“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, 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 3:3-6)
The encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus is so familiar to us that sometimes we miss its impact. When Jesus told Nicodemus that the way to heaven was not by keeping the Law but by being born again, He was amazed because he did not understand. Many of those who read this would confess the same amazement and ignorance. We must realize that we are not born again by our own strength or action. Just as human birth is a result the actions of others, so spiritual birth, being born again, occurs by the action of God. It is He who gives us that new birth.
When Jesus taught this, He meant was that what is required is a radical change of heart attitude. Works of righteousness may or may not indicate such a radical change but they certainly do not make us right with God. What God demands is a new person, one who has died to self with its sinful ways and pride and accepted and confessed his or her own sinfulness. Such a new birth is impossible without the faith the Lord imparts.
Jesus explained faith to Nicodemus by citing the incident of the bronze serpent in the wilderness. The Israelites were punished by a plague of fiery serpents. Those bitten died unless they looked at the bronze serpent Moses had fashioned at the Lord’s command. That serpent is a type of Christ. He became sin on the cross. What was deadly brought life. All who look to His cross in faith are saved from eternal death.