The Greek word “anothen” in Jn 3:3 & 3:7 means both “from above” and “again.” Christ means “from above” (see Jn 3:31) but Nicodemus misunderstands it as “again.” This misunderstanding serves as a springboard for further instruction.
John 3:31 – He [Christ] who comes from above [anothen] is above all
Christ was the first man to be born of the Holy Spirit, therefore Christ was the first man to be born from above, all who God baptizes in the Holy Spirit are a new creation, they are born from above, they are not born again.
John 3:3 – Christ answered and said to him [Nicodemus], “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above [anothen] he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 – Nicodemus said to Christ, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?
John 3:5 – Christ answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit [born of the Spirit] he cannot enter into the kingdom of God
John 3:6 – That which is born of the flesh is flesh [natural birth], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [spiritual birth]
John 3:7 – Do not be amazed that I said to you, `You must be born from above [anothen]
John 3:8 – The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit [born from above].
The words of Nicodemus in John 3:4 show that he misunderstands the word “anothen” as “again”, that’s why he says, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
Christ’s statement, “that which is born of flesh is flesh” in John 3:6 is referring to what Nicodemus asks Christ in John 3:4,
The statement, “that which is born of flesh is flesh”, is referring to being born of man and woman (natural birth),
by the statement, “that which is born of flesh is flesh”, Christ is showing Nicodemus that a person that is born of natural birth cannot see the kingdom of God, which shows Nicodemus that Christ meant “from above”, and not “again”, when he said “anothen”.
The statement, “that which is born of Spirit is spirit” in John 3:6 shows Nicodemus that Christ is talking about a spiritual birth, and that shows Nicodemus that Christ meant “from above”, and not “again”, when he said “anothen” in the statement “unless one is born anothen he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
Christ was the first man to be born of the Holy Spirit, therefore Christ was the first man to be born from above, all who God baptizes in the Holy Spirit are a new creation, they are born from above, they are not born again.
No one has to say anything to be born from above, John 3:8 confirms that truth.
To be born from above, a person must first believe Yeshua is the Messiah, and then, God willing, God will baptize the person in the Holy Spirit, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is what makes a person born from above.
A person that is born from above is someone that believes Yeshua is the Messiah that no longer practices sin, it is the baptism in the Holy Spirit that makes a person no longer practice sin, that is why a person must be baptized in the Holy Spirit to be born of God.
Only those who believe Yeshua is the Messiah that no longer practice sin are born from above
A Christian is someone that is born from above.
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believes Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God [born from above].
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God [born from above] practices sin, because His seed [the Holy Spirit] abides in him or her; and he or she cannot sin, because he or she is born of God [born from above].
1 John 5:18 – We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God [born of the Spirit] does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over {and} protects him [Christ’s divine presence (the Holy Spirit) within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one [the spirit of the natural man] does not lay hold (get a grip) on him {or} touch [him].
Born From Above 