What is the new birth?

Welcome to Midway Church of Christ

What’s Your Question? for Feb. 3, 2010

Jesus told Nicodemus “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” and “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3,5). Just as physical birth begins a new relationship, the new birth begins a new relationship – kingdom citizenship. Paul said the church, or kingdom, is sanctified “with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). Notice the parallel statements: “water” and “water” (Jn. 3), “the Spirit” and “the word” (Eph. 5). The Spirit works through the word! Paul stated the same thing to Titus: we are saved “through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3:5). A person who is dead in sin is buried into the death of Christ, dies to sin and arises to walk as a new creature (Rom. 6:3-6).