What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? examines the biblical doctrine of regeneration, offering a clear and accessible introduction to what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.”

Dr. R.C. Sproul guides readers through Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, explaining the new birth as a necessary condition for entrance into the kingdom of God. Sproul clarifies that the phrase “born-again Christian” is, in a narrow sense, redundant—the New Testament knows of no other kind of Christian. Every person who belongs to Christ has been spiritually reborn.

The book explores regeneration across six chapters, addressing its necessity, its mysterious nature, its role as the beginning of the Christian life, its character as a sovereign and monergistic work of God, its immediacy, and its permanence. Sproul carefully distinguishes between necessary and sufficient conditions, explains why the unregenerate person is unable to seek God apart from divine initiative, and shows how the Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration precedes and enables faith and repentance. Throughout, he draws on biblical narratives—including the conversions of Nicodemus and Saul and the contrast between Peter and Judas—to illustrate the doctrine’s practical and pastoral significance.

Key Themes

• The new birth as a necessary condition for seeing and entering the kingdom of God
• Regeneration as a sovereign, monergistic work accomplished by God alone
• The logical priority of regeneration over faith and repentance
• The permanence of the new birth and the believer’s security in Christ

Featured Quotes

“The unregenerate person never seeks God; he is a fugitive from God. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He is the Seeker; we are the ones who are running.”

“A dead man cannot cooperate in his resurrection.”