December 16th

Born Again

John 3:5 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.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

How Can These Things Be?

The new birth, referred to in the King James Version of the Bible as being born again, is somewhat of a mysterious subject, though most Christians understand what it is referring to. Many Christians can recall experiencing it in their own life, yet some have no recollection of a so-called born-again experience.

In this passage in John chapter 3, Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a religious leader of the Pharisees, who had come to Jesus by night. Jesus told Nicodemus many things, one of which was that a man cannot see the kingdom of God unless he has been born again, to which Nicodemus replied in John 3:9.

John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

The Flesh and the Spirit

Jesus then made a distinction between flesh and spirit, as Nicodemus seemed to think that Jesus was referring to a second physical birth. The second birth, or the new birth, takes place in the spirit of a man. The Bible tells us that we were once dead in trespass and sin. That’s referring to our spiritual condition, a condition that changes when a person receives the gift of righteousness made available in Christ.

Made Alive

There is an awakening that takes place at the spiritual level of a man, when He comes to Christ in sincerity. Man is a spirit who has a soul, and who lives in a physical body. The spirit of a man is the real man. Spiritual death is separation from God. A man who is separate from fellowship with God is spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

In Ephesians 2:1 Paul says that you have been quickened, or made alive, who were dead in your trespasses and sins. It is the forgiveness of sins that releases a man from spiritual death, and forgiveness is received when one comes to Christ. It is referred to as the free gift of righteousness. It comes only through Christ, because man is unable to do anything in and of himself that will make him righteous before God. Righteousness is a gift from God, something we receive by faith, or that is, by believing Him.

The New Birth Process

What causes us to be born again, or born of the spirit? It is the result of hearing the word of God about Jesus paying the price for our sins, and acting on that word by asking the Lord to forgive us and come into our life. The Bible tells us that we are born again by the word of God.

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.

Hearing the word about salvation, believing it, and acting upon it causes one to be born of the spirit, or, as one translation says, born from above. The spirit of a man becomes born from heaven. That’s why Jesus said that except a man be born of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. He must rise from spiritual death and become aware of the reality of heaven, the kingdom of God.

Be Born Again

If you have not done so already, then make Jesus the Lord of your life today. It’s impossible to understand the new birth until it has happened to you, because it’s a spiritual experience.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.