John 3:5, commentary and pictures

No one can enter God's kingdom without being born of water and of the Spirit, which is water baptism joined with the renewing grace of God and a complete inner transformation by the Holy Spirit. This birth is not outward reform or improvement of the old life but death to self and sin and the beginning of a wholly new life, with a changed heart, mind, purposes and character made like Christ. That which is flesh remains flesh and cannot discern heavenly things, so even the moral, respectable, educated and religiously honored must humble themselves, renounce self-righteousness and be renewed or they have no fitness for heaven. It is God's work alone, received by coming to Jesus as sinful, laying hold on His merits by living faith, surrendering will and obeying His Word, while the truth received in the heart is made life by the Spirit. Its reality is unseen like the wind but known by its effects in a changed life of love, humility, obedience, purity and unity, without which baptism or church membership alone leaves a person spiritually unchanged.

Interview with Nicodemus

The words were spoken to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night confessing Him as a teacher come from God because of His miracles. He was wealthy and cultured, and Jesus sought to reach him with the imperishable riches of God. While ministering to the poor, Jesus also studied to find ways to reach the rich, seeking the acquaintance of this wealthy and cultured Pharisee, accepting invitations, attending feasts, and making Himself familiar with his interests and occupations, that He might gain access to his heart and reveal truth to him.

They were spoken after Jesus had declared that a man must be born again to see the kingdom, in answer to Nicodemus asking how a man can be born when he is old, and before the explanation that flesh produces flesh and Spirit produces spirit and that everyone born of the Spirit is like the wind heard but not traced. The question was asked with irritation by one not spiritually minded enough to discern the meaning, who found the demand for new birth humiliating. Entering the kingdom of God requires conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit, a birth from above, a being born again, for that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and the change is like the wind blowing where it wishes, heard but unseen in its coming and going, and so it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus was educated, honored, and religiously influential, yet education, honor, and religious influence are not enough to enter God's kingdom without the new birth by water and the Spirit. Even a learned, religious leader must receive this spiritual renewal, in which heart, purposes, and springs of action must change and the Holy Spirit must make the person new, since stronger evidence or argument cannot replace this change. The demand was laid upon a ruler of the Jews, a man in high trust, educated in Jewish customs and possessed of no ordinary talents, yet great learning could not give him new birth or understanding of redemption, and he needed new ideas and a teachable heart to learn the truth of God and live in oneness with Christ.

He came by night to avoid remark and humiliation, and being not spiritual-minded enough to discern the truth he met it with irritation and humiliation. He met the conditions of conversion with astonishment, perplexity and unbelief, unwilling to admit truth because he could not understand all connected with the operation of the power of God, though he accepted facts of nature he could not explain or comprehend, looking to forms and precise ceremonies as more essential to religion than the deep movings of the Spirit of God. Spiritual ignorance can keep even a religious teacher from understanding this spiritual birth, distinct from physical birth in that what is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of Spirit is spirit, whose work is real though its origin and course cannot be seen, like the wind, and the need is for humble recognition of that ignorance rather than irritation or irony when confronted with plain truth. Those who calculate just how religious exercises should be conducted and are very precise and methodical in diffusing light and grace greatly need this testimony about new birth by the Spirit, for such precision and meddling with the experience of those who have received the Holy Spirit in large abundance proves they themselves have little of the Holy Spirit, holding to the letter of the law and outward religion as more essential than the deep movings of the Spirit.

Jesus did not meet argument with argument but with solemn, quiet dignity pressed home the requirement with greater assurance, that entrance into the kingdom of God requires birth of water and of the Spirit, for flesh can produce only flesh while the Spirit produces spirit, so all must be born again. Those who teach truth are to follow Christ's way with Nicodemus by refusing controversy over false theories, keeping to the affirmative, and presenting new light in practical points that bring the hearer into contact with all light. The new birth is a change of heart by receiving truth, not more learning nor victory in controversy, for like Nicodemus people may be awakened and convicted yet held back by other influences, and reasoning about points of difference brings no saving result until the heart is changed but only strengthens resistance.

