Jesus told Nicodemus something that every person needs to understand:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Nicodemus was a religious man. He knew the Scriptures. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he needed more religion. He told him that he needed to be born again.

Being born again does not mean becoming more religious, joining a church, being baptized, or trying harder to be a good person. It means receiving new spiritual life from God.

Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant. He asked how a person could be born when he was old. Jesus explained that He was speaking about a spiritual birth.

“That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)

Our first birth gives us physical life. The new birth gives us spiritual life.

Every person is born with a sinful nature. We may be kind, religious, generous, or respected, but none of those things can give us spiritual life. We need God to do something in us that we cannot do for ourselves.

Paul described the change this way:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Being born again does not mean that a Christian becomes perfect. Believers still struggle with sin, make mistakes, and need correction. But something has changed. God has given them new life, and the direction of their life begins to change.

The new birth is the work of God.

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)

We cannot make ourselves born again by doing enough good things. Salvation is not a reward for good behavior.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

A person who is born again has come to Christ in repentance and faith. He recognizes his sin, stops trusting himself to make things right with God, and places his faith in Jesus Christ.

The new birth will begin to show itself in the life of the believer. There will be a growing desire to know God, obey His Word, turn from sin, pray, and follow Christ. That growth may be slow, but new life does not remain completely unchanged.

Jesus did not tell Nicodemus, “You should consider being born again.”

He said:

“You must be born again.” (John 3:7)

That makes this more than a church teaching or religious phrase. It is necessary.

The important question is not simply, “Do I believe in God?” or “Do I go to church?”

The question is: Have I been born again?

You cannot inherit the new birth from your parents. A pastor cannot give it to you. Church membership cannot produce it. Baptism cannot create it.

Only God can give new life.

And that new life is found in Jesus Christ.