Read Romans 6 again – carefully. Do you see how you share in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection by baptism? Do you see how your old sinful self dies with Christ there? Do you see how God raises you to “new life”? It is new because all your sins are forgiven! Your new life serves God, not sin (Romans 6:5-23). And isn’t “new life” another way of saying, “birth”? Yes, this is your spiritual birth!
When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, He knows what He plans for baptism. He knows that in watery burial believers will enter His saving death, rising again to a clean, new life! That is why He requires “water” in the new birth. Nicodemus must be born this way. Dear friend, you too must be born this way. The King leaves no one out. Listen to His literal wording, as He speaks to you now through John 3:5:
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.