The night interview, held on the Mount of Olives, laid before Nicodemus the conditions of conversion and explained the plan of salvation and the work needed in the hearts of all who inherit the kingdom of heaven. It corresponds with John the Baptist's testimony that He who comes from above is above all and gives everlasting life, teaching the way of life. Nicodemus had been taught by Jesus concerning this new birth, which drew him toward Jesus, and the interview later helped him recognize Jesus as the world's Redeemer when He was lifted up. He became a true believer, and the change was seen when his voice was heard in the Sanhedrin council opposing the measures to compass the death of Christ by demanding a fair hearing, and he later spoke in His defense. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he submitted to the Spirit's leading, receiving new life through the Holy Spirit by looking to Jesus and believing that He saves by grace, not by relying on obedience to earn God's favor, with the Spirit's aid needed even for repentance.

The lesson lays out the terms of salvation in clear lines and can guide the soul even if no other Bible text were available, and it is especially important for counselors and all who work with people, calling for diligent study of God's Word to gain understanding. Being born of water and of the Spirit is the most important knowledge to be gained, an experimental knowledge of what it means to be born again, belonging to every teacher, every Sabbath-school worker, and every youth and child, for Sabbath-school work lacks the light of life without it. Knowing the reasons for faith is certainly important, but this experience matters most, and those who educate youth must have learned at the feet of Jesus what truth is and how to present it to others, and must be holy, humble, and abiding in Christ. Jesus here taught Nicodemus the conditions of divine life and the basic truths of conversion, and receiving His words brings deeper spiritual knowledge of what it means to follow Christ and serve as an educator He approves. This is an essential truth for those entrusted with the people's religious interests to understand. It lays before Nicodemus the first principles of the divine life and the very alphabet of conversion and of true Christian experience, defining what constitutes a disciple and a sincere follower of Christ, which received into the soul gives higher intelligence and deeper spiritual knowledge. Though Nicodemus was a learned teacher in Israel holding an honorable position, he had no true conception of what a teacher in Israel should be because he had not learned this teaching, asking how these things can be and receiving Christ's rebuke for a master of Israel who knew not these things, and the same rebuke applies to those in responsible positions today who have neglected it. Neglected by those holding responsibility as teachers, it leaves them unqualified, without deep digging and a sure foundation riveted to the eternal Rock, so that when test and trial come they murmur at the strait way, make shipwreck of faith, and turn away from Christ like displeased disciples who walked no more with Him, and this knowing is the most essential part of education, fitting teachers, physicians, and ministers of the gospel to deal with human minds in a Christlike manner.

Meaning of Water and Spirit

Being born of water means water baptism joined with the grace of God. John's baptism unto repentance prepared people for Christ, whose work completes what John began. Baptism in the Jordan symbolized the cleansing from sin needed even by those claiming to be God's chosen people.

Baptism is the sign of entrance into Christ's spiritual kingdom under the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When administered in that name, the three powers of heaven pledge efficiency to those who submit and faithfully keep the vow then made. Those so united profess death to the former life and a walk in newness of life, confessing God as Ruler with the old life dead and the life hidden with Christ. This new life is pledged to faithful obedience to God's law and Word, to living honestly under the control of the Spirit of truth, sharing the divine nature and escaping the world's corruption. Before entering, the person is to receive the impress of the divine name, "The Lord our righteousness."

Baptism or church membership alone does not prove the new birth. Without death to self and genuine conversion a baptized person remains spiritually unchanged, for mere profession does not make a person Christian and no one without genuine conversion will enter God's kingdom. Baptism should not be given to the unconverted. Being born of the Spirit means the Holy Spirit purifies and transforms the whole person beginning with the heart, so that when the heart's source is made pure the life that flows from it becomes pure and a righteous character can develop. That birth renews the mind, gives a new capacity to know and love God, brings watchfulness, and produces willing obedience to all His requirements, which is true worship. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that leads to God. No outward form, strict attention to the letter of the law, or honorable conduct can replace this inward cleansing and new moral birth, which frees the heart from sin and makes it holy.

