What Does the Bible Say About New Birth?

Understanding the Christian Doctrine of New Birth

By Jack Zavada
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The new birth is one of the most exciting doctrines of Christianity, but exactly what does it
mean, how does a person get it, and what happens after they receive it?
We hear Jesus' teaching on the new birth when he was visited by Nicodemus, a member of the
Sanhedrin, or ruling council of ancient Israel. Afraid of being seen, Nicodemus came to Jesus in
the night, seeking the truth. What Jesus told him applies to us as well:
"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is
born again.'" (John 3:3, NIV)
Despite his great learning, Nicodemus was confused. Jesus explained that he was not talking
about a physical new birth, but a spiritual rebirth:
"Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'" (John 3:5-6,
NIV)
Before we are born again, we are walking corpses, spiritually dead. We are alive physically, and
from outward appearances, nothing seems wrong with us. But inside we are creatures of sin,
dominated and controlled by it.
New Birth is Given to Us by God
Just as we can't give physical birth to ourselves, we can't accomplish this spiritual birth by
ourselves, either. God gives it, but through faith in Christ we can request it:
"In his great mercy he (God the Father) has given us new birth into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil
or fadekept in heaven for you ..." (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)
Because God gives us this new birth, we know exactly where we stand. That's what is so exciting
about Christianity. We don't have to struggle for our salvation, wondering whether we have said
enough prayers or done enough good deeds. Christ did it for us, and it is complete.
New Birth Causes Total Transformation
New birth is another term for regeneration. Before salvation, we are degenerate:
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins ... " (Ephesians 2:1, NIV)
After the new birth, our regeneration is so complete it can be described as nothing less than a
totally new life in the spirit. The Apostle Paul puts it this way:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2
Corinthians 5:17, NIV)
That's a shocking change. Again, we look the same on the outside, but inside our sinful nature
has been fully replaced with a new person, a being who stands righteous in the eyes of God the
Father, because of the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ.
New Birth Brings New Priorities
With our new nature comes an intense desire for Christ and the things of God. For the first time,
we can fully appreciate Jesus' statement:
"'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John
14:6, NIV)
We know, with all our being, that Jesus is the truth we have been seeking all along. The more we
get of him, the more we want. Our desire for him feels right. It feels natural. As we pursue an
intimate relationship with Christ, we experience a love unlike any other.
As Christians, we still sin, but it becomes shameful to us because we now realize how much it
offends God. With our new life, we develop new priorities. We want to please God out of love,
not fear, and as members of his family, we want to fit in with our Father and our Brother Jesus.
When we become a new person in Christ, we also leave behind that suffocating burden of trying
to earn our own salvation. We finally grasp what Jesus has done that for us:
"'Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:32, NIV)
Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for
singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other
Christian singles make sense of their lives. His articles and ebooks offer great hope and
encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page.