A ruler once came to Jesus by night (revised)

Note the new verse 4, which speaks being sanctified and obeying to receive the Lord and be born again.

There’s life in the lifted-up Savior today;
The Spirit will sanctify all who obey;
If ye would repent and believe in His name,
Ye shall be born again!

Several verses confirm this:

1 Pet. 1:2-3 Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

vs. 2 We are chosen in sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ and God. We are regenerated unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

We received Him and became the children of God by believing into His name. We were thus begotten (regenerated or born again) of God.