Born Again?

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:2-8

All Christians say we must be born again in order to be in Christ yet what does that actually mean? It seems to me that many among the Christian world think or feel that to be born again is the same thing as being saved, that is justified. However if we note the words of the Apostle I must submit that this is not the case. I do agree that they are intimately linked, one to another however as the Truth in person says, "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." If justification comes by faith, which the Book clearly states, and prior to our rebirth we cannot even see the kingdom how can we put our trust in its King? John states that it is not according to human qualms or faith knowing where it comes from rather it is as the wind blows. To more fully understand rebirth we must see it in light of the other similar analogies which Christ's apostles wrote about, being quickened from death unto life (Ephesians 2:5), and being made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The similarities between all three is that they all happen outside of the will of the individual to which they are happening. No one chooses to be born, no one chooses to be created, and while many can wish to be resurrected, the choice to do so lies outside themselves, hence why the centenary business is never out of commission.

The Truth Himself states "You must be born again" note that He does not say "Born yourself again." Again we look to the birth of the flesh to which we must ask at the risk of repetition, what roll did you play in your own birth? Were you a causality of your own existence, even in part? Did you cause yourself to be conceived in your mothers womb or like all others ever born on this earth are you the product of that which you had no control over? I submit that you are like the latter.

Thus we must not construe this to mean that the Truth Incarnate is saying we must choose to be born again, or that if a person believes in Him, he [the person] will be born again. The teaching is very clear in the first chapter of the Gospel according to John, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) Here we see that it is because they are born of God that they did receive Him and were given the right to become children of God. Thus if we are to be fair to language and logic we must assert that the rebirth comes prior to our faith and that this rebirth is not caused by man but by God as the Apostle Peter wrote:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

Now you will ask, "Brother Matt, I don't know if I have this, what should I do?" In one sense, nothing; however in another you can humble yourself before the Lord and stop trying to make yourself a new creature. Acknowledge that you need to be made new, remade into a person without the bloody stain of sin upon your spirit. Remember and admit that God and only God, by sending His Holy Spirit to you from heaven can make you new.

It is after this rebirth that faith and repentance come, as a newborn cries out moving from the darkness of the womb to the light of the world so too does the newly reborn and they move from the darkness of the world into the Holy Light of Christ and thus cry out for salvation. This is because in the light of Christ the newly reborn sees the utter sinfulness of them self and their total dependence upon God's forgiveness and grace. Thus when hearing the message of Jesus Christ they thrust themselves totally upon Him trusting wholly in the redemption of the Son. From this point forward the newborn lives a different and new life, not a perfect life (1 John 1:8), but a new life in Christ never the less.

Have you have truly confessed your iniquity, your sin before God, knowing that you are deserving of His Holy Wrath? Have you truly trusted entirely upon Jesus the Christ who died for sinners to justify you before God? Can you truly see the kingdom of God? Then you have been born again, you are not born again because you have done these things.

Grace and Peace