You Must Be Born Again
A Clear Word From Jesus
The Word of God is clear. If a person wants to see or enter the kingdom of God, he must be born again.
John 3:3, 5
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
These words were spoken by Jesus Himself. They are plain and easy to understand. A person must be born again, or he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.
This is not only true for one group of people. It is true for every person. It is true for the Amish, the Mennonite, the Baptist, the Methodist, the Catholic, the English, and every other person in the world.
With that in mind, let us ask a few honest questions.
Questions Every Person Should Consider
- Are Amish people born again the same way as non-Amish people?
- Do different groups become born again in different ways?
- Does the new birth happen little by little over a lifetime, or does it happen at a certain time?
- Can a person be born again by simply belonging to the Amish church?
- If a person leaves the Amish church, can he still be born again?
- How is a person born again?
These are serious questions. The answers matter because eternity is ahead for every one of us.
A Conversation With My Friend Albert
Several years ago, I had a conversation with my friend Albert. We talked about what Jesus said in John chapter 3.
Albert said, “Joe, you may be surprised to know that I have memorized every verse in John chapter 3.”
I said, “Albert, that is amazing. I do not know many people who can quote the whole chapter by heart.”
Then I asked him, “Albert, since you can quote the whole chapter, do you know how to be born again?”
He looked puzzled and said, “Well, Joe, I am not sure. I was baptized, I joined the Amish church, and I try to obey God and the church. I believe I will probably be considered born again in God’s eyes.”
I said, “Albert, may I ask you a very important question? If Jesus said, ‘Ye must be born again,’ do you think He would also tell us how to be born again?”
Think about it. Why would Jesus clearly tell us that we must be born again, but then leave us in the dark about how it happens?
Suppose I told you, “If you want to live another year, you must go to Africa and get a heart transplant.” But then I never told you where Africa is, how to get there, or where to find the doctor. That would not be loving or helpful.
Jesus would never do that. He loved us so much that He left heaven, came to this sinful world, and gave His life and blood for us. He would not tell us we must be born again and then hide the way from us.
The Bible not only tells us that we must be born again. It also tells us how to be born again, and that we can know we are born again.
Listening In On Jesus And Nicodemus
In John chapter 3, we read about a man named Nicodemus. He came to Jesus at night.
John 3:1–2
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus was not an careless man. He was a religious leader. He was respected by the people. He knew the Scriptures. He lived a strict life.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee. The Pharisees were very serious about religion. They tried hard to keep the law. They followed many rules and traditions. They believed that by living separate from others and keeping their religious rules, they could be right with God.
The Apostle Paul was also a Pharisee before he was saved.
Philippians 3:4–6
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul had much religion. He had much training. He had a good name among religious people. But after he met Jesus, he saw that none of those things could save him.
Philippians 3:7–9
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ…
Paul learned that his own righteousness was not enough. He needed the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.
Jesus Goes Straight To The Heart
When Nicodemus came to Jesus, Jesus did not begin by talking about miracles, church rules, or outward religion. Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus was saying, “Nicodemus, if you want to be where God is, you must be born again. You need a new birth. You need a new life from God.”
Nicodemus did not understand.
John 3:4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Nicodemus was thinking about physical birth. Jesus was speaking about spiritual birth.
The New Birth Is Not Man’s Work
The new birth is not something we can do for ourselves. It is something God must do in us.
Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…
A person is not born again because he is Amish. A person is not born again because he is baptized. A person is not born again because he joins a church. A person is not born again because he works hard, dresses plain, speaks Pennsylvania Dutch, drives a horse and buggy, obeys the Ordnung, or lives separate from the world.
Some of these things may be part of a person’s way of life. Some may show respect, discipline, or humility. But none of them can give a spiritually dead person eternal life.
Only God can do that.
Outward Religion Cannot Change The Heart
Many Plain people are sincere. They work hard. They love their families. They try to do right. They may say:
- I am Amish.
- I was baptized.
- I am a member of the church.
- I obey my parents.
- I follow the church rules.
- I live plain and simple.
- I stay away from many worldly things.
- I help my neighbors.
- I do the best I can.
These things may look good on the outside. But Jesus taught that outward religion is not enough.
Mark 7:6–9
He answered and said unto them… This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
God is not only looking at how a person dresses, where he goes to church, or what rules he keeps. God looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7
…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Dear friend, what does God see when He looks at your heart?
Has He given you a new heart?
Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you…
Two Births
Jesus said there are two births.
John 3:5–6
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [physical birth] and of the Spirit [spiritual birth], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The first birth is physical. That is how we enter the first world and become part of the physical world and join our earthly family.
