YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, recorded in John’s gospel, chapter 3, is humorous in places but very enlightening overall. The term ‘born again’, which we hear so often, occurs only here and in 1st Peter 1:23.

Verse 8 says: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

What does this mean? Surely it cannot mean that those born of the Spirit are flighty and unpredictable like the wind. Surely it doesn’t mean that born again believers can never know where they have come from or where they’re going next!

Maybe Philip, in Acts 8, was a bit like that. But everyone who is born of the Spirit?

No, I think Jesus is saying that, from a human perspective, the process by which we are born again is a mystery. We may analyse it with our theological minds – I’ve tried to do that myself – but the subtleties are always going to elude us. It’s a bit like trying to explain in technical terms how Mary became pregnant.

Being born again is a work of the Holy Spirit, that much we can say. Therefore, we ought to be wary of telling anyone that getting born again is a human achievement. People can repent, come to Christ and give their lives to Him, but they cannot make themselves born again.

When Jesus says: “You must be born again,” therefore, He is explaining the only way of entering the Kingdom. As in, this is what has to happen before you can enter.

Isn’t it good that spiritual rebirth is entirely out of our hands?