in ancient Israel who had been bitten by those fiery serpents. All they had to do was believe that if they looked, they would live. And they did. And they did.

If you need to be redeemed, there's nothing left for you to do but to believe in Jesus and receive his finished work at Calvary as the payment for your sins.

This is not saying a little prayer. This is not trying to add Jesus on to what you got going on. This is you recognize your sin. You come to Jesus in brokenness. You repent and you turn from where you were.

"Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

— Romans 10:9

For you, there is nothing left to do. He did it all. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be redeemed.

Have you done that? Are you saved? You can be sure.

The Truth About Being Born Again

The Greek historian Herodotus said that the ancient Egyptians believed in "the new birth." Listen now. They believed that when a person died, they became whatever animal happened to be born at the same time. And then they went from that animal to another animal and then to another animal until they had gone through all the animals of the animal kingdom. And then the Egyptians believed that you could be "born again" as a human being. They believed the process would take about 3,000 years.

Really. That is the type of reincarnation they believed in.

And guess what? They believed a lie.

If you believe in the Bible, you know that we have an active, unrelenting, never-takes-a-day-off counterfeiter, a liar, a deceiver who is trying to get you to go all-in on what is fake, what is false.

So listen, I got a truth for you today. The answer to the biggest questions of life. And what are they? Life and death. Right? If life and death are on the line, might want to take it seriously, right?

The truth is actually good news for us today.

The truth is we can be born again. And I don't mean become some animal. I don't mean become another human being. I mean we can be born into the family of God and become God's children.

When people run around blatantly flaunting their sinful way saying "we're all children of God," they're lying. We're all God's creation. Those of us who've been redeemed and given the new nature are God's children. Please know the difference.

You can be born into the family of God. You don't have to wait 3,000 years. You don't have to wait 3,000 days. You don't have to wait another minute.

You can be born again right now. Jesus is passing by you right now. Why do I know that? Because the gospel is being preached to you right now.

What Drew Nicodemus to Jesus?

What was it that drew Nicodemus to Jesus that night? Think it through.

I think it was the events of John chapter 2, verses 13-25—the chapter leading right up to chapter 3, verse 1, which we started today. What happened in those passages? Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple and proclaimed the fact of his own death and resurrection. The Bible tells us many people believed in him because of his miracles. Says that at the end of that section in verse 23 of chapter 2.

Let me show it to you. This is the passage right before our text today. So it has special weight:

"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people and he needed no one to bear witness about man. For he himself knew what was in man."

— John 2:23-25

Do you see it?

Jesus did not commit himself to them because he knew their faith was superficial. It was based on miracles and not on genuine love for him, not on genuine love for the kingdom of God.

I always think of the nice folks who are deceived into thinking that all these "gifts of the spirit" and all this other nonsense is actually love for the Savior. 99% of the time it's not. It's actually love of themselves.

But back to our story. No doubt Nicodemus saw what Jesus did at the temple. No doubt Nicodemus heard what Jesus said when he confronted all the people at the temple. What he saw and what he heard created a hunger within his soul to know more about Jesus.

So he came and he heard the gospel.

Did Nicodemus Ever Get Saved?

I think he did. Why would I say that?

Because later in the scriptures, Nicodemus stood up for Jesus before the Sanhedrin in John chapter 7. And Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea bury the body of Jesus after the crucifixion in John 19.

Listen now. Nicodemus put his wallet and his well-being on the line for Jesus.

You know why? Because that's the kind of thing a saved man does. You know what else it's called? It's called bearing fruit.

Jesus Knows You

I really want your attention back on John 2:24-25 for just a moment.

Notice: before Nicodemus ever came to Jesus, Jesus knew what was in Nicodemus's heart. Jesus knew what he needed when he came that night. Jesus cut through all the religious nonsense and all the foolishness and told Nicodemus exactly what he needed to hear. He told him how to be redeemed.

Did you notice in chapter 2, verse 24, it says that Jesus knew all the people? And in verse 25, it says he knew what was in man.

Do you see it?

Look, Jesus knows you too. He knows whether you are redeemed or not. He knows whether or not you have been born again. He knows all there is to know about you.

And he knows he loves you.

He knows that if you will come to him, he will save you by his grace. He knows that if you'll come to him like you are, you can leave like you ought to be.

Come as you are, leave changed.

You can live out that statement today. But it's up to you to act.

Those of us who know Jesus, who've been redeemed—let's bear fruit together while there's still time. Because that's what saved people do.

Final Thoughts

So here's where we land.

Nicodemus came to Jesus that night as a wealthy, powerful, religious man—a man who had everything the world says you need. And Jesus looked at him and said, "You must be born again." Not "you might want to consider it." Not "it would be nice if you did." You must be born again.

That requirement hasn't changed. The mystery of how God does his transforming work in a human heart hasn't changed either. And the how—the role of the Savior who did his part on the cross, and the role of the sinner who simply needs to believe—that's still the same today as it was that night in Jerusalem.

The question is: What are you going to do with it?

If you've never been born again, don't let another day go by. Don't wait 3,000 years. Don't wait 3,000 days. Don't wait another minute. The wind of the Spirit might be blowing in your soul right now. The time to respond is when he's calling—because he won't always deal with you.

And if you have been born again? Then you know what this new life is all about. You've got that new nature. You've experienced the regeneration that puts a new person in those clothes. So let's do what saved people do.

Let's bear fruit together while there's still time.