Why Did Jesus Say "Truly Truly" or "Verily Verily"?

In John 3, Nicodemus said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Now, that might seem like an odd reply since Nicodemus didn't mention the kingdom. But Jesus not only responded to Nick's statement, He declared His authority as God.

"Truly" or "Verily" in Hebrew is the word "amen." Yes, that word we tack on to the end of prayers. It means "so be it." For a gathering to conclude a prayer or preaching with "Amen" means to be in agreement with everything that was said.

But for Jesus to put this word at the start of his answer, it takes on a different meaning. When Jesus said "Truly, I say to you," He was saying, "I am a firsthand witness that what I say to you is the truth," as if He was there in the beginning when all truth was established.

Because He was! Jesus is the author of truth. John 1:3 says, "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Colossians 1:16 says, "For by Him, all things were created... whether throne or dominions or rulers or authorities."

So when Nicodemas said, "We know you are a teacher come from God," Jesus responded as if to say, "I am God, and no one gets to God unless He is born of God." In every gospel, Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you," all divine claims to being the way, the truth, and the life, when we understand the text.

What Does it Mean to be Born of Water and the Spirit?

A pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, "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 replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said, "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 answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:1-5).

What does it mean to be born of water and the Spirit? Some have said that water here represents physical birth, like water of the amniotic sack, and Spirit represents spiritual rebirth. Many Pentecostals teach that being born of water and spirit means you need to be baptized to be saved, and then speak in tongues to prove you have the Holy Spirit! But that's a lie.

Rather, Jesus was teaching what God had said through the prophet Ezekiel:

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And 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 36:25-27

Titus 3:5 says that "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

That's what it means to be born of water and the Spirit. God cleanses us of our rebellious heart, and gives us His Spirit that we would worship and obey Him. We have nothing good to give except that which God gives to us, when we understand the text.

What Does it Mean to Be Born Again?

In John 3:3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus replied, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

What does it mean to be born again? You've probably heard this term your whole life. You may have even called yourself a "born again Christian." But have you considered what it means?

Everyone is born physically alive, but we are spiritually dead. As descendants of Adam, we have inherited his sin nature, separated from God. And the only way we can be right with God is to be born from above. We need the life of God in the soul of an otherwise dead man.

When you hear the gopel, that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again from the grave, and you repent and put your faith in Jesus, He will raise your spirit from the dead and give you new life, a Spirit-filled life, that loves God and desires His will. And you are born again.

Ephesians 2:4-6 says, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places."

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). In Him we are born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). So no longer live in your old dead ways, but according to the new birth you have been given, when we understand the text.