John 3 answers these questions for Nicodemus, to be “born again” means:

First, that he is born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5);

Second, that his spirit is born of the Spirit (John 3:6); and,

Third, that he believes in the Son of Man who was lifted up (John 3:14-15).

That’s what it means to be born again which entails the following:

First, he sees the Kingdom of God (John 3:3);

Second, he enters the Kingdom God (John 3:5);

Third, he has eternal life (John 3:15-16); and,

Fourth, he lives by the truth and comes to the light (John 3:21).

That’s what it means, at least to Nicodemus whom the Lord expected to understand because he was not just a Pharisee, he was also a member of the Jewish Ruling Council, a teacher in Israel (John 3:1, 10).

These qualifications of his are supposed to have equipped him to understand what Jesus was saying but he didn’t.

There are not so many Old Testament prophecies with references to both water and spirit that Nicodemus could have thought of, those are:

Isaiah 43:26-44:5;

Ezekiel 36:25-27.

“I will pour water; I will pour out my Spirit”

In Isaiah 43:26-28, God called upon Israel to remember why, because of his fathers’ sins and rebellion, God disgraced his temple and consigned him to destruction. But in Isaiah 44:1-4 God promised something new. He said,

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” (Isaiah 44:3-4)

He promised a time of refreshing in Israel (signified by water), whose people are filled with the Holy Spirit.

“I will sprinkle clean water; I will put my Spirit”

In Ezekiel 36:16-38, God commanded the prophet to speak to the people of Israel who continues to profane the name of the Lord where they were dispersed. To tell them that for the sake of Lord’s own holy name, he will regather them back into their own land.

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:24-27).

That they will be cleansed (signified by water) and have new spirit. God also promised to put his own Spirit upon them so as to move them to follow his decrees. And the land that was desolate will once again be prosperous.

Whoever believes the Son has eternal life

Although in Isaiah 44 the water is used to signify a refreshed promised Land, the water in Ezekiel 36 signifies purification of the people.

Both prophecies, on the other hand, guarantee the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, obedience to God, and prosperity in the land of promise.

Does this correlation tell us the Kingdom of God would be the promised land?

If so, these are the things that must happen first before they enter a new age of prosperity: the children of Israel must first be purified, they must receive a new spirit, they must receive the Spirit of God — all of which can only be made possible when the Son of Man is lifted up on the cross and the children of Israel believe in him (John 3:14-15).

Recommended Reading: What is the Kingdom of Heaven? | Ten Things the Bible says About the Promised Kingdom

But we have a problem with this interpretation.

In John 3:15, Jesus went on to say that everyone who believes him may have eternal life because he was sent by God in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17) and whoever does what is true comes to him, (John 3:21 c.f. John 1:8-9) .

Afterwards, the next scene, in John 3:22-36, we have someone who is calling everyone in Israel to repent, baptizing them with water is exalting Jesus as the,

“one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit (John 3:34).

And then went on to say,

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:35-36a).

John’s Gospel would hence forth be talking more about “eternal life” and “life” (zoe, Gk.) and never about the promised land. John’s Gospel would have about 14 references for each after chapter 3.

Fourteen (14) references to eternal life after chapter 3:

John 4:14; 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68; 10:28; 12:25, 50; 17:2, 3.

Fourteen (14) references to zoe-life after chapter 3:

John 5:26, 29, 40; 6:33, 35, 48, 51, 53, 63; 8:12; 10:10; 11:25; 14:6; 20:31.

It would seem that in John’s Gospel, the eternal life is the Kingdom of God. And if the overwhelming data above would have its way then these are the things that must happen first before they enter that Kingdom, that is, to have eternal life: the children of Israel must first be purified, they must receive a new spirit, they must receive the Spirit of God — all of which can only be made possible when the Son of Man is lifted up on the cross and the children of Israel believe in him (John 3:14-15). This is what it means to be born again, to be born of water and the Spirit.

The only drawback in this interpretation is John did not say it explicitly.