People spend the first nine months of their existence in their mother’s womb. At a certain moment in their development, that womb becomes too restrictive; were the child to remain in the womb, its confinement would eventually kill the child. Its exit from the womb—we call it birth, being born—provides a new environment with space and opportunity to grow and develop further, including learning to drink, mastering the discipline of schedules, eventually crawling, walking, managing fine motor skills, studying, and so much more. With the term “born again” the apostle (building on Jesus’ use of the analogy in John 3:3–5) underscores the following:
the limitations and ultimate futility of life-without-Christ (as staying in the womb is eventually restrictive to development and ultimately deadly);
the life-giving opportunities and freedom that come with spiritual birth—that is, delivery from the restrictions of a this-worldly womb.
Peter’s point in using this analogy is that a life without Christ is too restrictive for healthy development, while knowing Christ provides a life of true freedom and opportunity to develop and express your potential.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,