“Born again” is one of the most familiar phrases in Christianity, and one of the most misunderstood. In South Africa it is often used as a label for a type of church, or for a moment when someone “gave their life to Jesus” at an emotional meeting. But when Jesus first used the words, He was speaking to the most religious man in the room.

That man was Nicodemus: a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a teacher of Israel. He came to Jesus at night with polite words of respect, and Jesus answered him with a statement that cut through everything he had trusted in: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, NASB 1995).

This week I want to point you to a sermon on that passage by John MacArthur, published by Grace to You: “You Must Be Born Again (John 3:1-18).” It is worth an hour of your weekend. As you listen, notice a few things. Nicodemus was moral, learned and devout, and still needed new birth. The new birth is the work of God’s Spirit, not something we produce. And the passage moves from the necessity of new birth to its means: the Son of Man lifted up, and the call to believe in Him. The section ends with the most famous verse in the Bible: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NASB 1995).

Before you press play, read John 3:1-18 for yourself. Afterwards, ask: Have I been born again? Not “Have I had a religious experience?” but “Has God given me new life, so that I now trust in Christ and love what He loves?”

If the video doesn’t load, you can watch it on YouTube. For more on the gospel from Grace to You, see the series The Gospel According to Jesus.