What was Jesus saying when He said "you must be born again"

[rhern]

John 3
King James Version
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

 

[colen]

John 3
King James Version
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

You shall destroy your old self and become a slave of God. You shall no longer say: "I do what I want", but: "I do what God wants me to do". You shall no longer use your own mind but God's mind, because when man uses his own mind he will fall. And when you do that you are newborn, you will get knowledge, that means you will know what is good and what is bad.

 

[Anthony2019]

I believe that the term being born of water and of the Spirit is referring to our baptism.

 

[com7fy8]

Jesus means I wasn't born right, the first time. And I was born dead . . . in sin which is love-dead.

So, I needed for God to give me new birth, making me alive in His love >

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," (Ephesians 2:1).

 

[JackRT]

To me, "born again" describes a spiritual transformation and as such is a concept at the heart of many religious traditions. Just like a real human birth it can happen rapidly and painlessly and often with great emotion. On the other hand it can be slow and painful and can sometimes take years.

 

[rhern]

reply to all

Can you see it can you reach out and touch it like a cup of coffee.

 

[-57]

Here's a small snippet, you need to read around it to get the full flavor

Eph 2:4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

Born again = made us alive.

 

[Albion]

Others here have offered more specific answers, but Jesus was saying that the man he was addressing had to have a new start in life. The point isn't particularly mysterious.

 

[Lost4words]

Born again, for me, is a new start. Totally immersed in love of Jesus, faith in Jesus. Putting aside our old ways. Turning completely to God.

 

[Mr. M]

Born again=gk. anothen [G509] more frequently translated "from above"
John 3:31. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly
and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 3:17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

You must be born "from above" to receive from above.
John 8:23. And He said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world.

1 Corinthians 2:14. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Colossians 3:
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

[Mr. M]

reply to all

Can you see it can you reach out and touch it like a cup of coffee.

Hebrews 3:15. while it is said:
Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

 

[Rachel20]

Since we're tripartite beings, we first have to decide WHAT is being "born again" - the body, soul, or spirit? And we need to realize WHY it needs to be "born again" - because it is DEAD. So then we know it's not the body that must be born again, because it isn't dead. And we know it's not the soul (the YOU that thinks, feels, reasons) because it's not dead. It's the spirit in us that is dead and needs to come back alive, to be born again. But for the spirit to be quickened, the flesh has to be cut off. This is the spiritual circumcision not made with hands (not done by man, but by God), of which the physical circumcision was a type. It's an operation performed by God, which separates your soul from your flesh, and attaches it to your now-living spirit. Thus the soul is no longer born of the flesh, but of the spirit.

That we are tirpartite beings - 1 Thessalonians 5:23
That our spirit was dead because of sin and spiritual uncircumcision - Romans 7:9, Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:11, Romans 2:29

 

[Ilikecats]

Being born again is the first step of being a Christian. It’s the regeneration that God acts in you so that you will repent of your sins and believe. It’s a changing of the heart and mind, and afterwards the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You once were dead in your sins, but now you are alive in Christ.

 

[concretecamper]

John 3
King James Version
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It means precisely what it has meant since the beginning of Christianity, Baptism is required for salvation.

 

[-57]

It means precisely what it has meant since the beginning of Christianity, Baptism is required for salvation.

If water baptism was required for salvation there would be chapters written specifically about that subject.

 

[concretecamper]

If water baptism was required for salvation there would be chapters written specifically about that subject.

the OP did a fine job doing just that.

 

[rhern]

Jesus had not sent the comforter yet which is the Holy spirit,

so how was Nicodemus to understand being born again as a spiritual thing rather that a physical thing.

John 3 King James Version (KJV)

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

((Jesus did not say no, you are wrong in your understanding. So this means Nicodemus was on the right track.

Jesus reaffirms by saying: 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

When women are are about to gives birth they say my water has broke.

this is a physical happening. Only God's Spirit can bring a person who has died back to life.

 

[Rachel20]

It means precisely what it has meant since the beginning of Christianity, Baptism is required for salvation.

And this baptism is not with water, but with the Holy Ghost, which Christ baptizes with -

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1:33-34

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:38-39

 

[concretecamper]

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

water Baptism. Thank you for quoting the correct scripture

 

[concretecamper]

And this baptism is not with water, but with the Holy Ghost, which Christ baptizes with -

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1:33-34

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:38-39

thank you for all the scripture. However none of what you posted refute the necessity of Baptism.