Born Again

Man must be born again as revealed by Jesus in his discussion with Nicodemus. Though Nicodemus knew that Jesus had come from God “For no one could do these signs that you do unless God is with him”, Jesus knows what he is really seeking and tells him “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” and again ““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.

 

Jesus continues and tells Nicodemus one more sign, and this sign is that of the Cross for he tells him clearly “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

 

John 3:1-16
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and 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 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

 

Jesus continued to explain the Gospel in totality to Nicodemus, and that “whoever believes will in him have eternal life”.

 

We can see this same process in the very first chapter of John. He makes it clear the prerequisite to being born of God, with “As many as received him, to them he gave” and to “Those who believe in his name”. 

 

John 1:9-13
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

Peter starts in his first book, with how God is clearly the one who does the regenerating work of being born again “according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again”. He then continues with our inheritance which is imperishable and that we are protected by the power of God through faith for salvation.

 

I Peter 1:1-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

Peter then reveals how the process starts or is initiated “or you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

 

I Peter 1:18-23
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

 

In the previous verses they used the standard Greek word for Born and Again. There is a special word for the process of regeneration. It is used for the resurrection into glorified bodies to those following Jesus in Matthew 19 and for our spiritual regeneration in Titus 3.  

 

Regeneration is translated from the Greek word Paliggenesia,and is only used two times in the scriptures

 

In Titus 3 we see the Born Again or Regeneration process come to its completion in our Salvation and Eternal Life as we are Justified by His Grace, and Saved according to His Mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.  

 

Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

In review the Born Again process starts with the imperishable seed of the word of God, then man receives and believes, then God gives grace, we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and then we are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the end.