Daily Devotional for Thursday, April 24, 2025

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Why Did Jesus Say, ‘You Must Be Born Again’?

A Daily Devotional on Christian Living Based on John 3:7

“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” — John 3:7

Among the most well-known and widely quoted statements of Jesus is the solemn declaration recorded in John 3:7: “You must be born again.” Spoken to Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, these words are not mere religious rhetoric—they represent a foundational truth of the gospel, a non-negotiable requirement for entrance into the kingdom of God. The Greek term for “born again” is γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν (gennēthēnai anōthen), which can mean either “born again” or “born from above.” Jesus’ intent, as clarified by the context, is spiritual rebirth, not a second physical birth—a birth accomplished by the operation of God through His Word and by the proper response of obedient faith.

Jesus delivers this statement early in His ministry, around 29 C.E., during a nighttime conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:1–21). Nicodemus, as a teacher of Israel, possessed extensive knowledge of the Law and the Prophets, yet he was spiritually blind to the deeper realities of the new covenant that the Messiah had come to inaugurate. In addressing Nicodemus, Jesus exposes the futility of religious heritage, ritual observance, and law-keeping as means of salvation. No amount of religious status or human effort can substitute for the new birth that God requires.

This verse, brief though it may be, carries profound theological significance and practical implications. It is not a suggestion. It is not optional. Jesus does not say, “It would be beneficial to be born again,” nor does He imply that it is one path among many. Rather, He states with divine authority: “You must be born again.” The word δεῖ (dei), meaning “it is necessary,” underscores the absolute requirement of this rebirth for all who seek to enter into life with God.

In this devotional, we will examine what Jesus meant by being “born again,” why this new birth is essential, how it takes place, and what it means for the believer’s daily walk with God. We will also consider how this truth directly challenges common misunderstandings and calls for sincere, obedient faith.

The Context: Nicodemus and the Question of New Birth

Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night, possibly out of fear of public association or perhaps seeking quiet conversation without interruption (John 3:2). He acknowledges Jesus as “a teacher who has come from God,” recognizing the divine origin of His miracles. But his approach is cautious, perhaps academic. He sees Jesus as a rabbi, not yet as the Son of God.

Jesus responds not with small talk, but with a direct statement: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The phrase “truly, truly” (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν, amēn amēn) emphasizes the certainty and gravity of His words. This is a divine imperative, not a theoretical discussion.

Nicodemus, misunderstanding, asks how an old man can be born a second time (John 3:4). His focus remains on physical birth, but Jesus clarifies: “Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This points directly to the necessity of baptism—the immersion in water commanded in the gospel—and the work of the Spirit through the Word of God (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:26). The “water” is not symbolic alone; it refers to the act of baptism that marks the moment of new birth. The Spirit works through the Word to convict, instruct, and regenerate, but the response of baptism is the point at which the sinner moves from death to life (Romans 6:3–4).

Jesus rebukes Nicodemus gently but firmly: “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:7). The problem is not in the requirement—it is in Nicodemus’ failure to grasp the spiritual reality to which the Law and the Prophets pointed all along.

The Necessity of the New Birth — Why Must One Be Born Again?

The reason for the necessity of the new birth lies in the condition of mankind. Humanity is fallen, corrupted by sin, alienated from God (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:2). The first birth—natural, physical birth—places every person into this fallen state. No one enters life righteous. Even infants, though innocent of personal guilt, are born into a world where sin reigns and where mortality, inherited from Adam, is the consequence of that sin (Romans 5:12–14).

Jesus’ insistence on new birth underscores that salvation cannot be achieved through human effort, lineage, or moral improvement. Nicodemus was a Jew, a Pharisee, and a teacher of the Law—yet none of these credentials granted him entrance into the kingdom. The rebirth required is spiritual, not physical; it is transformation, not reformation.

The necessity is rooted in the very nature of God’s kingdom. It is holy. It is spiritual. The flesh cannot inherit what is spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:50). Therefore, unless one is born anew—born of water and Spirit—he remains outside of that kingdom. Jesus’ words are absolute: “You cannot see” (John 3:3) and “you cannot enter” (John 3:5) without this rebirth.

This reality exposes the futility of many modern approaches to salvation that emphasize sincerity, morality, or religious activity apart from new birth. The call of the gospel is not to try harder or be better, but to die to sin and rise to new life through God’s appointed means.

The Means of the New Birth — Water and Spirit

The means by which this new birth occurs is clearly stated by Jesus: “of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). The water here is unmistakably a reference to baptism. Throughout the New Testament, baptism is consistently linked with salvation, forgiveness of sins, and new life:

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).
“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3).
“He saved us… by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

The Spirit’s role in this process is not mystical infusion or emotional experience. The Spirit works through the inspired Word to convict the heart of sin (John 16:8), to lead the penitent to obedience, and to seal the believer for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13–14). The Spirit is not personally indwelling in the sense of direct communication apart from the Word, but His power is manifest through the gospel message that calls sinners to repentance and baptism.

Thus, the new birth is not about subjective feelings or private revelations. It is about responding rightly to the gospel by faith, repentance, and immersion—dying with Christ, being buried with Him, and rising to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

The Result of the New Birth — Entry into the Kingdom of God

The result of the new birth is clear: entrance into the kingdom of God. This is not merely future participation in heaven but present inclusion in the realm of God’s rule. Those who are born again become citizens of the kingdom (Colossians 1:13), members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19), and participants in the blessings of the covenant.

This rebirth also marks the beginning of a transformed life. The believer does not return to the old ways of sin. The new birth is not a ritualistic formality—it is a complete change of status and purpose. It results in sanctification, a life set apart for holiness, guided by the Word of God.

Peter affirms this truth: “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). The Word of God is the instrument through which the Spirit operates, leading the sinner to the point of new birth.

Misunderstandings and Misapplications of “Born Again”

Many today misuse the phrase “born again,” reducing it to an emotional decision, a sinner’s prayer, or a vague spiritual awakening. But none of these concepts align with the biblical definition. Jesus never spoke of praying a prayer for salvation. The apostles never instructed listeners to invite Jesus into their hearts apart from baptism. The consistent message of the New Testament is that new birth involves baptism, preceded by faith and repentance.

Any doctrine that removes baptism from the process of new birth departs from Jesus’ teaching. Baptism is not merely symbolic; it is the God-ordained moment at which sins are washed away, and the believer rises to new life. It is the “appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21), the point of transition from death to life.

Application: Have You Been Born Again According to Jesus’ Command?

The personal challenge of John 3:7 is unavoidable: Have you been born again? Not according to human tradition, emotional experience, or religious affiliation, but according to the words of Christ? Have you obeyed the gospel by believing, repenting of your sins, and being immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins?

This question is not merely academic—it determines one’s standing before God. Jesus does not offer multiple paths. He does not soften the requirement. He says with divine authority, “You must be born again.”

If you have not obeyed this command, the time is now. If you have, then continue to walk in the newness of life to which you have been called, growing in faith, holiness, and love. The new birth is the beginning of a journey, not its conclusion.

Conclusion: The Absolute Necessity of New Birth

Jesus’ words to Nicodemus ring down through the centuries: “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” This is not a complicated theological abstraction; it is the clear, uncompromising truth of the gospel. Salvation requires transformation—a death to sin, a burial in water, and a resurrection to life through the power of the Spirit as revealed in the Word.

Let every hearer take these words to heart. Respond with obedient faith. Be born again—not according to human invention, but according to the will of the Father, the teaching of the Son, and the operation of the Spirit through the gospel.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).