Introduction Billions of people have been born into this world including all of us here. You cannot become a living breathing human being without being born. In the same way, you cannot have a new life in Christ and go to heaven without being born again because Jesus said, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.“ (John 3:3) But how is a person born again?

You are Not Born Again by a Physical Birth Nicodemus was thinking about physical birth when he responded to Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?” (John 3:4) The Jews placed great emphasis on their fleshly birth and having Abraham as their father. (Matthew 3:9; John 8:33, 39) But Jesus negated that by saying you must be born again.

A Person is Born Again by the Spirit Jesus further explains to Nicodemus about being born again when He says, “Unless you are born of water and the Spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the new birth? His role is revealing and teaching God’s word. The Father sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles in the name of Jesus in order to guide them into all the truth (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).

A Person is Born Again by the Spirit The apostles wrote down the words of the Spirit so that when we read it we can understand God’s plan of redemption (Eph. 3:3-7). What we have recorded in our Bibles is the inspired, infallible, inerrant, words of the Holy Spirit which has the potential to lead us to salvation in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:14-17). Just as the seed must be fertilized before you can have conception & eventually a physical birth, no one can begin the process of being born again w/o the seed being planted (Lk. 8:11).

A Person Hears & Believes God’s Word Jesus taught God’s word so that people would understand (Matt. 15:10). Those who have good and honest will hear the words of the Spirit and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God while those who don’t will not. (Rom. 10:17; Matt. 13:13ff; 1 John 5:1) In the same way that there will not be a birth without conception, there will be no spiritual birth without faith (Heb. 11:6).

A Person Hears & Believes God’s Word Believing the word gives one the right to become a child of God (John 1:12-13) but that does not make him one. There are many examples in the NT of those who were unsaved believers. (James 2:19-20; John 6:66ff; 8:32-33; 12:42-43) In the natural realm, the child is conceived but isn’t born until 9 months later. In the spiritual realm, conception takes place when the seed is planted and a person responds by believing but that’s not the new birth.

A Person is Born Again of Water A person must be born of water along with the Spirit to enter God’s kingdom (John 3:5). Water + Spirit = Born Again “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living & enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:22-23) By obeying the truth you purify your soul + Seed (Word of God)= Born Again

A Person is Born Again of Water What is the water in John 3:5? It is not the water of physical birth because Jesus said you must be born again (2 nd time). Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch after reading the passage recorded in Isa. 53:7-8. In response to the preaching of Jesus, did the eunuch say, “I want to accept Christ as my personal Savior?” or "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?“ (Acts 8:36) In response to the preaching of Jesus, did the eunuch say, “I want to accept Christ as my personal Savior?” or "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?“ (Acts 8:36) Where would he have heard about water? Jesus

A Person is Born Again of Water After the eunuch responded, Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37) This was in accordance with what Jesus said, “He who believes and has been shall be saved”. (Mark 16:16) The seed (words of the Holy Spirit) was planted in his heart and he obeyed the truth by being baptized in water and thus he was born again. (Acts 8:38) The seed (words of the Holy Spirit) was planted in his heart and he obeyed the truth by being baptized in water and thus he was born again. (Acts 8:38)

Result of Being Born Again- New Life When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death, and just as Christ was raised from the dead, we rise from the watery grave of baptism to walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3-4) “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creature”. (2 Corinthians 5:17) But if you have a new life before baptism, then you would be putting to death a living person. When men teach that a person is born again without being baptized, they abort God’s plan of salvation and leave people in their sins.

To Maintain Spiritual Life, We Must Practice Righteousness The Spirit reveals that we as Christians are to be dead to sin and alive to righteousness. (Rom. 6:1-2, 12-14) We must practice righteousness instead of sin to show that we are truly born of God (1 Jn. 3:7-9) This does not mean that we will not sin but because God’s word abides in us, we will confess our sins instead of covering them up (1:8-10). Let us obey Him so we’ll have confidence & not be ashamed when He comes again (2:28-29; 4:17). Let us obey Him so we’ll have confidence & not be ashamed when He comes again (2:28-29; 4:17).

Conclusion Men will try to do all they can to say being born of water is not baptism but please examine the text for yourself along with all these Scriptures. Salvation is not found in the creeds, words, or commands of men, but only in Jesus (Jn. 14:6). Jesus said that you must be born again (born of water and the Spirit) to enter God’s kingdom. Will you obey the Savior or men (Luke 6:46)? We plead with you to be born again to a living hope by obeying the gospel of Christ (Heb. 5:9).