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John 3:4–8
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (v. 8).
The concept of regeneration or being born again is widely misunderstood in our day, which makes it all the more important to have clarity on this biblical doctrine. In our look at regeneration or the new birth thus far, we have considered its necessity. In fact, we could even say that regeneration is one of the most important of all biblical doctrines, since Jesus Himself tells us that without experiencing regeneration—without being born again—we cannot be saved (John 3:3). This regeneration, this change of heart, is essential to our entry into the kingdom of heaven.
As we explore this doctrine, we should also remember that while we can say much about it, God’s work of regeneration remains mysterious. To some degree, this is true of all doctrines, for we are creatures attempting to understand our infinite Creator, and He has not revealed to us everything that He knows (Deut. 29:29). When it comes to regeneration, we are able to state what it is—God gives us a new heart to love and obey Him—but we are unable to explain precisely how He does it. Jesus tells us as much in today’s passage.
As noted, Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus in John 3 gives us clear teaching on regeneration. Plainly, Nicodemus had an interest in Jesus when he first came to our Savior by night, but it does not seem that he was a disciple of our Lord at that point. He came to our Lord in secret, and as we see in verse 4, Nicodemus did not yet understand Christ’s teaching on regeneration. So Jesus went on to explain that His teaching on being born again referred not to physical birth but to a new spiritual birth by the work of the Holy Spirit (v. 5).
Even though Jesus told Nicodemus what He meant by being born again, He did not give a full explanation of the process of regeneration. Jesus drew an analogy between the blowing of the wind and the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, noting that we can hear the sound of the wind but we cannot see where the wind comes from or where it is going (v. 8). In other words, we can see the effects of the wind but not the wind itself. So it is with the work of the Holy Spirit. We can begin to see where He has brought new spiritual life as we see people profess faith and live more and more according to God’s law. Such things, however, are fruits of regeneration, not regeneration itself. We cannot pinpoint the exact moment of regeneration, but we do not need to. The task of the church is only to look for the fruit of regeneration (Matt. 7:15–20).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Historically, the church has committed serious error when it has claimed to identify exactly when regeneration happens. For instance, some traditions teach that regeneration always happens at the moment of water baptism, which can lead people to think that they are born again when they might not be. We must maintain the mystery of regeneration, looking to identify its effects and not its precise timing.
For further study
- Joel 2:28–29
- Matthew 3:8
- 1 Timothy 1:17
- 1 John 4:2–3
The bible in a year
- Habakkuk 3–Zeph. 2
- Revelation 15