That which is born of flesh is flesh and remains flesh, while only that born of the Spirit is spirit. The natural person cannot discern heavenly things or receive spiritual things, because they are discerned spiritually. The need is spiritual not literal, a moral transformation that strips away self and self-righteousness so that the heart seeks what is pure, holy and divine. Neither benevolence, many good deeds, nor exalted position can entitle anyone to heaven. Like the wind blowing where it wishes, the Spirit's origin and course cannot be seen or traced, but its work is real. Its saving effects are seen in a changed life where evil thoughts and deeds are put away and love, peace, humility and obedience take their place, replacing anger, envy and strife. Sins that pollute the heart must be removed and true holiness restored before a person is fit for God's kingdom, and this invisible light and transforming power is known by its visible effects in actions. Regeneration by water and the Spirit is a spiritual mystery that finite minds cannot fully explain or comprehend, which is no reason to doubt God's Word, since people accept facts of nature they cannot explain.

Entry Requires New Birth

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, nor see the kingdom, nor share Christ's new life, nor have part in it. Without this new birth there is no salvation, no fitness for heaven, and no welcome in the celestial city. The heart, purposes and springs of action must be changed and the Holy Spirit must make the person new, for that transformation of heart and mind worked by Christ's power alone is what admits to the kingdom. To be without it is to be unconverted in God's sight and to have no true understanding of self.

The condition applies to all, including the educated, honored and religiously influential, learned leaders, church members, those with years of Christian experience, and those serving in responsible places. Profession alone is not enough, and neither name, status nor responsibility removes the need, for church membership alone does not make a person a strength to the church or sanctify the soul. Stronger evidence or argument cannot replace the change, nor can victory in controversy, for reasoning about points of difference without heart change brings no saving result but only strengthens resistance. Years of Christian experience and the name of Christian do not fit anyone for God's work without learning true religion, and the flesh gives birth only to flesh while only the Spirit gives birth to spirit, which the natural person does not receive because it is discerned spiritually.

Moral respectability, a correct outward life, strict obedience to the law, mere legal religion and form of godliness give no safety and cannot qualify anyone for life with God. Even the just, honorable and morally correct must be born anew through Jesus Christ, humbling themselves, renouncing their own righteousness, relying wholly on Christ, and receiving His righteousness by faith and grace. Neither benevolence, many good deeds, nor exalted position as a religious teacher can entitle anyone to heaven, and those who build themselves up in good works, live in past experience instead of daily fresh experience, offer formal and spiritless prayers, neglect secret prayer and self-examination, and excuse defects instead of reforming, understand the need in a spiritual not literal sense that strips away self and self-righteousness. When Christ's light exposes the heart, one who believed his life and character upright sees impurity and need for cleansing and renewal, for confidence in one's own goodness is insufficient and the blood of Christ alone cleanses from sin and renews the heart in Christ's likeness.

Without the new birth a person remains in self-assurance that rejects warning, reproof and instruction, in darkness without the light of life, spiritually blind and corrupted, and will perish in sins. Coming to the light in Christ and understanding His sacrifice brings the light of life and the character fit for welcome in heaven, through conversion of soul, body and spirit and turning square about to an altogether different character, thought, habits and capacity for enjoyment. This requires receiving Christ and believing on His name to be born of God with Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, the Holy Spirit purifying the entire nature from all moral defilement, casting off Satan, giving self up entirely without reserve for His will to be done, and leaving the gall of bitterness and frivolity and cheapness of mind. No one coming up to the judgment as he stands will be acquitted whatever his position, whatever good deeds he has done, whatever success he has tried to secure, for worldly wisdom and selfishness shaping work that may appear meritorious is corrupt before God, and without falling on the Rock and being broken to see clearly where the course hindered God's work and to confess wrongs instead of justifying self, no one can receive heaven's blessing or be trusted as a leader.

