BORN AGAIN?
The term "born again"is a very popular Christian phrase today. Unfortunately, there is much misunderstanding about its meaning. In my seminars when I talk about the different "denominational languages" and how they create barriers between Christian groups and individuals, I often have the participants write out a short definition of the term to demonstrate the point. Examples of answers I have heard include:
"Someone who believes in Jesus."
"Someone who has repented from sin, accepted Jesus in his heart, and has been baptized."
"Someone who has received the Holy Spirit."
"Someone who has received the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues."
"Someone who has been saved and speaks in tongues."
Sometimes, the answer reveals the denominational training a person has had! The definitions shown above demonstrate some theological confusion. The confusion is revealed and hopefully dispelled when we begin to examine the biblical description of the term. This we do in the seminars and in this short study.
"Someone who believes in Jesus."
"Someone who has repented from sin, accepted Jesus in his heart, and has been baptized."
"Someone who has received the Holy Spirit."
"Someone who has received the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues."
"Someone who has been saved and speaks in tongues."
Sometimes, the answer reveals the denominational training a person has had! The definitions shown above demonstrate some theological confusion. The confusion is revealed and hopefully dispelled when we begin to examine the biblical description of the term. This we do in the seminars and in this short study.
ORIGIN
The term was used by Jesus to explain spiritual things to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader:
JOHN 3:1-6 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Jesus made it clear that even though we have been born of the flesh (through our mother), we must be born of the Spirit for us to enter the Kingdom of God. The capital S indicates that this refers to the Holy Spirit, the lower case s is for other spirits, in this case the human spirit. The Bible shows us why this Spiritual birth is necessary as well as what it is. For our study, we begin with the beginning, in Genesis.
JOHN 3:1-6 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Jesus made it clear that even though we have been born of the flesh (through our mother), we must be born of the Spirit for us to enter the Kingdom of God. The capital S indicates that this refers to the Holy Spirit, the lower case s is for other spirits, in this case the human spirit. The Bible shows us why this Spiritual birth is necessary as well as what it is. For our study, we begin with the beginning, in Genesis.
MAN IS CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE
GE 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
God is a triune being: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see three parts named. One is a central being, essence, one is in bodily form, another one is Spirit. Man also has three parts: a central thinking unit (mind or soul), plus a body, and a spirit. (See diagram in right column showing us created in God's Image)
God is a triune being: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see three parts named. One is a central being, essence, one is in bodily form, another one is Spirit. Man also has three parts: a central thinking unit (mind or soul), plus a body, and a spirit. (See diagram in right column showing us created in God's Image)
ORIGINAL SIN: DEATH THAT REQUIRES RE-BIRTH
There was only one rule that Adam and Eve had to follow in the Garden of Eden:
GEN 2:17 ". . . but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God said they would surely die when they ate of the fruit of that one tree. There was only one rule! The Bible records what happened:
gen 3:4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
The woman chose to obey what Satan said, and her own experience (seeing the fruit was good) rather than what God said, and ate the fruit, disobeying God.
Gen 3: 5-6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Adam also ate the fruit, in disobedience. They should have died at that time, according to God's words. Yet, when they ate, they did not appear to die. They lived long enough to be expelled from the Garden. They lived long enough to have two sons, who fought and one killed the other. They lived long enough for the dead son to be replaced with theirthird son, Seth. The Bible says Adam lived eight hundred years after that!
When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
So it would appear that they did not die right away. But just as looks were deceiving when Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was good to eat, so it is that it is deceiving to assume that just because a person is walking and talking that this person is really alive, in the Biblical and true sense. Death meant DEAD TO GOD. SIN IS LIKE A DOOR THAT CLOSES, SEPARATING US FROM GOD.
(Refer to diagram in right hand column showing closed door to God)
GEN 2:17 ". . . but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God said they would surely die when they ate of the fruit of that one tree. There was only one rule! The Bible records what happened:
gen 3:4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
The woman chose to obey what Satan said, and her own experience (seeing the fruit was good) rather than what God said, and ate the fruit, disobeying God.
