This is a Question & Answer page... If you have a Biblical question that you would like to have answered, you may -submit it in the comment section of our guestbook page, -call us at 508.966.0873, -leave your email and we will correspond with you directly. We will answer it as soon as possible, to the best of our ability. Thank you for your interest. This month's question is:
What does it mean to be born again?
In the Gospel of Saint John, we read in chapter 3 verse 3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Except a man be born again, he CANNOT see the Kingdom of God.'" Jesus was speaking to a man by the name of Nicodemus.
Nicodemus is said to be a Ruler of Jews. In other words he was a Rabbi, a very religious and devout man. He was a teacher of the Law (Old Testament). He was a good and moral man, yet Jesus said to Nicodemus 'Ye must be born again'. So you see that being a Religious Leader, Preacher, Priest, Rabbi, Minister, Sunday School Teacher, CCD Worker, ect... can not get you to Heaven. No matter how moral a person is - how much they read the Bible, go to church, or pray; it does not make them born again. The term born again refers to a New Birth or Spiritual Birth. When Jesus said 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God', Nicodemus - the good, moral, smart man - replied '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 was referring to a Spiritual Birth, not a physical birth.
John 3:6 "That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of spirit is spirit." Jesus explains to Nicodemus that there are 2 births 1. a water birth - this is the physical birth. 2. a spiritual birth. Some believe born of water means Baptism; the context says otherwise.The water and spirit in verse 5 is explained in verse 6 - "That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of spirit is spirit."
Water has never washed away sin. Revelation 1:5 "... washed us from our sins in his own blood." 1 John 1:7 "... and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin." The water refers to the first birth or the physical birth. Prior to coming forth from the womb, mankind is enclosed within a sac of water. The water breaks and the baby is birthed into the physical world. As the physical birth brings us into the physical world, the spiritual birth brings us into the spiritual world. If you want to enter the Kingdom of God, you must be born again - you must have the second birth, into the spiritual world.
How is a person born again?
John 3:14 is the answer. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man (Jesus) be lifted up: 15 That whosoever (anyone) believeth in Him (Jesus) should not perish, but have eternal life."
Jesus taught Nicodemus that to be born again was to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. That by faith, not works, whoever puts their faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and was buried and rose again 3 days later will have eternal life.
Read the following Bible verses carefully.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, (Jesus) that whosoever (anyone) believeth (has faith/trust) in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God; 9Not of works, lest any man should boast."
So being born again is, by faith believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for your sins. If you would like to be born again - you must be in order to enter the Kingdom of God... You must receive Jesus Christ by faith (Do it today, you do not know what tomorrow holds - it may be too late tomorrow).
John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."
Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour? We'd love to hear from you!
If you would like more information, a free New Testament Bible, or a free Bible course, contact us, and we will send you one.
