Born Again
(Joh 3:1-7) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 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. 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? 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus said this to Nicodemus who was a Jew, of the highest order in there day, a member of the Sanhedrin. He was a ruler of the Jews. Yet He did not understand Jesus, when Jesus told him except a man be born of the Spirit he could not see the Kingdom of God. Here Jesus is speaking of the new birth. Its more than an outward conformity to rules. This is the giving of a new life and heart. Also spoken of in the O.T. (Ezekiel 11:19. and 36:26).
| 1. The necessity of the New Birth. | 4. It was a spiritual death he died. |
| 2. The Fall. | 5. A description of the New Birth. |
| 3. It's Effect. |
1. The necessity of the New Birth. That which is flesh is flesh, and that which is Spirit is spirit. Nicodemus had spoken of entering once more into his mothers womb, and being born again. Our Lord declares that if such a thing were possible, it would not effect the new birth. Children will always be like their parents. Grace does not descend with blood. Therefore there is a necessity for the life of the Spirit to be imparted by the Spirit. If we miss this foundational teaching we miss it all together. The Human race has fell in Adam. Theirs a principle of sin in the flesh as Paul said there is nothing good in the flesh speaking of his body as a body of death Rom 7. Not that the body is evil but as Paul explained in 1 Cor 15 it was sown in dishonor and weakness and must be raised in power. A gun is not evil nor is the body both could be used for good or evil. There is nothing evil about matter as the 1st century Agnostics taught, but death must be swallowed up in victory. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither does corruption inherit incoruption1 Cor 15:50. Back to the Top
2. The Fall. God said in the beginning let us make man in our image. From the beginning Adam was pure, holy and upright no sin defilement whatsoever. God had proclaimed Adam who had been freshly created from the very hands of God" very good" (Gen 1:31, Eph 4:24). Nevertheless he did not stay in that high state, he fell from his place of honor, and fellowship with God. When he partook, and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he declared himself independent of God. That God would not have rule over him, and just as God had said he died on the very day he eat. He died a spiritual death, separation from God. He lost the life, love, and knowledge of God. This was a spiritual death the eyes of his understanding, and heart was then darkened, and true life, and holiness had departed. He and his wife Eve now hid from God. Hid from the very one they used to love, and fellowship with. Back to the Top
3. It's Effect. God is triune, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and we are spirit soul, and body. God has made provision for the whole person's salvation (1 Thess 5:23). As already stated man was upright, pure, innocent, and holy before the fall, but after the fall man was no longer fit fore eternity, and forced to leave the garden less they eat of the tree of life Gen 3:22-24). Even in our fallen condition we can still have fellowship and communion with God, but only as the Spirit of God renews us. Paul said he served God with his spirit. Paul's spirit soul, and body were not in chaos or disagreement. There was order, and discipline. Though we do not attain in this life we can serve God in truth, and in Spirit. That is to say by the Spirit of God all three can be surrendered to Him (Phil 3:11-15). By our spirit we are God conscious. When we are less self conscience, such as I, me, mine ext we will be more God conscience. The soul of man has to do with the soulish realm or earthly realm. Mainly the five sense's hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, and taste. When Adam fell his spirit, soul, and body fell to his lower appetites. He not only lost the desire to fellowship with God, but the very knowledge, and love of God departed, when sin entered into his heart. His body, and soul ruled. The soulish realm had taken over, now fear and selfishness dominated his and her life. The true Christian has been born again and given a new nature, and we are commanded to put on Christ which according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness (Rom 13:13,14 and Eph 4:24). That sin is not to have dominion over us (Rom 6:13,14). Back to the Top
4. It was a spiritual death he died. On the very day he eat of that tree he died, not a physical death, because we know physically he lived on for 930 years. In Adam all died all are from Adam all mankind has fallen in him. You are not from your mother you are from your father. The 2cd Adam Jesus has come and won the victory, and we must be born again. Born into the family of God. Having a new nature a new origin. We don't hear much said about hell, but men and women today are not only lost, but practicing sinners. All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God. A person who has only been born once will die twice, called the second death speaking of the lake of fire (Rev 20:14). But a person who has been born twice will only die once, speaking of a physical death. When Jesus said you must be born again it was of a necessity not only for Nicodemus, but for all people.
God help us to understand the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the condemnation of those who persist thereof. Back to the Top
5. A description of the New Birth. In response to Nicodemus Jesus gave an analogy of the natural birth. Before a child is born into this world still in his mothers womb at some point all the features are their eyes, ears, nose ext, but though he has eyes, and ears he can not see or hear they are imperfect, as though he didn't have them. Its only after he is born does he begin to see light for the first time many different objects. His ears are opened to sound, he can see with his eyes. At that time he begins to exercise his senses. He breaths and lives in a whole different way than before.
Before a person is born into the family of God they have eyes and ears, but are still deaf and blind spiritually. All his other spiritual senses are locked up as though he didn't have them at all. He has no knowledge of God or fellowship with God. But as soon as he is born of God by the Spirit of God there is a total change and by the Spirit of God he lives and has a new life! The eyes of his understanding has been opened. His ears having been opened he hears the voice of God saying your sins have been forgiven thee, go and sin no more. He feels the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost. A love he has never experienced before. He now lives because God has quickened him by His Spirit. He is alive through Christ who died for him, and made possible the wonderful miracle of the new birth. He lives a life that the world knows not of, a life which is hid with Christ in God. God is continually breathing upon his soul, and his soul upon God. He is most definitely spiritually alive. God has raised him from a spiritual death unto life eternal. Renewed after the image of God. From the death of sin unto a life of righteousness and true holiness. Its when the love of the world is changed into the love of God. Pride into humility, passion into meekness, hatred, envy, and malice into a sincere love fore others and God. Its when we are brought from darkness into light, from unholy to holy, unclean to clean. Without a new birth we are as the lepers of old unclean, without feeling, hope and without God.
I would like to end with saying that only in Christ and the new birth is there true real and lasting hope, purpose, and yes happiness. As long as pride, self will, and idolatry reign in the soul happiness has no place. The Lord bless you. Back to the Top