Born again?

Born again???

Even when those who quite comfortable with the phrase, when initially considered, must admit the concept is at minimal complicated to grasp, let alone how absurd it must sound to those ‘hearing’ it for the first time.

As illustrated in the gospel of John 3:3-5, when Jesus states it to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, he (Nicodemus), can’t wrap his mind around it at all.

Jesus answered him, ‘I assure you, most sincerely I tell you that unless a person is born again, he cannot ever see, (know be acquainted with and experience) the Kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born (a second time)?’

Jesus answered, ‘I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God..’

When a mechanic or engineer wants to understand something, they will disassemble it; analyze each piece, it’s purpose, how it functions and how they interact with the other parts.

This is what we will be doing with, not the above verses, but the following verse taken from Philippians 3:3 and discover what it teaches us about what it is to be born again and how it relates to salvation.

‘For we who are born again have been reborn from above; spiritually transformed (renewed), set apart for His purpose and are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence in what we have or who we are in the flesh.’

So let’s pick it apart..

Paul, the author, is addressing those who are already believing and in union with God. This group probably had both Jew (bloodline of Abraham) and gentile (non Jew) members, but certainly Jews, who would have been in understanding of the significance of circumcision.

The mention of circumcision is a reference Jews and those understanding the cultural significance of circumcision within Jewish culture. I am not going to get into detail as it isn’t a necessity for this message, but in summary, in Jewish history and culture males were to be circumcised. It was one of the hundreds of requirements to be living in accordance with the law, which was given to Moses to give to the people of Israel (which are impossible to fulfill completely and fully). Circumcision in particular was a symbol of the required cleanliness and came to be believed that is a requirement to be in right standing with God, We can easily get sidetracked as this subject has a lot of history, meaning and words to explain, so we won’t get into that now. There is much more to understand on this, but it is not necessary for this message. in the meantime just trust to know that the conclusion of another such message is that Jesus is the Fulfillment of both the Law and the Judgment of the Law.

Paul mentions circumcision here to illustrate and emphasize that now, because of Jesus’ resurrection, the true circumcision, (that which the ‘old’ circumcision represented), is now here and possible); That is, being truly sanctified (truly made pure and holy), is now possible done by being united with God’s Spirit. Being ‘born again’ of God’s Spirit. And it is in this union, rebirth, that the process of sanctification (being cleansed, made pure and holy), can begin.

Paul unifies the people based on this Spiritual rebirth of God’s Spirit within each of them, and Who is thus present within each of them. Making them each truly of Christ, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, and in having His Spirit, making each an offspring of God, thus belonging to God and united with God.

Being Born again in the Spirit of God is what makes us a child of God. When you have the Spirit of God, you literally are the spiritual offspring of God and heir with Jesus, because of Christ Jesus. This is what makes someone a legitimate Christian, a true believer of Jesus Christ.

Paul states they have been ‘born again, reborn from above’, and ‘spiritually transformed’.

So being born again is being spiritually born again, which is from above - from God, by and with the Spirit of God that has been made possible as a direct result of Jesus death and resurrection.

The Spirit of God being inserted within and uniting with your spirit. (also why the term ‘marriage' is commonly used, it is a joining of two into one; a spiritual union. This is actually why the word marriage is used to represent what we have known marriage to be).

The second part of this verse:

‘(those who have been reborn, having the Spirit of God)..who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride and exalt in Christ Jesus and place no confidence in what we have or who we are in the flesh.’

Here He is describing the true heart of the believer.

Such a thing cannot be pretended or claimed before God. One either has His Spirit or they don’t.

Unfortunately society and even many ‘Christians' today are misinformed. They believe and would define a Christian as someone who believes in the existence of God the Creator and Jesus. and identify themselves as Christians based on such beliefs, but in fact have not been born again, and therefore do not have His Spirit and are therefore are not actually true Christians. Just because one recognizes the existence of God and Jesus is not enough to grant salvation .. (believing in ignorance or ignorantly believing has severe consequences, the same as a death by misunderstanding, mistake, or making a decision or indecision based on believing incorrect, or false or misunderstanding etc therefore even neglecting to gain personal understanding will have devastating results).

The book of James 2:19 he addresses this saying ‘..you believe that ‘God is one, you do well to believe that. The demons also believe that and shudder in fear..’ Therefore just because one recognizes God and Jesus for Who They Are, does not and will not grant a person connection with Him. Just like someone who acknowledges your existence does not grant them entrance and connection with your heart and connection. Only a loving, valuing, respectful and honoring relationship does).

Let’s get back..

So as this verse from Paul states; ‘we are to be (spiritually) born again with the Spirit of God, Who will (when we begin and continue to listen to and follow through with His communications and pursue Him in learning), will transform our spirit to be like His, our spirit unifying with His becoming like Him in character, attitude and being.

Because of His Presence within us we will ‘worship in the Spirit of God, and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus, and no longer place confidence in what we have or who we are (identify as) in the flesh.’ Such is a naturally occurring response and transformation to the presence of His Presence.

(and also along this journey, gradually fulfilling romans 12:2 when it says be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you can understand for yourself the perfect will of God, along with all the other promises).

And through this continual and on purpose seeking Him, to spend time with HIm, learn, practice and live His ways, we worship Him and gradually transform becoming Holy/Pure/True as He is Holy/Pure/True because He is Holy/Pure/True; Thus making it possible for us to enter and remain in the literal presence of God. (whereas otherwise, like as a physical object gets within a certain proximity to the sun it burns up, or as darkness cannot remain where there is light, so we and anything of impure nature cannot exist in the Holy presence of God without being Pure. But it is never a place of arrival until we leave our earthly body in the earthly death.

So how do we become reborn? …

(I will summarize briefly now, and once I have written a more thorough response, it will be linked here).

It is available for anyone, but many will not understand the value and therefore will not be willing.

It requires humility and openness of heart toward God/Truth/Jesus.; who would recognize and and acknowledgement that one is doomed to death because of their own sinful human nature. Receiving as Truth that Jesus is God, and fulfilled the judgment of the law in His crucifixion, and conquering death evidenced in His resurrection and He is only the Way of salvation.

Being ‘born again’ of God’s Spirit. And it is in this union, rebirth, that the process of sanctification (being cleansed, made pure and holy), can begin..