"YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN"

The subject of being "Born Again" or the new birth should be a topic that all who profess Christ should understand clearly and without controversy. It has been my personal experience with people who claim the new birth that they greatly have a misunderstanding of the true meaning of being born again. We definitely need to honestly examine ourselves by the word of God to see if we really are born again after all our salvation is to precious not to know the truth on this very important matter.

One of the major problems in modern day Christianity is that we have been assaulted by deception, lies, misinterpretation of scripture, half truths, and tradition of men all masquerading itself as God. This is why I challenge people to look at the Apostles and how they understood who Jesus is. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of TRUTH and one of the purposes of the spirit is to lead believers into ALL truth.

The first mention of "Born Again" was uttered by JESUS himself. Let's look at John 3: 1 - 9

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews:

We see in this first verse that this man was a member of a Jewish sect. Being a Pharisee he was involved with teaching his congregation the law of Moses . This religious figure was also a ruler a leader in his day. Much like today this scenario is played over again in this present society. There are countless religious leaders in our day who are in the exact same position as Nicodemus teaching congregations the ways of God, but with a major component missing from their ministries.

2 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.

The bible saids in John 6: 44 That NO MAN can come to ME (Jesus), except the FATHER which has sent me draw him: . . .
We can see based on this statement that Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus by the Father to him. When we are drawn to Jesus it is because we have a need that no one can meet except Jesus himself.
Nicodemus saw Jesus as a teacher come from God because he knew that miracles don't come from ordinary men but from God alone. He acknowledged that God was with Jesus. When the Spirit of God is dealing with us He will reveal Jesus to us and we will see Jesus as he truly is and not only this but Gods Spirit will reveal to us who God is truly working through and who He is not.
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because of the fear of men in his sect which did not believe in Jesus. He calculated this was a risk well worth taking specially since he felt in his heart that Jesus had something he really needed. Many times even in my own life we do have to step way from our comfort zones in order to get deeper in the things of God.
Now Jesus deflected Nicodemus view of him and went straight to the real need at hand. It was what Jesus knew Nicodemus needed.

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.

In this verse Jesus simply saids to him unless man is born again they will not perceive that there is a kingdom of God. The requirement is a new birth. Today all the kingdoms of this earth can only see there man made kingdoms and all of its chaos not knowing that there is a kingdom where a righteous God rules and who desires for them to enter in.

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?

As we look at this verse it is obvious Nicodemus had challenges with his understanding regarding being born again. He did not have the spiritual understanding of what being born again meant. The good thing about him he was humble enough to ask Jesus and did not allow his religious pride from obtaining the truth that would save him.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you 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.

Now Jesus clarifies it more for Nicodemus and us. Jesus makes it clear that there is a birth of flesh which we all have been born into and there is the spiritual birth which we have not all been partakers of. Jesus said we must be born of WATER AND SPIRIT to enter in the Kingdom of God.
Now what does it mean to be born of water and spirit. Let's continue to look at Jesus since it is he who is our example.
In Matt. 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway OUT OF THE WATER: AND, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the SPIRIT of GOD descending like a dove, and LIGHTING UPON HIM. We have to remember that when Jesus was baptized he submitted himself to it to FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Notice that after his water and spirit baptism in verse 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I AM WELL-PLEASED. God was pleased with this act of obedience and we can do no less. There is no such thing as a sinners prayer, or just repeat after me and you will receive Jesus into your heart, or come on down and join this church. There is no word for these lies. We need water baptism and spirit baptism. Don't let the false prophets deceive you if you really care about your faith in Christ.
For the next examples of this we have to look at the Apostles because they knew exactly what this meant because Jesus taught them directly and then through the Holy Spirit. They did not have to attend school and get worldly degrees to boost their pride they just had to be born again themselves so they could truly know what it meant and then teach it to others.

In order for them to preach the gospel of the kingdom they needed the spiritual power of God and so Jesus promised them and commanded the disciples to wait at Jerusalem. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, UNTIL YE BE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.
In John 15:26 - 27 But when the Comforter is come, whom I WILL SEND UNTO YOU FROM THE FATHER, even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, which PROCEEDETH from the FATHER, he shall testify OF ME: And ye also shall bear WITNESS, because ye have BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING. John 14:26 But the Comforter, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, whom the FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, he shall TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring ALL THINGS to YOUR REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In Acts1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that HE(Jesus) through the HOLY GHOST had given commandments unto the APOSTLES whom HE HAD CHOSEN.
We can clearly see that it would be the Spirit of God that would empower them, the spirit of truth so they could teach the truth to all. This spirit would bring all the things Jesus taught them to their remembrance since the beginning of their relationship. It is the spirit that teaches us all things pertaining to God and it is the spirit that will confirm His own word. Today we have every Tom, Dick and Mary trying to preach and turning people off because God is not really with them. God does not confirm lies and religious tradition of men only His TRUTH.
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the LORD WORKING WITH THEM, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with SIGNS FOLLOWING.

Acts 1: 4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST not many days hence.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive POWER, after that the HOLY GHOST is come UPON YOU: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the utter most part of the earth.
Those who are the true believers in Jesus and are his witnesses have the Holy Spirit within. The Spirit of God is the witness of who Jesus really is. So if Jesus went through water and spirit baptism and the Apostles what makes us think we can do it another way. This would be considered a perversion of the gospel and it's a curse read (Gal. 1).

On the day of Pentecost Apostle Peter proclaimed the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ
ACTS 2:37 - 38 Now when they heard this, they were PRICKED IN THEIR HEART, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Then Peter said unto them , REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED EVERYONE OF YOU in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the HOLY GHOST.

In this verse we see the command is to REPENT and proceeded by WATER BAPTISM done in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST and this is for the FORGIVENESS of our sins, God them promises the gift of the HOLY GHOST which gives us eternal life. For the Spirit of God is eternal.
Jesus, the Apostles and all of the past and current true saints of God are born of water and spirit as proclaimed by Apostle Peter and the rest of the Apostles in the book of Acts.
In Acts 8:36-38 when can see the Ethiopian eunuch getting baptized in water and spirit, Acts 9:17-18 we see Saul who became Apostle Paul be baptized in water and spirit, in Acts 10:44-48 we see Peter preaching the gospel at Cornelius home and the Holy Ghost fell on them while Peter was preaching and after this they were baptized in water. Also Acts 19 there is yet another account. Now many of todays so called televangelists and preachers are scared to visit this because they would be exposed as being phonies. People have the will to follow who they want but it will cost them dearly at the end if they follow the spirit of the False Prophets.
If we want to truly LIVE we must eat from the TREE OF LIFE and not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life is pure and is true, and it produces the life of God.
Jesus warned us in Matt. 24:4-5 TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU
For MANY SHALL COME IN MY NAME, saying, I am Christ; and SHALL DECEIVE MANY.
The Apostles were not deceived and it is there teaching that we should heed because they taught the FULL counsel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit they were not religious or belong to sects, denominations or any such organizations. They did not play with God they were sincere.

So are you biblically born again or man made born again? Examine yourself and see if your in the kingdom of God.
I thank those that have visited this blog and I hope you come away with something that you can use and move you forward in Jesus. You are welcomed to comment if your so lead.

Grace, Peace, Eternal Life
by Bro. Pete