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"Ye must be born again"
This statement made by Jesus Christ nearly two thousand years ago, has been a major factor in establishing the belief systems of many of today’s churches. I believe this statement is also perhaps the most misunderstood by the majority of today's sincere Christians. It is my desire in this pamphlet to simply show from the Bible the possible meaning and the type of "birth" that Christ was referring to. It is very important to simply believe what Christ said concerning the subject of "born again". Read and believe John 3:3-7.
John 3:3-7 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. 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? 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (KJV)
What did Christ mean by these profound statements? First of all, it is very obvious that Nicodemus thought Christ was referring to "that which is born of the flesh" type of birth that believers must experience "again". It is also very obvious that Christ was not talking about a physical birth from a mother's womb as the "birth" that must be repeated. I want to suggest at the beginning of this pamphlet that the birth that is "born of the Spirit" must be repeated for believers in order for them to see the kingdom of God. It may seem strange to say this, but I believe Christ was not referring to the "born of the flesh" as being the first birth.
It would be ridiculous to assume that the fleshly birth that we experience in this life is the birth that must be repeated in order for us to see the kingdom of God. This is what Nicodemus thought Christ meant. The reason I used the word "repeated", is because this is the exact implication of the word "again" that the translators used. However they also could have used "born from above". I believe the "born again birth" is not (I repeat, not) going from the fleshly birth to the "born of the Spirit" birth. It is a birth from the "born of the Spirit" to the "born of the Spirit". The "born of the Spirit" birth is the birth that must be repeated! It is a birth from Spirit to Spirit, and not a birth from flesh to Spirit. In other words, believers must experience twice the "born of the Spirit" birth in order for them to see and enter into the kingdom of God. Is this not what Christ said and implied?
In today's Christian world, the concept of "born again" is believed to mean from flesh to Spirit, which is more accurate than the understanding and statement made by Nicodemus. Please understand that the God-given laws of conception and "kind after its kind" demand that flesh can only beget flesh, and Spirit can only beget Spirit; which is exactly what Christ implied in John 3:6. However the Spirit will beget (or bring forth) immortal flesh and bone at the resurrection to eternal life. This understanding is addressed in my booklet, "Abraham’s Covenant and Baptism".
What are the spiritual implications if the children of God were born of the Spirit before they were born of the flesh? I believe God's children were brought forth and were "born of God" in the eternal past, as it shows in John 1:12-13. Notice, they that received Christ were already born of God (past tense). These two verses explain what "born again" is all about.John 1:12-13 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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (KJV)If God's children receive Christ and believe on Christ's name, then they would be given power to become the sons of God (future), and again be born of God. Christ, as God in the flesh had no earthly father, therefore had to be born of a virgin. See Matt. 1:23.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (KJV)
Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, therefore was the only Adamite born of flesh and blood that was called the only "begotten" son of God. Note the word "only" in 1 John 4:9.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (KJV)
It could be said that Christ was the only Adamite that was born of the flesh that did not have to be "born again". Adam was also called a "son of God" (Luke 3:38).
Luke 3:38 Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God. (KJV)
All of the Father’s children were genetically created in Adam and were destined to be born as God’s sons and daughters. Because of Adam’s sin, the Father’s children were now instead all destined to be born in sin and death. However with the proper faith they can again be born as sons and daughters in the image of God as they once were destined to do. It is very obvious from scripture who the real mother was that spiritually conceived and brought forth God's children the first time. Read and believe Gal. 4:26.
Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (KJV)
Please read my booklet, "The New Jerusalem" to know about this heavenly city of God. Abraham was aware of his true origin, therefore he looked for this city which is above. He knew that God was the builder and maker of the real Jerusalem, which had actual foundations (Heb. 11:10).
Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. (KJV)
If the Father’s children had been mindful of the heavenly country and city of Jerusalem that they came out of, then they would have truly wanted to find an opportunity to return to that city. Read and believe Heb. 11:15.
Hebrews 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. (KJV)
It is in the spiritual makeup of God’s children to desire this heavenly city and country, and the Father has prepared this city to again receive his children. The true implications of the following scriptures only means that God's children were brought forth (born of the Spirit) in the country and city of heavenly Jerusalem, which they desire and want to return to! Read and believe Heb. 11:16, 12: 22 and 13:14.
Heb. 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (KJV)
Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (KJV)
Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (KJV)This heavenly city is mentioned many times in the Bible, which is what the earthly city of Jerusalem represented. It is the Father's desire to bring his children back home to this city where they came out of. However his children must be "born again" (born from above). Or more correctly stated, born again of the true mother of us all (Gal. 4:26); which is the Jerusalem that is above. Christ stated that to be "born again" is to be born of water and of the Spirit, as we have read in John 3:5. From God's point of view, the legal action that must be taken by believers is to be baptized by immersion under water in the name of Christ, as it shows in Acts 22:16.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (KJV)
This "ceremonial work" will cleanse the Adamic sin inherited from a fleshly birth, so that the Spirit of God can conceive God's children to be "born of the Spirit" again. However God's children must repent of sin, and by faith "look for" the same city that Abraham looked for; and must also believe what Abraham believed. The Abrahamic covenant is the faith that founded the New Testament Church, therefore it must also be the faith for modern day believers in Christ. This profound truth is explained in my booklet, "Abraham’s Covenant and Baptism". God's children that are baptised must grow in spiritual maturity in overcoming their natural unbelief of the Bible while again conceived in their mother's womb (Jerusalem that is above). Baptized believers are called "babes in Christ", as it shows in 1 Cor. 3:1 and 1 Pet. 2:2.
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. (KJV)
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (KJV)Baptized believers are considered (note the word "as") as babes and as "newborn" babes. Therefore they are not yet "born" in a real sense. However baptized believers cannot and must not stay as babes! The law of conception is that babes must be fed so that they can grow in their mother’s womb in order to be born! Conceived babes in Christ will "miscarry" and "abort" if they do not make an honest effort in this life to feed their souls with "spiritual nourishment" in order to grow in spiritual maturity and in the correct knowledge of God. They will therefore become useless to God in building Christ’s Church if they do not grow. More information about this very important subject of "born again" is found in my booklets "What Is Man?" and "Repentance and Obedience", and should therefore be carefully read.
Questions or comments?... Email: wickey777@verizon.net