by R. L. Morrison

In John 3, we find the record of Nicodemus, who came to Jesus and said, "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" (John 3:2). This man paid a high compliment to Jesus. He spoke not only for himself, but for fellow Jews, perhaps other teachers. He said, "we know." They had good reason to know. They witnessed some of the miracles Jesus performed, evidence that Jesus came from God.

However, Jesus ignored the compliment and replied, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." When Nicodemus questioned this statement, Jesus answered, "Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." This statement by Jesus is the source of much controversy among people today. Some teach one thing, others that which is directly contrary. Of course, both cannot be true (both could be in error). To understand what the Bible teaches about the New Birth, we should study all the scriptures reveal on the subject. When we do, we can learn all we need to know about being born again.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (1 Peter 1:23). To this James 1:18 adds, "of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." The word of God, then, is that by which we are born again. This involves a learning and believing the word of God. However, this is not the complete process; we must look further.

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he set forth a list of sinful practices, after which he said, "Such were some of you; but ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11). Surely all will agree that these Corinthians had been born again. Every one, washed, sanctified, justified by Christ and the Holy Spirit has been born again. But again the question arises, "How was the New Birth accomplished?"

In 1 Cor. 4:15, Paul wrote, "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel." Then in Acts 18:8, Luke makes what happened very clear and plain. "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized." Were these Corinthians born again? We have already learned they were. How was it accomplished? By hearing the gospel Paul preached, believing what they heard, and being baptized (immersed) in water.

This is to say that baptism, in obedience to the command of Christ (Mark 16:16), is to be born of water and the Spirit. The Spirit revealed the word of God, the seed, that fell into the heart when the word was preached. Those who believed what they heard, obeyed, and in so doing were born again. Paul wrote, "Christ ... is the first born from the dead" (Col. 1:18). This figure of speech likens the resurrection of Christ to a birth from the grave. The same figure likens baptism and coming out of the water to being born again.

Some say, "The new birth is from above." This is meant to suggest that the new birth is an act on the part of God and man has nothing to do with it. But is God responsible for the new birth of a man? If one is not born again, is God responsible for that man? This idea is not in the Bible. God loved the world, all people, so much He gave Christ to save mankind from sin. There is, in our salvation, both a human and a divine side. God, through Christ, did for us that which we could not do for ourselves. He provided a blood sacrifice that can cleanse the sinner from the guilt of sin. It can also keep him free from that guilt through life. But the sinner must accept the benefits of the sacrifice of Christ. God does not force any person to do so! He also does not do for any one person that which He does not do for another.

As with the Corinthians, when the word of God is heard, it can and does cause some to believe. The believer has the right to become a son of God (John 1:12). The sinner exercises that right or privilege by further obedience; that is, repentance, a confession of faith, and baptism. Such a one is born again (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul speaks of such a one as a new creature. Birth does not give life. It only puts one in a position to exercise the life one already has. Life begins with the begattal, preaching Christ, and then is brought forth in baptism to live a new life of righteousness in Christ.

There are many conflicting doctrines today regarding this new birth. As stated previously, some say it is an act of God; that man has nothing to do with it. Others say the birth of water is a reference to natural birth. Nicodemus also made this mistake, and Jesus corrected him. Yet others believe the birth of the spirit will not occur until the resurrection, although one is born of water in this life.

But God did not fail to clearly reveal what is involved in the new birth, and how and when it is accomplished.

The Holy Spirit, through the apostles, speaks to us today through the Word. When we hear His voice (the Word), we are begotten by the Spirit. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth" (James 1:18). "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1). Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ believes it by hearing the word, revealed by the Spirit. There is no other source of information. The invitation of the word is to whosoever will. So man, himself, decides if he will accept and believe the word, or reject it. But, "Everyone that believeth that Jesus is Christ is born of God." Any person can now believe, by hearing and accepting the word that Jesus is the Christ. The only conclusion that may be drawn is that a person can now be born again of water and the Spirit, in this life.

The process is not hard to understand, or difficult to follow. People hear the Word of God, the seed (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23). In this way they are made believers in Christ, begotten by the Spirit. Those who believe and obey from the heart the form of doctrine which they hear (Rom. 6:17-18) are baptized in water, and being made free from sin, are servants of righteousness. They have been born again of water and the Spirit.

A birth of water without the Spirit is to be stillborn. There can be no birth of the Spirit without obedience to the word, which includes baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

That the New Testament teaches the new birth is necessary to salvation is easily understood. One who believes that God has provided this salvation, should also believe the way to obtain it is easily understood.

The new birth is spoken of in different ways. It is what Peter referred to in Acts 2:38, as being baptized for or in order to obtain the remission of sin. It is what Paul referred to when he wrote, "But God be thanked, that ye were servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18).

When one obeys the gospel, that one is translated out of the power of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. It is a change, a moving from one spiritual condition to another. It is a change that makes a sinner a Christian. It is referred to as a birth, an entrance into another kind of life.

This new birth is NOT some mysterious thing, a better felt than told event, or something which cannot be explained. It is simply obedience on the part of one who desires to do what God has commanded. That one is preparing self, for the final judgment and eternity.

Have you been born of water and the Spirit?