How can we explain spiritual rebirth to those struggling with its concept? Nicodemus’s Honest Question – John 3:4 “Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? … Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?’” • Nicodemus takes Jesus’ words at face value, picturing a literal, physical return to the womb. • His confusion mirrors what many feel today: How can something invisible and spiritual be as real as physical birth? What Spiritual Rebirth Is Not • Not another attempt at self-improvement or moral rebooting. • Not mere religious affiliation, tradition, or ceremony. • Not reincarnation or a mystical cycle of lives. • Not a metaphor Jesus casually invented; He presents it as the only entrance into God’s kingdom (John 3:3). What Spiritual Rebirth Is • A divine, once-for-all act in which God imparts new life to a spiritually dead person (Ephesians 2:1,5). • “Born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5)—the cleansing promised in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. • A new creation: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). • The planting of imperishable seed: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). Why Rebirth Is Essential • “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6). Natural birth produces natural life; only the Spirit produces spiritual life. • Sin alienates every person from God (Romans 3:23). Rebirth restores relationship by giving a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). • Jesus states it twice for emphasis: “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Simple Illustrations That Help 1. Childbirth: just as a baby does not birth itself, spiritual birth is God’s initiative (John 1:13). 2. Wind: unseen yet undeniably felt and observed (John 3:8). 3. Adoption: a legal act changing status and family (Romans 8:15-17). 4. Resurrection: passing from death to life (John 5:24). How Rebirth Happens • God’s Word heard or read (Romans 10:17). • Spirit conviction of sin and need for Christ (John 16:8). • Repentance and faith in the crucified and risen Savior (Acts 20:21). • Regeneration by the Spirit: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). • Instant union with Christ, evidenced over time by transformed desires and conduct (Galatians 5:22-23). Explaining It to Someone Struggling • Use plain language: “God gives you a brand-new inner life, not just a cleaned-up exterior.” • Tie it to Christ’s finished work: His death removed sin’s barrier; His resurrection supplies new life. • Point out unmistakable results—new appetites for God’s Word, conviction about sin, and love for fellow believers (1 John 3:14). • Emphasize certainty: the promise rests on God’s unchanging Word, not on feelings (1 John 5:11-13). • Share personal testimony of change, keeping the focus on Christ’s power, not personal effort. Assurance for the Newly Reborn • “He who began a good work in you will perfect it” (Philippians 1:6). • The Spirit indwells as a seal guaranteeing final redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14). • Growth follows birth: hunger for Scripture, prayer, and fellowship signal genuine life (1 Peter 2:2). Practical Tips When Sharing • Begin with John 3; let Jesus’ own words carry the weight. • Move to passages that unfold the new-birth theme (e.g., Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). • Speak in everyday illustrations—birth certificates, family names, fresh starts. • Rely on the Spirit, mindful that only He can open blind eyes and quicken dead hearts. |
    |