Bible Matters 104:  Born Again

A very simple phrase, “Ye must be born again” spoken by Jesus and yet so many people do not understand it.  Religions around the world use this phrase as a wake-up call to the lost, but rarely do they explain the meaning.  “Born again” is used only three times in the New Testament.  Jesus’s ministry started with John and Peter.  If Jesus said it and they captured it, then you must understand it!

John 3:3,5-7 – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Let’s break it down.

1.       Why must you be born again?  Answer:  To enter the kingdom of heaven for everlasting life or to be saved.

2.       What is born again?   Answer:  First birth is of the flesh, born as a child of the water in the placenta.  Born again or the second birth is of the Spirit or baptism by the Holy Ghost.    

3.       How do you get born again?   Answer:  Only by knowledge in the word of God as presented in the Gospel of Jesus Christ by repenting of your sins and accepting the Holy Ghost.

The Spirit as the Holy Ghost is presented in John.  The glorification of Jesus was by his death, burial and resurrection.  Your sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ.  He is the propitiation of our sins. 

John 7:38-39 – He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Revelation 1:5 – And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1 John 2:2 – And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is presented in Acts, as told to you by Peter.

Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

From John and Acts, everlasting life is given to you when you believe on Jesus and repent of your sins.  When you repent of your sins, you turn from your sinful ways walking in darkness to a righteous life, living for God and hearing God’s word.  If you continue to sin, then you are a servant of sin and you will not abide in the Lord’s house forever.   

John 8:31-32 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Luke 13:5 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

John 8:34-36 – Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:47 – He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 8:11-12 – She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

When you keep Jesus’s saying, you abide in the doctrine of Jesus Christ and shall never see death.  By doing the will of the Father, you are saved from eternal damnation and you shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

John 8:51 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Matthew 7:21-24  – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Thus, when you are born again, do you continue your sinful life and serve the devil.  The doctrine of Jesus Christ, says you can’t serve two masters.  You can’t serve God and serve the devil sin. If you are not with Jesus, then you are against him.

Luke 16:13 – No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 12:30 – He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Paul likens born again to you being a new creature.  Your old sinful life is passed away, you are become new. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

You have a choice in the New Testament to believe on Jesus or not.  He came to save the world, not to condemn it.

John 12:47 – And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

John 10:26-30 – But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.

So, what is sin in the New Testament:   It is clear that if you know Jesus, you keep his commandments. You show your belief in Jesus by not being a servant of sin and living a righteous life.

1 John 2:3-4 – And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Mark 12:29-31 – And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Galatians 5:17,19-21 – For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

You are all sinners.  You are living in the flesh daily.  If you sin, then confess your sins to Jesus.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This doctrine is summarized by John in the last book of the bible, Revelation.  If you abide in the doctrine of Jesus Christ and receive the word of God, hold fast and repent, then your name will not be blotted out of the book of life and you will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:12-14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 Revelation 3:3,5,8 – Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Decide today to be Born Again as a child of God.  See you in heaven! 

To God be the glory in all you do!  Amen.