Gen 3: 5-6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Adam also ate the fruit, in disobedience. They should have died at that time, according to God's words. Yet, when they ate, they did not appear to die. They lived long enough to be expelled from the Garden. They lived long enough to have two sons, who fought and one killed the other. They lived long enough for the dead son to be replaced with theirthird son, Seth. The Bible says Adam lived eight hundred years after that!
When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
So it would appear that they did not die right away. But just as looks were deceiving when Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was good to eat, so it is that it is deceiving to assume that just because a person is walking and talking that this person is really alive, in the Biblical and true sense. Death meant DEAD TO GOD. SIN IS LIKE A DOOR THAT CLOSES, SEPARATING US FROM GOD.
(Refer to diagram in right hand column showing closed door to God)
THE RE-BIRTH
Here the writer Paul refers to living, breathing people as being dead in sin, and gives the reason and circumstance: they were following the ways of Satan. There is another concept also introduced here which we will look into in greater detail when we look at Christian Maturity, and that is that satan is the ruler of the kingdom of this world. This also came to pass, just as the death of man, in that same episode in the Garden.
Man was created by God and given dominion, or rule, over the earth. By submitting to satan Adam placed man under the authority and control of satan, and man's dominion, the earth, became satan's dominion. Also, man's dominion over his mind and body became subject to the new ruler. Adam and Eve sold themselves to the devil: they and theirs, including their children, which are us, belong to satan.
Being born again means that the Spirit of God has breathed life into your dead spirit through accepting Jesus Christ's death as payment to purchase you from the former owner, satan. The purpose of being Born Again of the Spirit of God is to replace the dominion where it belongs, under God with man as the manager in charge. This repositioning of submission and authority allow man to again have a personal relationship with God, as before "the fall." Without it, man cannot have this relationship, cannot "enter the kingdom of God."
This is why Jesus said "You must be born again."
Eph 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
(Refer to diagram in right hand column showing open door to God)
Man was created by God and given dominion, or rule, over the earth. By submitting to satan Adam placed man under the authority and control of satan, and man's dominion, the earth, became satan's dominion. Also, man's dominion over his mind and body became subject to the new ruler. Adam and Eve sold themselves to the devil: they and theirs, including their children, which are us, belong to satan.
Being born again means that the Spirit of God has breathed life into your dead spirit through accepting Jesus Christ's death as payment to purchase you from the former owner, satan. The purpose of being Born Again of the Spirit of God is to replace the dominion where it belongs, under God with man as the manager in charge. This repositioning of submission and authority allow man to again have a personal relationship with God, as before "the fall." Without it, man cannot have this relationship, cannot "enter the kingdom of God."
This is why Jesus said "You must be born again."
Eph 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
(Refer to diagram in right hand column showing open door to God)
This is what Jesus called being "born again." Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'"
"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'"
BORN AGAIN AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
I have had seminar participants who were confused about the relationship of the Holy Spirit and being Born Again. In this lesson we are not going to teach about the Holy Spirit, except to point out that one who has been "born again" is also "saved," or has "eternal life," and has the Holy Spirit, according to scripture. Jesus connected the Holy Spirit and eternal life in John 4:13-14: Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER, additional study:
John 3:1-8 Jesus told Nicodemus that being born again allows a person to do two things. Without being born again, no person can __________ or ______________ the _____________ ___ _______ .
Sin is like a door that closes and separates us from the ______________ __________ which gives our spirit life.
How does one become born again?
Look at Eph 2:4-10, 2 Cor 5:17, and 1 John 1:8-9, Rom 8:16-17.
What is the difference between one who is born again and one who is not?
If we are born again, and become alive to God through Christ, but then we sin again, is the door closed again and must we be born again each time we sin?
