"Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."" (John 3:5-6)

With these words, the Lord Jesus taught us many things that are foundational to the faith. These words dispel many things that many of us have believed in, and allow us to live a free life in Him.

In this article we'll take a quick look at what the Lord Jesus meant when He said those words and what they should mean for us too.

The flesh and the Spirit

The Lord Jesus' words define what being born again really is.

Many of us have the wrong ideas about the new birth. Some of us think it is repenting of sins alone; and some of us think it's striving to live a new life. Some of us even think it's about changing religions and joining a Christian church.

Well, these ideas do describe the effects of being born again, but they are not what makes us born again.

• Repentance means a turning away from sins, but it's not complete in itself.
• Striving to live a new life without God's Spirit empowering us is simply reform, not a new birth.
• Changing religions and joining a Christian church is just that without the new birth -- a change in religion and a transfer from one religious faith group to another.

Being born again, according to the Lord Jesus, requires the Spirit of God. Hence, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

What this means for us

This declaration implies several important, even foundational things. Here are some of them.

1) Our new birth is not by flesh or human intervention

Being a "Christian" can only happen by the Holy Spirit's power. No human can become truly born again by human methods, for only the Spirit can give birth to our spiritual life.

2) A relationship with God can only come by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit of God is who enables us to have a relationship with God.

John 4:24 tells us that God is Spirit, and is looking for worshippers in Spirit and in truth, not in the flesh. The Spirit of God who causes us to be born again allows us to be the people God looks for.

3) Since the new birth is by the Spirit, growth in our spiritual life also comes by the Spirit

Spiritual maturity can only come by obedience to the Holy Spirit. He alone can make us grow.

Consider the fruits of the Holy Spirit enumerated in Galatians 5:22-23. We can't force ourselves to bear these fruits, for these are His fruits that will be borne in us only if we yield to Him.