The second birth is spiritual. That is how we enter the second world and become part of heavenly family.
When you were born the first time, you did not create yourself. You did not give yourself eyes, ears, hands, feet, blood, bones, and breath. You were born into your earthly family.
In the same way, the second birth is not something you create. It is the work of God. When a person is born again, God gives him spiritual life.
The first birth happens once. The second birth also happens once. The Bible does not speak of a third birth or a fourth birth. There is a physical birth, and there is a spiritual birth.
The following verses are not talking about something far off in the future. They are true right now for every person who has been born again. Read them slowly.
Colossians 1:13
Who [God] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Philippians 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together [the moment we got born again], and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Being Better Is Not the Same as Being Born Again
Some people think being born again means slowly becoming better over time. They may say:
- I do not sin as much as I used to.
- I am trying harder.
- I go to church more faithfully.
- I give more money.
- I have changed some bad habits.
- I am doing better with anger and bitterness.
- I joined the church and was baptized.
These may be good changes, but they are not the new birth.
A person can become more religious and still not be born again. A person can improve his outward life and still not have eternal life.
God requires more than improvement. God requires perfection.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
That is why no person can save himself. We cannot become perfect by trying harder. We cannot become perfect by keeping more rules. We cannot become perfect by joining the right church or belonging to a certain people group.
But Jesus Christ is perfect. He died on the cross and paid for our sins. Those who are in Christ are made right with God through Him.
Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified [set apart for God].
The New Birth Is Of God
John 1:12–13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.
This passage teaches us several things.
It is not of blood. That means a person is not born again because of family, heritage, race, or background.
It is not of the will of the flesh. That means a person cannot make himself born again by his own effort.
It is not of the will of man. That means no parent, preacher, bishop, minister, deacon, church, or community can make a person born again.
The new birth is of God.
Why We Need the New Birth
We need the new birth because sin brought spiritual death.
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
James 1:15
…sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Romans 6:23
For the wages [payment] of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A spiritually dead person cannot give himself life. Just as a dead body cannot make itself live, a spiritually dead person cannot make self alive to God.
That is why we need God’s mercy. That is why we need Jesus.
Romans 5:8–9
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Jesus came to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Look And Live
When Jesus explained the new birth to Nicodemus, He reminded him of a story from the Old Testament.
John 3:14–16
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
In the days of Moses, the people were bitten by fiery serpents. They were dying. God told Moses to lift up a brass serpent. Whoever looked lived.
They were not healed by joining a church. They were not healed by doing good works. They were not healed by promising to do better.
They looked, believed God’s promise, and lived.
In the same way, Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Whoever believes on Him receives eternal life.
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
The Bible gives a clear answer.
Acts 16:30–31
…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…
The answer was not, “Believe on Jesus and become Amish.”
It was not, “Believe on Jesus and keep the church rules.”
It was not, “Believe on Jesus and do enough good works.”
The answer was simple and clear.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
Salvation Is Through Faith In Christ Alone
Some people struggle with this. They think, “Surely believing in Jesus is not enough. Surely I must add something to it.”
But the Bible says:
Romans 10:3–4
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
A person must choose. Will I trust my own righteousness, or will I trust the righteousness of Christ?
Will I trust what I have done, or will I trust what Jesus has done?
What Happens When A Person Believes?
Jesus said:
John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Notice what Jesus said.
The person who hears His Word and believes:
- hath everlasting life,
- shall not come into condemnation,
- is passed from death unto life.
That is the new birth. The person passes from spiritual death to spiritual life.
Whosoever Means You
Romans 10:9–13
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek [the Amish and non-Amish]: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Whosoever means anyone.
It means Amish and non-Amish. It means young and old. It means rich and poor. It means those with a good name and those with a broken past. It means those who stayed in the church and those who left.
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Will You Believe on Jesus?
My dear friend, will you lay aside every hope except Jesus Christ?
- Will you stop trusting in your church membership, baptism, family name, good works, plain clothes, traditions, or personal goodness?
- Will you believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again?
- Will you trust Him alone as your Savior?
You may talk to God right now from your heart.
A Simple Prayer
Dear Lord, I know that I have sinned against You. I know that I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and rose again. Right now, I trust Jesus Christ alone as my Savior. Please save me and give me eternal life. Amen.
These Things Were Written So You Might Believe
John 20:27–31
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
We Would Love To Hear From You
If, after reading this booklet, you believed on Jesus Christ and were born again, please let us know. We would love to rejoice with you and send Bible study material to help you grow in your faith.
—Joe Keim