Born Again
John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
The word used for being born "again” means being born from above.
anothen (an'-o-then); from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew:
Not everyone is raised in this faith. Before coming to faith, being born into the world we are exposed to and learn ways of the world. The world represents darkness and sin. This world is our Egypt. How many of you can relate?
Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world.
The good news, Gods promises provided the means for us to escape the corruption of the world and its desires. That comes with being born again.
Matt 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
A Repentant heart is the key to being born again. Repentance acknowledges our sin and our separation from God. It’s through a repentant heart that we make a decision to turn from the ways of the world, and begin to follow God.
To be born again we enter a covenant with the Father. We know that a covenant is an agreement between two parties.
The shadow before the reality: Reference Genesis 15-17
The covenant between God and Abraham was a covenant of circumcision. In a vision Abraham witnessed God passing between pieces of cut flesh. Abraham in turn was circumcised. The promised child Isaac, (the seed from Abraham) would pass between cut flesh, thereby being born into the covenant with God. The New Covenant would be a circumcision of the heart, by the spirit.
Rom 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
Mark 1:4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mans part of entering the covenant with the Father begins with a Baptism of repentance. It represents dying to sin, no longer pursuing the desires of the world. Baptism is the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
It’s all about the heart. Your baptism may have been by immersion in a lake or a baptismal; it may have been by sprinkling as a child. It marks the beginning of a new relationship with your creator.
Matt 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Gods side of the covenant. To be Born of the Spirit is receiving Gods spirit within us.
The DNA that is in God is in the Holy Spirit. The spirit in us gives us God’s DNA, making us a child of God.
2 Cor 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Connect the dots. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit fulfills the Feast of weeks. The New Testament uses the Greek word Pentecost for Feast of weeks.
Israel was delivered from Egypt on Passover. Fifty days later God met Israel on the mountain. Ex 19:5
Jesus was our Passover Lamb on the cross. It was 50 days later the Holy Spirit was given. Acts 2
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
God himself would provide the offering for the covenant.
Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Our conversion is complete. We have entered a covenant with the Father. We made a decision to walk Gods path and in return, he puts his spirit in us. We are now born anew, from above, by his spirit. We are now a child of the most high God.
The Paradox of being born again. The Yin and Yang (Unity of opposites) of our faith.
Rom 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The worldly person is dead to sin, but the spiritual child is growing in its place. When we are born again our sin nature remains. The things we learned in Egypt is still part of who we are. We bring our luggage into our faith.
God is light. Light and darkness do not mix. With Gods spirit within us, that is tension between flesh and spirit. This is the spiritual warfare going on within us. This is the enmity between mankind and Satan.
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Seek God and his gifts and blessings. As a child of God we are heirs of all his promises from the beginning. We are Gods temple. His Spirit resides within us. He is a Spiritual Father raising spiritual children. His spiritual gifts are at our disposal, Healings, dreams and visions, Prophecy, etc. God opens doors and closes doors. He blesses us as we follow the leading of his spirit. We will feel conviction when we become distracted by temptation. He disciplines us when we ignore his prodding.
Deut 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
The goodness of God changes us. We come to him broken, we leave here restored. It brings us to a place of worship. That comes from being born again. All to the glory of the father.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call."
