John:3:3
What does it mean to be born again?
The WORD born again is meant as ' born from above.'
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:
John:1:12
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John:1:13
The WORD of GOD says, if we believe in the name of CHRIST and receive him, God gives us the power to become the SONS of God.
We are not born because of the will of man, or of blood, nor by the will of man but by God himself.
If we are in Christ we are a new creature. Old things have passed away. 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 made new.
As I am being led in the spirit I would like to explain the whole plan of God's redemption.
After Adam sinned against God, we as humans have fallen short of God's glory as it is written,
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis:6:5
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans:3:23
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans:3:10
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Romans:3:11
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans:3:12
We have fallen short of the GLORY of GOD. If we say that we do not have sin, we are liars.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John:1:10
This explains us our need to be cleansed and forgiven of all our sins as we cannot even see the kingdom of God with our Adamic nature in us. (V3)
To take victory over this nature of Adam was Christ born as a man, to die on the cross for our sins, that through this gospel of CHRIST we can be born again in our Spirit man.
So how are we to be born again?
We are born again by the word of God being the seed
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 Peter:1:23,
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter:1:25
What happens when we are born again?
1. Stage 1: the seed of the Gospel enters our heart. 1peter 1:23
2. Stage 2: we receive Christ by believing that he paid the price for our sins on the cross and we are redeemed from our sins by his BLOOD. John 1:12
3. Stage 3:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians:2:8
This stage is purely God's work. He creates that new birth in our spirit.
How do we know that we are born again?
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans:8:16
The Holy Spirit of God speaks in our hearts and confirms that we are children of God. ( Born again)
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans:15:13
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans:5:11
The joy and peace that God gives in our heart is the confirmation that we are born again.
This is something happening deep in the spirit that a natural man with a human mind cannot comprehend unless being experienced individually.
This is why Nicodemus was not able to completely comprehend what Christ was speaking about being born again. (V4)
And this is what Jesus refers to be born of water and of the spirit.
Water being the word of God.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians:5:26
Spirit being the work of the Holy Spirit in the Human Spirit.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians:1:13
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians:1:14
In other words we are born and sealed as children of God by the Holy Spirit.
So, what are we to do once we are saved?
1. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter:2:2
So we are to desire the word of God as new born babes to grow to be mature sons and daughters of God..
2. We have to work out our salvation with fear each day.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians:2:12
3. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans:12:2
We have to be transformed according to working of the holy spirit in us... each day as he renews our mind according to the word.
You can know more about the redemption of mankind and the prize of salvation in the links attached....
Isn't it a glorious experience to be born again? May God reveal you more . GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