The requirement means conversion, reconversion and daily conversion, with overcoming of inherited and cultivated tendencies to do wrong, putting away selfishness and worldly ambition to become vessels of honor fit to receive the Holy Spirit's cleansing and power. Without that reconversion a person cannot see the kingdom of heaven, even when he has run strongly in disbelief in the Word of God, joined himself to evil, become deceived and can no longer discern between truth and the falsehoods of the enemy. Those who have returned to old habits and hinder God's work must be converted and renewed, and those now first but untrue to God's cause will become last unless born again through speedy repentance that falls upon the Rock and is broken, lest the cherished evil spirit continue to control them until they no longer recognize mercy's voice. A self-confident independent spirit must be broken and confessed rather than shielded by lies or misstatements, for a person must be born again before he can cooperate with the Lord Jesus and receive heaven's blessing.

Instruction in the first and third chapters of John plainly defines true higher education, which is the only education of saving value and gives definite instruction regarding its nature. Without the new birth no one can understand the full import of that instruction, which is only feebly comprehended and can be received only through sanctification of the Spirit of God. Anyone who has not been born again must therefore study Christ's teaching and humble himself under God, and those who have received light are to walk in it.

Nature of Inner Transformation

The new birth is conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit, a birth from above in which heart, purposes, springs of action, mind and character must change and all things become new. No stronger evidence, argument, controversy or victory in controversy can bring light to the soul or bring anyone into right position while the heart remains unchanged, for the want is in the heart itself. That which is of flesh remains flesh and cannot discern heavenly things, while only that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and like wind blowing where it wishes, heard but unseen in its coming and going, so is everyone born of the Spirit. With this change Christ is formed within as the hope of glory, and a person takes heaven with them through a character fashioned and changed, without which selfish and unloving dispositions have no place in heaven.

It is not literal birth, nor a modification or improvement of the old life, nor outward reform, human willpower, law-keeping, mere legal religion and form of godliness, or human invention. It is transformation of nature, a death to sin and self and a new life altogether, because by nature the heart is evil and no human remedy can cure the sinning soul. The old life of alienation, sin and rebellion ends, and a new life of reconciliation, faith, love and obedience begins, brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit to which a person must submit and cooperate. Turning to the Lord in repentance, conversion is a new birth not of flesh but of the Spirit leading to salvation.

It brings cleansing from all defilement of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness, for every soul is required to be pure and holy. This requires putting away all selfishness, crucifying self, laying aside hereditary tendencies to wrong, refusing suspicious imagining, and removing sins that pollute the heart and renewing true holiness, because indulged selfishness and suspicion spoil the character, ruin the soul and leave a person unfit for the kingdom. Since the fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams can become pure, the soul by faith surrenders to the Lord, passes from death to life, receives deliverance from sin's burden, and finds joy in place of sadness. As the cleansing of the temple illustrates this inner purification, the Spirit gives light and transforming power to the soul, invisible like the wind but known by its saving effect seen in actions, and this inward renewal rather than outward religious forms makes a person fit for eternal life.

It is a genuine, thorough, entire, lasting and radical change wrought from within to an altogether different character, thought, habits and capacity for enjoyment, leaving the gall of bitterness and frivolity and cheapness of mind. The change begins within and works outward, renewing the whole mind and soul and converting soul, body and spirit and the whole man, so that reforming outward conduct while cherishing sin in the heart is not enough. It is not merely superficial change in habits or practices nor spasmodic, and unchanged resentful, bitter, malicious and untrustworthy conduct shows conversion has not been sound and lasting. To be a Christian a person must turn square about and salvation permits no divided heart, for without this new birth a person remains in darkness, cannot pass through the gates of the holy city or become perfect in righteousness, cannot gain the character fit for welcome in heaven, and will surely perish in sins.

