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WHAT IS “BORN AGAIN”? BY Eld. G. T. Kelley Sr. Today there is Much Confusion about what Christians mean by the phrase “Born Again.” Companies use this term, when selling products when what they mean is a facelift for your car, kitchen, yard, yourself, etc. In the religious realm this term has caught on also, where some use it to describe the ungodly idea of reincarnation, reformation, turning over a new leaf, etc. We hope to help you to see what the Word of God means by being “Born Again.” Where do we get this term “Born Again” and what does it mean? It comes from God’s Word. Jesus speaking in John 3:3 said, “... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”; and again in John 3:7, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Clearly the phrase came from Jesus Christ the Lord, and was used by the apostles, e.g., Simon Peter, 1 Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God…” He was describing the seed of the New Birth, which is the Spirit empowered Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This puzzled Nicodemus also, as seen in John three. Nicodemus, who was a man very learned in the scriptures, asked the same question, for It seemed impossible to him that a fully-grown person could be Born Again. He asked Jesus “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born,” (John 3:4)? As you read this chapter you will learn that Jesus was not talking about a physical new birth nor a mental new birth, but a Spiritual New Birth! This separates far from Jesus those that teach that the new birth is reincarnation, for God’s word says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27). It also tells us how far some companies have gone so far as blaspheming the Lord Jesus Christ. Why does a person need to be Born Again? Mankind, by nature, are sinners, e.g., even babies clearly show an inherited sin nature. They are selfish, self-centered, often cry when nothing is wrong, etc., but how sinful is man? The Bible teaches that man is totally depraved (Romans 3:10-18), which means mankind is spiritually dead toward God (“…dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1)! That is without any ability or desire toward the true and living God. All his attention is toward himself and or to the things of this world. You, in your natural state have no more ability toward God than a person, who is physically dead has in getting up and reading the newspaper. You sin because you are a sinner, and the “wages of sin [is] death” (Rom. 6:23a, see also Gen. 2:17). This is the second death, which is separation from God in the Lake of Fire, ever aware of all things around you. If you know these things, then you see that there is an absolute need for the New Birth. In Romans 5:6-12 God reveals man’s inability, and God’s provision for man, Jesus Christ. What can you do to be Saved? A jailer, in Acts 16:30, asked this question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” We find the answer in verse 31a, “… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God,” (John 3:15-18). What is it that you must believe? The Gospel of Jesus Christ! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1:16a, see also 1 Peter 1:21). What than is the gospel of Jesus Christ; it is His death, burial and resurrection. “... Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). (Notice, that it says according to the scriptures). Jesus died a substitutionary death (one in the place of another), therefore you must believe that you are a sinner worthy of the second death, and that Jesus died in your place. The first part of the Bible, O.T., shows shadows and types of this sacrificial death, the innocent dying for the guilty. You must accept (believe) that Jesus did for you, what you could not do for yourself, in paying your sin debt. Jesus paid your debt on the cross of Calvary by suffering the wrath of God that you deserve. You must believe that after Jesus died in your place that He was buried and arose from the grave after three days and three nights, (Mat. 12:40). You must believe that Jesus not only arose from the grave, but was Victorious Over Death & the Grave! “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,” (Romans 5:9-10). You must believe after being seen by many, He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God (Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1). If man is dead toward God, than how can he believe? YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! God enables sinners to believe the Gospel, by means of regeneration. What is regeneration, and how does it happen? God makes alive (quickens) man’s dead spirit (Eph. 2:1ff) to believe the truth. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life," (Titus 3:4-7). It is a work of grace, meaning a gift from God, (Eph. 2:5-9). Don’t be deceived! The New Age movement changes their terms from time to time to snare more people; e.g., they used to call demons “spirit guides,” but now they call them “angels.” So also, they have changed their teaching of reincarnation to that of being born again. They deceive many with their new teaching on the “new birth.” They teach that when you die you come back again and again and again, etc. However, God’s Word does not teach this at all. A person is only born physically ONCE, and when a person lays down in death they await the judgment, (See Heb. 9:27). All, without exception, that die will be resurrected bodily, given a new body from the old (see 1 Cor. 15), to face the Judgment of Jesus Christ. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation," (John 5:28-29). You are going to be raised from the dead, no matter what happens to your body. Which resurrection will you be in, the resurrection of the just or the unjust? Only those, who stand in the righteousness of God, are counted just! "For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," (2 Cor. 5:21). Do you know yourself to be worthy of everlasting damnation? Do you know that you cannot save yourself? Do you know your only hope is Jesus? "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," (Acts 4:12). Do you believe that Jesus died in your place, thereby paying your sin debt? Do you know that not only did Jesus die, but was buried and arose again the third day? To be SAVED you must believe the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save sinners just like you from their sins. If you can receive (believe) God’s Good News than God will save you. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," (John 1:12-13). Yes, JESUS has made a way for sinners to be delivered from their sin and its consequences. Praise God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the Good News indeed! ONLY THOSE THAT ARE “BORN AGAIN” ARE TRULY CHRISTIANS! |
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God Bless! |