You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase “born again.” Hopefully, you are one of many that consider yourself born again through your faith in Jesus Christ! That’s beautiful and something we should celebrate. But what does it mean to be “born again?” We use the phrase so much that it’s important to dig a little deeper into it now and then to refresh ourselves on its meaning.

In the third chapter of the book of John, a man named Nicodemus, a highly respected rabbi in the Jewish faith, a Pharisee, meets with Jesus secretly in the night. Unlike his fellow Pharisees, Nicodemus wants to learn from Jesus.

This leads to a discussion about salvation. The phrase comes from John 3:3 when Jesus says, “Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 NLT)

Then Nicodemus asks the obvious question we’d probably all ask in that moment: “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” (John 3:4 NLT)

This is not a physical rebirth, but a spiritual one. Just as your birth is the beginning of your life outside the womb, the spiritual rebirth that you experience when you accept Jesus as your Savior marks the beginning of your new life. You have a clean slate. Your sins are forgiven, your debt is paid, and the past is behind you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (NLT)

What does this spiritual rebirth do for us? It allows us to cast aside our old ways and focus solely on God. It allows us to live a new life of freedom and righteousness no matter who we are, what we’ve done, or where we’ve been. Most importantly, being born again opens us up to receive the free gift of eternal life that Jesus made possible by His work at the cross.

If you’ve been born again, celebrate that gift every day. If you’ve yet to experience this spiritual rebirth, there is no time like the present. Jesus Christ alone makes salvation and eternal life possible. Ask Him into your life today!

You can write the Pastor at pastorbilly@findtruelife.com.