The passage from John 3 discusses what it means to be "born again." Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born of water and spirit to enter God's kingdom. Being born again is a spiritual transformation brought about by God where one receives eternal life through faith in Jesus. It means becoming a child of God and having one's sins forgiven. All have sinned and fall short of God's glory, making us spiritually dead. But through faith in Christ's sacrifice, one receives new spiritual life and is born again.

1. What does it truly mean to be "born
again” based on John 3?
The classic passage from the Bible that answers this question is John
3:1-21. The Lord Jesus the Christ is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent
Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews).
Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night with some questions.
As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, “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. 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?
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.
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2. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:3-7
The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above."
Nicodemus had a real need. He needed a change of his heart—a
spiritual transformation. New birth, being born again, is an act of God
whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes (2
Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John
1:12, 13 indicates that being "born again" also carries the idea of
"becoming children of God" through trust in the name of Jesus the
Christ.
Why does a person need to be born again? "And you hath he quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins;" Ephesians 2:1. To the Romans he
wrote, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans
3:23. Sinners are spiritually “dead”; when they receive spiritual life
through faith in Christ, the Bible likens it to a rebirth. Only those who
are born again have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with
God.
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3. How? "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." Ephesians
2:8-9 When one is saved, he/she has been born again, spiritually
renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth. Trusting in
Jesus the Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on
the cross, is the means to be "born again." "Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2
Corinthians 5:17).
"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." John 1:12-13
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