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What does it mean to be “born again”? That’s the exact question Nicodemus asks Jesus. Nicodemus is a Pharisee; he knows the Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, inside and out. He was part of the ruling council, so he had wisdom to go along with his knowledge. But he needs to know: “What do you mean ‘born again’?”
We all know the basic biology of how babies are born. But human beings are more than just a physical body. We are made in God’s image, unlike all the other creatures of the earth. When God created the first human, he breathed his own breath into him to give him life. We have a physical body; we also have a spirit or a soul. Your body will eventually die, but your spirit will continue forever.
Jesus told Nicodemus, and wants us to know, that though our spirits will continue forever, we can experience spiritual death—the eternal separation from God. The only remedy for this is to be reborn of God’s Holy Spirit. To be born again.
Then, John tells us that God made this possible by sending Jesus to earth, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. We have already sinned and are already condemned, Jesus died to save us from the punishment we deserve: eternal separation from God. When we are born again, he gives us new life—one where we will live changed in this life and be with God in the next.
Pray: Dear God, I believe in Jesus Christ. I know I will live with you forever. You have changed my life already. Will you help me to live to introduce others to Jesus and so that together we can fully follow him? Amen.