Born Again by the Holy Spirit: New Life in Christ

Born Again by the Holy Spirit

When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 He describes the necessity of being "born again." This term is widely used among Christians to describe the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. They were born the first time physically and then reborn of the Holy Spirit of God. Without this rebirth, Jesus says a person cannot enter Heaven.

“Without this rebirth, Jesus says a person cannot enter Heaven.”

The Spirit Compared to the Wind

In John 3:8, Jesus makes a comparison of the Holy Spirit to the wind which in Greek is pneuma. Interestingly, this word has the same range of meaning as the Hebrew word ruach. It can mean wind, breath, or spirit. The same word is used in Genesis 2:7 and in Ezekiel 37:5.

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The Mystery of Spiritual Birth

We see and hear the effects of wind, the waves on the sea or the movement of the leaves in the trees, but we do not know much else about it. It is a mystery. In this way, when a person is born of the Spirit of God, it is also a mystery.

Visible Change in New Believers

If you have ever been around someone newly reborn into faith in Christ, you will see the change. You will know that their interests are different, their habits change, and their old ways become new ways. Looking from the outside it will be difficult to understand. It's as if they woke up one morning a totally different person; and in this you will be correct. They will have moved from death to life. What a transformation this causes!

“It’s as if they woke up one morning a totally different person… They will have moved from death to life.”

Sanctification and Growing in Holiness

We are transformed through a process called sanctification. We grow in holiness and are set apart as God's people. This process continues until the day we die. Each person's journey to holiness is different. Some people will see a very dramatic, almost instantaneous change, while most of us will see our lives gradually changing to become more like Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 describes this,

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ezekiel’s Vision of Dry Bones

Much like when Ezekiel had a vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14. Here the valley of dry bones partly represented the spiritual death of the nation of Israel. God spoke to Ezekiel and told him that He would breathe life into these bones much as He did in Genesis 2:7 with Adam and Eve.

But this life would be a spiritual one. This life completely and utterly depended on God. It was His breath which transformed the bones into spiritually living people, just as the Holy Spirit does in His people today. This imagery of the Spirit as life-giving breath continues in the New Testament

The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Later, in Acts 2:2, we read of the arrival of the Holy Spirit described as a mighty rushing wind. Here the word wind in Greek is pnoē which is descriptive of the physical sound. Later in Acts 2:4, when the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit, the word pneuma is used again, this time specifically referring to the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 3:8, Adam and Eve heard the sound of God walking in the garden. The Hebrew word, qol, can be translated as sound or voice and foreshadows the Spirit’s invisible yet audible work in our lives (John 3:8)

Hearing the Voice of the Spirit

Isn't it fascinating that the presence of God or the Holy Spirit can often be heard? In John 3:8, Jesus tells us "you hear its sound". But how do we hear? With our physical ears or spiritually? Like the wind we cannot see, the Holy Spirit is invisible but speaks to our spiritual heart.

What does the Holy Spirit say when He speaks to us?

• He convicts us of our sin (John 16:7-10),

• He guides us into the truth of Jesus (John 16:13-15),

• He will be our helper to teach us and bring Scripture to our minds as we need it (John 14:25-26),

• He will put the love of God in our hearts (Romans 5:5)

• He will give us power to be His witnesses to the world (Acts 1:8).

All of these transformations happen because of Him. Without Him we can't experience these things.

Nicodemus and the Spirit of Truth

Nicodemus was having difficulty believing and understanding what Jesus was saying. In John 16:13, we are told that the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of truth". The Holy Spirit is our guide to truth and helps us to believe. The Bible never explicitly says Nicodemus became a believer but his actions after the death of Jesus, like publicly helping to bury Him, suggest that He was indeed transformed (John 19:39-40).

As John 3:16 plainly states, those who believe in Him will have eternal life. But some will not believe, they will, as Jesus explains not even believe the earthly things they see, the miracles of creation and the hand of God in the lives of those who love Him. If they can't believe even that, then how will it be possible to believe in Heavenly things.

They willfully chose not to believe. Jesus goes on and says they chose not to believe because "men love darkness rather than light" (John 3:19). Without the Spirit of God living in us we cannot belong to Him. We will actually prefer darkness (sin).

When we believe in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit and are reborn. As John 1:12-13 explains,

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Notice that we were born, not out of our own will, but God's. Nothing we did made us worthy of the free gift of salvation. Grace has saved us and it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are convicted by the Holy Spirit of our sin and we want to change. But now that we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us are we letting Him use us?

Quenching the Spirit vs Being Spirit-Filled

Sadly, it is possible for us to "quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Unrepentant sin can hinder the Spirit’s transformative work, limiting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. You should be able to see the Spirit working in the lives of those who love Him.

In Galatians 5:16-25, Paul says when the Holy Spirit fills us we walk by Him, live by Him, and are led by Him. The Spirit-filled life is one of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Ephesians 5:19-21 describes a Spirit-filled life as one that is thankful, joyful, and filled with music, singing Psalms and hymns. A life full of the Holy Spirit is a life of surrender to the will of God. It is a life that has died to self. We can find peace through the Holy Spirit. Jesus, our role model, was also filled with the Spirit.

Surrendering to the Spirit

We are told in Isaiah 11:2 the future Messiah, Jesus, would have the Spirit of God resting on Him. This Spirit would give Him wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. These qualities were fulfilled in Jesus’ life and ministry. Are we surrendering to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to empower us as He did Jesus and as He has countless believers since?

“A life full of the Holy Spirit is a life of surrender to the will of God.”