It comes by receiving Christ and believing on His name, being born of God, having Christ dwell in the heart by faith so that God is all and in all. The believer thus becomes a child of God and member of His family and royal household by adoption through the renewing power and agency of the Holy Spirit, renewed in righteousness and true holiness. Through this complete change of heart, mind, soul, strength and life a person becomes a new man in Christ Jesus, reconverted in speech and in spirit, changed in mind and judgment to become a Bible Christian in purpose and character, increasingly like Christ. The character of Christ may be imputed to him and imparted, with tenderness, sympathy and love replacing selfishness, harshness and coldness, enabling him to discern between light and darkness. Only those who truly receive Christ as personal Saviour, yield will and way to Him, render obedience to His lessons, accept His transforming grace to cut away traits such as covetousness, and cast off Satan to give self entirely without reserve into the Lord's hands are His chosen ones, while one like Judas who heard the principles outlining the character required for the kingdom but would not yield never received Christ, never experienced conversion, was not a true son of God and was not clean, and therefore remained unfit.

The change is God's converting power alone and not merely outward conduct, in which self dies and the Holy Spirit molds and refines the person, without which service to God is not acceptable. Natural inclinations and passions are subdued, the will is brought under Christ's will and into submission to Him, new thoughts, feelings, motives and affections arise, existing faculties are sanctified, and human nature is subdued. By faith a person takes hold of God's love and becomes a new creature through Christ, rooted in the Father's love that gave His Son to die, and this change overcomes the world, vanquishes Satan, breaks his hold, and comes through repentance, humility, submission and practical acceptance and application of divine truth. So formed, the person gains a changed, pure, lowly, humble, obedient, loving, faithful and guileless character needed to live in God's holy kingdom, pure in heart and fit for heaven through Christ's grace and righteousness.

Receiving and Showing New Life

The new birth is received through living faith that lays hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour, upon Christ as righteousness, in living connection of the soul with God. By faith a person takes hold of God's love and becomes a new creature through Christ, salvation being rooted in the Father's love in giving His Son to die so that people could be saved. It is received by looking to Jesus and believing that He saves by grace, not by relying on obedience to earn favor, coming to Him as sinful and polluted and submitting humbly to God. The truth received in the heart has sanctifying power upon life and character, producing fruits of righteousness and a course of action testifying of learning from Christ, converting mind, heart and will as the beholder is changed by Christ's grace and glory. Genuine faith receiving Christ as Saviour makes a person soundly converted, with broken heart before God and entire reformation, Christ becoming his salvation and covering and his character transformed. No one can regenerate himself; God must do it for him, and trying to do what only God can do is vain labor without fitness or qualification. The Spirit's aid is needed even for repentance, for becoming a child of God requires a particular, decided change opposing surface religion that claims sonship without change.

No one regenerates himself, for the new birth is a change of heart brought about only by the Holy Spirit working by divine power. The truth received in the heart sanctifies life and character, while the Spirit shapes the heart day by day, molding and fashioning it to give divine insight to discern the spiritual character of the kingdom. Christ's life renews the sinner and writes God's law in the heart, turning from ambitious self-will to Christ through Christ's power, not by human accomplishment alone. The church's work of bringing souls to this new birth depends on the Spirit's life-giving power, for which believers should earnestly and persistently pray. Pride, self-love and natural inclinations resist this change from self-importance to Christlike meekness and lowliness, and discernment comes through divine light and cooperation with heavenly intelligences.

The new birth must be known by experience and faith, the believer knowing what it is to have sins pardoned and to receive Christ as Saviour. Christ's Spirit must dwell within and give life as blood circulates through the body, supplying wisdom and strength to follow God's Word amid danger. Those born again are converted and enlightened, receive joy and restoration, and leave prepared to tell others what God has done for them and work for Him. That life is nourished by the Spirit, and spiritual union with Jesus leads to growth in fellowship with Him, joining the invisible with the visible as supernatural heavenly agencies cooperate with natural earthly means. Mere theoretical knowledge of truth is not the new birth; those who receive and practice the Word bring light from under the bushel of human conjectures to make known the gospel of life, letting good works be seen to glorify the Father.

