The Good News
What it means to be born again
Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Here is what He meant, explained simply from Scripture, and how you can experience it for yourself.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
A new life, not a new leaf
One night a man named Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus. He was a respected religious leader: moral, educated and devoted to God’s law. If anyone seemed ready for heaven, it was him. Yet Jesus told him plainly that he needed to be born again.
Jesus wasn’t asking Nicodemus to try harder, become more religious or turn over a new leaf. He was describing something only God can do: giving a person a brand-new spiritual life. Just as you didn’t produce your own physical birth, you can’t produce this one either. It is a birth “from above.”
“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.’”
John 3:6–7
Why we need it
The Bible is honest about our condition. Every one of us has sinned, and sin has separated us from a holy God. Scripture doesn’t describe us as sick people who need a little help, but as people who are spiritually dead and need to be made alive.
Good works, church attendance and being a “good person” can’t fix that, because a dead person doesn’t need improvement. They need life. That is exactly what Jesus offers.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,”
Ephesians 2:1
God does the work
Being born again is a gift of God’s grace. Jesus paid the full penalty for our sin when He died on the cross, and He rose again on the third day. Because of what He finished, the Holy Spirit can come and make a person new from the inside out. We don’t earn it, and we can’t add to it. We simply receive it.
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”
Titus 3:5
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9
Our response: repent and believe
When Jesus began preaching, His message was simple: “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. You turn from your sin, and you turn to Jesus.
What repentance is
The word repent means “to change your mind.” It is agreeing with God about your sin: no more excuses, no more hiding, no more calling wrong right. And a real change of mind leads to a change of direction. You stop walking away from God and turn around to follow Him.
What repentance is not: it isn’t cleaning yourself up before you come to God, and it isn’t earning forgiveness by feeling bad enough. It is coming to Him honestly, just as you are, and letting Him change you.
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”
Acts 3:19
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
What believing is
Saving faith is more than agreeing that Jesus existed. It is personally trusting Him: believing that He died for your sins, that God raised Him from the dead, and receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. It is a relationship, not a religion.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in 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
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
What changes when you’re born again
The moment you turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, God does more than forgive you. He makes you a whole new person. Here are some of the ways Scripture describes it.
New life
A new creation
The old has passed away. God starts something truly new in you.
2 Corinthians 5:17
New standing
Forgiven and right with God
Your sins are washed away, and you have peace with God.
Romans 5:1 · 1 John 1:9
New family
A child of God
You are adopted into God’s family and can call Him Father.
Romans 8:15–16
New heart
New desires
God replaces a heart of stone with a heart that wants to please Him.
Ezekiel 36:26
New power
The Holy Spirit within
The Spirit lives in you, sealing you and helping you live for Jesus.
Ephesians 1:13
New hope
Eternal life
You have passed from death into life, with a living hope that will never fade.
John 5:24 · 1 Peter 1:3
Your assurance doesn’t rest on your feelings, which come and go. It rests on God’s promise in His Word.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
1 John 5:13
A beginning, not the finish line
A newborn baby is alive, but it still has a lot of growing to do. The same is true spiritually. Being born again is the start of a lifelong walk with Jesus. Here are a few simple next steps:
- Feed on God’s Word daily. Start with the Gospel of John and read a little every day.
- Talk with God in prayer. Thank Him, tell Him what’s on your heart and listen as you read.
- Be baptized. Baptism doesn’t save you, but it is an act of obedience and a public picture of the new life you’ve received.
- Find fellowship. Connect with a Bible-teaching church and other believers who can walk with you.
- Tell someone. Share what God has done in your life.
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”
1 Peter 2:2
An invitation
Would you like to be born again?
There are no magic words. God looks at your heart. If you are ready to turn from your sin and trust Jesus, you can tell Him right now, in your own words or with a prayer like this:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I can’t save myself. I’m sorry for my sin, and I turn from it to You. I believe You died on the cross for me and that God raised You from the dead. I receive You now as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiving me and giving me new life. Help me to follow You every day. Amen.
If you prayed this, or if you have questions, we would love to hear from you and pray with you.
Want to go deeper? Watch our verse-by-verse teaching through John 3.