The New Birth to a Life of Faith in Christ Jesus
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your household. The eternal God, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, has been good, infinitely good, and to Him, only to Him, be the honor and glory. Tonight we begin a series of studies that will lead us to explore a profound and transformative topic: the new birth. We will ask ourselves: what does this concept really mean? What does it consist of? Although the expression “new birth” resonates frequently in ecclesiastical and Christian circles, few understand its essence in the light of God’s grace and mercy, revealed in His Word. Therefore, we will immerse ourselves in the Holy Scriptures to discover what the new birth is, what its scope is, and what it teaches us about the life that God desires for us.
The New Birth: A Divine Act of Transformation
To begin, it is fundamental to recognize that the new birth is an act of God. Everything that men and women receive in terms of salvation comes from Him. It is not an isolated event or a human action, but a divine work that unfolds progressively in the lives of those who know and establish the Kingdom of God in their heart. This act, in its essence, is a spiritual transformation that gives rise to a new existence: a life of faith in Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul expressed it clearly in “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). Thus, the new birth is not about a simple change of religion, as some might suppose by saying “I became evangelical.” It is not an adjustment of external beliefs or an adoption of new practices. It is, rather, a birth to a life of faith, a process that transcends the superficial and manifests itself in conduct, thoughts, and feelings, reflecting an internal transformation that springs from the Spirit of God.
A Prophetic Promise from Ancient Times
The new birth is not an exclusive novelty of Christianity nor a concept that emerged only with the ministry of Jesus. Although it was fully fulfilled in Him, its root is found in the Old Testament, woven into Mosaic law and announced by the prophets as a divine promise. In “You shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan” (Leviticus 25:10), we see a powerful image: the Year of Jubilee. This special time, every fifty years, allowed the people of Israel a new beginning. Debts were forgiven, lands returned to their original owners, and slaves regained their freedom. It was a rebirth, a restart that prefigured God’s redemptive work.
Later, the prophets amplify this promise. Ezekiel declares: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). And in another passage: “And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it” (Ezekiel 37:14). These words do not only point to a physical or political renewal, as some in Israel interpreted, but to a profound spiritual transformation, a new covenant that would materialize in Christ.
Jeremiah confirms it by saying: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). Isaiah adds: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3). And Joel prophesies: “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-29). This new covenant, universal and unbreakable, does not depend on human will to sustain itself, as it is written in the heart by the hand of God.
The Fulfillment in Christ: A New Covenant in His Blood
In the New Testament, this promise becomes reality. During the Last Supper, Jesus raises the cup and proclaims: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). With these words, the new birth finds its foundation: a covenant sealed in the blood of Christ, which not only fulfills the promises of the past but brings them to their fullness. It is not an abstract concept, but a living reality that transforms those who accept it.
This fulfillment is vividly illustrated in the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, narrated in John 3:1-8. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Jewish leader, approaches Jesus at night and says: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus responds with a statement that shakes his understanding: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Perplexed, Nicodemus asks: “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 clarifies: “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 3:5-6). And he adds: “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” (John 3:8).
The Stipulations of the New Covenant
The new birth, as a new covenant in the blood of Christ, is not just a gift of grace; it also implies responsibility. This covenant has clear stipulations, established by God, that invite us to reflect deeply:
- The terms are established by God. Jesus makes it clear: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). It is not we who define the conditions. How many times have we tried to negotiate with God, saying: “If you give me this, I will serve you” or “If you fulfill that, I will obey.” But the new birth doesn’t work that way. The terms are divine, not human, and accepting them is the first step to living in this covenant.
- The new birth is conditional. Jesus insists: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This truth is repeated in other passages, such as “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21) or “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Grace is undeserved, yes, but it demands a response: obedience and faith. Ignoring these conditions is closing our eyes to the totality of the Gospel.
- We live as pilgrims and strangers. Jesus compares the one born of the Spirit to the wind: unpredictable, free from earthly attachments. The Old Testament already taught it: “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me” (Leviticus 25:23). Peter reaffirms it: “I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). Whoever is born again does not cling to the things of this world—properties, achievements, relationships—because their citizenship is in heaven.
A Life of Faith, Not of Convenience
The new birth is not a means to obtain material blessings nor a formula for a comfortable life. It is a call to live by faith, not by sight or human desires. Many approach the Gospel seeking promises of prosperity, but the covenant demands more: a total surrender to God’s terms, a willingness to walk in His conditions, and a life that reflects our identity as pilgrims in this land.
Thus, the new birth leads us to the hope of glory, to hear someday: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). May this truth transform our heart and guide us to live fully in the new covenant sealed in the blood of Christ. Amen.
