When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He did not begin with a long speech. He simply said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Then He made it even plainer: “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Those words are simple, but they are also serious.
Think about Nicodemus for a moment. He was not a careless man. He was religious, respected, and familiar with the Scriptures. But Jesus looked past all of that and spoke to the deepest need of his heart. Nicodemus did not just need more information. He needed a new birth from above.
That is true for us too. We cannot enter God’s kingdom simply because we were raised in a good home, attend church, do kind things, or know Bible verses. Those things may be good, but they cannot give us spiritual life. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). We do not just need to be better people. We need life from God.
That little word “must” matters. Jesus did not say, “You may want to be born again,” or “It would be helpful to be born again.” He said, “You must.” If the Son of God says this is necessary, then we cannot treat it as optional. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).
But here is the beautiful part: this “must” is not only a warning. It is also an invitation. God is offering fallen people the joy of becoming His children. The Bible says, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Just pause and take that in. People like us can become sons and daughters of the living God. John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). That is not a small thing. That is mercy beyond words.
And God does not stop there. If we are His children, then we are also heirs. Paul says, “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). The new birth brings us into a new family, gives us a new hope, and points us toward a glory greater than we can fully understand right now.
That is why we should never push this aside. To neglect the new birth is not just to ignore a religious teaching. It is to turn away from the life and love God is holding out to us in Christ. Scripture asks, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
So what should we do? We come to Christ. We believe on Him. We receive what only God can give. The new birth is not something we work up by our own strength. It is the work of God’s mercy and Spirit. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5).
So let us hear Jesus clearly and personally: “Ye must be born again.” And let us be thankful that the same God who tells us we must be born from above is the God who makes it possible. In Christ, we may become God’s children now, and one day we will see the fullness of what He has prepared for those who belong to Him (1 John 3:2).
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He did not begin with a long speech. He simply said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Then He made it even plainer: “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Those words are simple, but they are also serious.
Think about Nicodemus for a moment. He was not a careless man. He was religious, respected, and familiar with the Scriptures. But Jesus looked past all of that and spoke to the deepest need of his heart. Nicodemus did not just need more information. He needed a new birth from above.
That is true for us too. We cannot enter God’s kingdom simply because we were raised in a good home, attend church, do kind things, or know Bible verses. Those things may be good, but they cannot give us spiritual life. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). We do not just need to be better people. We need life from God.
That little word “must” matters. Jesus did not say, “You may want to be born again,” or “It would be helpful to be born again.” He said, “You must.” If the Son of God says this is necessary, then we cannot treat it as optional. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).
But here is the beautiful part: this “must” is not only a warning. It is also an invitation. God is offering fallen people the joy of becoming His children. The Bible says, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Just pause and take that in. People like us can become sons and daughters of the living God. John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). That is not a small thing. That is mercy beyond words.
And God does not stop there. If we are His children, then we are also heirs. Paul says, “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). The new birth brings us into a new family, gives us a new hope, and points us toward a glory greater than we can fully understand right now.
That is why we should never push this aside. To neglect the new birth is not just to ignore a religious teaching. It is to turn away from the life and love God is holding out to us in Christ. Scripture asks, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
So what should we do? We come to Christ. We believe on Him. We receive what only God can give. The new birth is not something we work up by our own strength. It is the work of God’s mercy and Spirit. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5).
So let us hear Jesus clearly and personally: “Ye must be born again.” And let us be thankful that the same God who tells us we must be born from above is the God who makes it possible. In Christ, we may become God’s children now, and one day we will see the fullness of what He has prepared for those who belong to Him (1 John 3:2).
Minister A Francine Green, October 2026