To Be Born Again

John 3:3 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.
3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
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.
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Are you born again?
When someone asks you that, what do you say?
What does it mean?

We know the term is often used in Christian cycles, and we often cringe when people seem to think it's a one time emotional experience that is their title to heaven.

So what does the Bible say about "being born again"?

The actual words "born again" are used only three times in scripture -- twice in John 3 and once in 1 Peter 1:23, so we need to look for other terms expressing the same thing.

"born from above"
"regeneration" "renewal" "rebirth" "born of God"

Christ, uses the terms "born again" and in the same context uses the phrase "born of water and of the Spirit" which further identifies the meaning.

BORN OF WATER

So let's explore one of the terms Christ used in context with being "born again".

Born of water points us to baptism.
However, simply saying you need to be baptized and that's your ticket to heaven, is no more truth than saying a "one time emotional experience" is your ticket to heaven.

There has to be more to this!

I believe Romans 6 gives us the answer to this part of being born again.

6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:
6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Being born again includes a death to "the old man" and a resurrection to "a newness of life".

Paul asks "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" and answers his own question with "No -- we died to sin, how can we live in it any longer (verses 1 and 2)

Then he develops this idea in the above verses.

But notice that our "dying to sin" has a vital connection to Christ. It is not something we simply DO. Without Christ we can DO nothing.

Because Christ died to sin, all who are united with Him die to sin. Our baptism is symbolic of this dying. Now we are to be RECKONING ourselves dead to sin (verse 11).

When we are baptized we accept Christ's death for our sins, and as we rise from the water we accept Christ's righteousness and "reckon" or count ourselves dead to sin. Because we are "dead to sin" through our union with Christ, we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies.

To be "dead to sin" doesn't mean we will never fall again, but it means we died to the dominion of sin. Previously we were in the kingdom of Satan and sin. We "followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air" (which is satan) (Ephesians 2:2) We were in the dominion of darkness (Col. 1:13) We were slaves to sin (Romans 6:17)

But when we accept Christ, and the MEANING of our baptism showing we, through Christ, have died to this realm of sin. We are set free from sin (Romans 6:18) We have a new ruler -- Jesus Christ, and are citizens of a new kingdom, the sons and daughters of God!

Thus we "reckon" or "count" ourselves dead to sin and alive to righteousness. Forgiven and raised to newness of life. How can we willingly go back into the dark dominion of Satan? No -- we run to our Savior who imparts to us the strength to live in newness of life in Him.

BORN OF THE SPIRIT

The second part of Christ's statement "born of water and the spirit", reminds us of John the Baptist, saying "I baptize you with water but one more powerful than I will come....He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire". Luke 3:16

When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Jesus compares this to the wind -- While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power.

Romans chapter 8 also deals with this --

8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit [mind] the things of the Spirit.
8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father


God has made provision for our being "born again"!
He has also given us a responsibility for it.
God's provision consists in delivering us from the reign and power of sin. It consists of forgiving us of our sins. It consists of giving us His Holy Spirit to lead us into righteousness. It consists of uniting us with Christ, and creating in us a desire for holiness.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and our new position as sons and daughters of God, citizens of God's kingdom, we are to "reckon ourselves dead to sin" and "put to death the misdeeds of the body", and live in newness of life for Christ.

We must rely on the Spirit in our putting to death the deeds of the body. It is the Holy Spirit who makes the difference between mere "outward' reforms and a new heart and mind.