Those born again die to ambitious self-will and turn to Christ, personally seeking God, confessing sin and humbling the heart before Him. Those who have sinned through angry feelings must recognize, repent and confess it, then be forgiven and live the new life speaking words that honor Christ. To be born of the Spirit is to be worked by the Holy Spirit with a new heart and entire conversion, requiring stopping rushed, driving activity in order to be converted and become sound in faith. It means humbling the heart, throwing off lethargy, pride and weakness of faith, making a decided change and becoming an overcomer prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom. It is not having only the theory of truth and of the third angel's message, but having the oil of the grace of Christ feeding the lamp and causing the light of life to shine to those in darkness, with soul cleansing and change of character cutting away traits such as covetousness and dishonest practice through yielding will and way to Christ in obedience.

Its reality is shown in speech and conduct bearing good fruit in daily life, for a merely outward form of Christianity has no saving or reforming power. The Spirit works a deep change bringing love for fellow believers, happiness, meekness, faith and humility rather than a worldly contentious spirit, with purified hearts and sanctified affections. It is evidenced by a life made Christlike, especially by meekness and freedom from self-exaltation and boasting, refusing to be harsh, faultfinding or discouraging toward others. This newness of life is joined with purifying the soul by obeying the truth and living in harmony with Christ's instruction, in small and great matters, in unity, heavenly-mindedness, upright dealings without cunning, and power to live consistently as sons and daughters complete in Christ.

It makes a new man in Christ Jesus, with heart and soul, mind and strength entirely changed through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The one born again is reconverted in speech and in spirit, changed in mind and judgment to become a Bible Christian in purpose and character, with the character of Christ imputed to him. This transformation enables discernment between light and darkness, for the truth working through the Holy Spirit changes mind, character, temper and habits, bringing repentance and making the sinner a child of God. The converted come fully under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit, with the Spirit of truth to control them, resisting the enemy so he flees, instead of remaining under satanic agencies voicing the seducer's words without control over mind or spirit. Those so sealed as born again keep themselves free from every dishonest practice, making their example a continual witness to heavenly grace, partakers of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption.

Many church members and workers have never experienced this new birth, leaving former ideas, education and training because they are defective. Inherited and cultivated attributes and an unchanged, unsanctified disposition must not be brought into the new life, with self coming largely in and only a little of Christ; the plowshare of truth must go deep so character is changed. Only after this new birth can experience become useful in God's work, with valuable traits sanctified to act for God's glory in humility and distrust of self. Gospel ministers and medical missionary workers, teachers, physicians and all in service must be thoroughly converted and born again, learning Christ's meekness and lowliness, sanctified through truth with grace received into a willing heart. Without this conversion they remain unfit for God's service, mar His work, lack unity and safety in responsible positions, and will have no excuse when they cannot stand the test of judgment. Those born again testify by their lives to a world dead in trespasses and sins, and the grace in their souls is imparted to others needing the same blessed influence.

Those who teach truth are to follow Christ's way with Nicodemus by refusing controversy over false theories, for reasoning about points of difference brings no saving result until the heart is changed but only strengthens resistance. They are to keep to the affirmative, presenting new light in practical points that bring the hearer into contact with all light, since the new birth is a change of heart by receiving truth, not more learning nor victory in controversy. Teaching people to seek this new birth is a precious work of service to God.

A community's rejection of Rome or acceptance of the reformed faith does not itself convert its members, and no council's decree can accomplish the inward work. Personal regeneration is still required, in which the Holy Spirit must renew the heart and conscience. The believer thus born of the Spirit is washed in Christ's blood, salvation having been purchased by God.

The transformed life receives spiritual strength and knowledge developing qualities of God's nature in character conformed to God's will, new and happy in this life and the life to come through the Spirit's transforming work in the heart. Genuine conversion shows a new spirit taking possession and a new life beginning, with character revealing Christ, faith growing into knowledge of God's Word, and the believer becoming a living part of Christ. This birth is an inward change receiving Christ as personal Saviour and depending on the Spirit's power to overcome sin, not merely professing faith or admitting wrongdoing without forsaking sin. Receiving the Holy Spirit brings this new birth, purifying the soul by obeying truth in harmony with Christ's instruction and cooperating with Father, Son and Holy Spirit in sanctification and holy fellowship.