What is Born Again?

Often you hear people say that they are "born again". Born again of what? Well, I am also one of those people! Before Jesus came into my life, I was a sinner. We are all sinners from the moment we are conceived, straight from our mother's womb. I was born void of God.

Now my blog is just that, my blog. You don't have to agree with me, nor believe what I am saying, but before Jesus came into my life, I was wandering around lost. Can you imagine what it is to be lost and not knowing where you are going or how you are going to get there?

Here is the story: there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to see Jesus at night; he knew that Jesus was a teacher come from God and he asked Jesus the question: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Of course, Nicodemus, like most of us, was thinking of a physical birth.

But 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." (John 3:1-7)

To understand this biblical term, it is necessary to understand that there are two births. The first birth is the physical birth when you were born into this world from your mother and father. When the Bible speaks of being "born of water," it is speaking about the physical birth (not baptism). The second birth is a spiritual birth, which means to be born of the "Spirit" (God's Holy Spirit). So why does a person need to born spiritually?

There are many and different interpretations of why a person needs to be born spiritually, so I want to share this one with you.

The Bible teaches that man is created in the image of God. God manifests Himself to mankind in the Persons of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Likewise, mankind is composed of a body, soul, and spirit. Our body is the "tent" you could say of the soul and spirit (the body is a temporary dwelling place). Our soul is composed of the heart (to feel), the mind (to think), and the will (to decide).

Our spirit is dead in sin when we are born; that is, we are born void of God. The only exception is the Lord Jesus Christ who cam as God in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). Our spirit is dead in trespasses and sin. (Ephesians 2:1-2).

The unsaved person cannot understand God, nor His Word...for the bible says, "but the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned? (1 Corinthians 2:14). Aperson cannot understand the Bible without the presence of the Author, and God is the Author. When you become born again, God's Holy Spirit comes into your body, never to leave, and you will understand many new things for the first time in your life.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The reason why you need to be "spiritually" born is because you have nevery been spiritually born to begin with. So when the Bible speaks of being "born again," it actually means "born for the second time." You were born physically into this world, but you were born without the Spirit of God in your soul (spiritually dead).

Adam and Eve had the privilege of living in the Garden of Eden where God had placed them, but like many of us, they wanted to be like God, and they disobeyed him. Adam and Eve didn't die physically the day they ate the fruit and disobeyed God's command. They were banned from the garden and lost favor with God. They died spiritually. Sin had entered the human race. The Bible teaches that from Adam until present time, mankind has been born spiritually dead, inherited down from Adam's sin. This is why humanity MUST be born-again. This is only possible through the Holy Spirit of God, which makes us alive again.

Yes, God created you, but He gave you a free will to decide for yourself where you will spend eternity. We are strangers passing through this world, living in a temporary "tent." Chose this day, the day of the Lord, for yourself, where will you end up when you die.

Thought for Today: You can wonder around lost, or receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and be born again, dead to your sins and trespasses. Receive a new life, one that will last forever and give you a purpose and a direction.