Would you like to know the full meaning of born again? The root and stem of the born-again doctrine is found in John 3. Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not speak directly about it at all, although without naming it directly, they provide supporting information. Here we will explain what it means to be born again.
Being born again Where do we find the doctrine?
It is not until the epistles of Paul, Peter, and especially of John that the main branches of this doctrine appear. Therefore, as we begin, it is helpful for us to notice John’s broad treatment of the figures to prepare us for how he uses them to support the various elements of this important foundational doctrine.
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He begins to use the symbolism immediately in John 1, identifying Jesus (Yahshua) as the Word, the central figure in the spiritual work of God (Elohim) in favor of men. He goes on to talk about light, darkness, baptism, the Lamb of God (Elohim), and the Temple, among others, before the reader gets to John 3.
The image of the Temple (John 2: 18-22) is especially interesting because it immediately precedes the teaching of Jesus (Yahshua) about being born again in John 3. Jews who hear Jesus (Yahshua) immediately reject what He teaches based on what He says is a physical impossibility.
In fact, it is physically impossible, but keep in mind that this is the very reason that Nicodemus rejects Jesus’ (Yahshua’s) teaching about being born again. Similarly, in John 4:7-15the woman by the well immediately concludes that Jesus (Yahshua) is speaking of natural water, and in John 4:31-38Even the disciples of Jesus (Yahshua) fail to grasp the spiritual significance of the food.
In John 6:32-63, those listening to his manna discourse follow the same pattern. In fact, his image of “eat my flesh and drink my bloodso offends many of his disciples that they stop following him. This consistent failure to grasp the meaning of his imagery continues throughout the book.
The wrong pattern of being born again
If, in studying John 3, we follow the same pattern of misinterpreting his spiritual image, like Nicodemus, we will also misinterpret being born again. We must recognize that this spiritualization continues in John 3. In fact, for the children of God (Elohim), it not only continues, but also increases exponentially in terms of its importance to their spiritual lives. It is an unvarnished truth that only those who are born again will see and enter the Kingdom of God (Elohim) (John 3:5).
Jesus (Yahshua) is teaching that in addition to one’s biological birth, one must also experience a supernatural spiritual birth. Just as surely as a Christian is not merely biologically engendered, but born, there is no such thing as a Christian who has not been born again.
how to be born again
A man named Nicodemus approached Jesus (Yahshua) at night. Perhaps he was afraid of criticism or wanted to have a private conversation, or perhaps he wanted to know more before committing to Jesus Christ (Yahshua Ha Mashiach). In any case, he came and asked Jesus (Yahshua) some questions.
Jesus (Yahshua) looked at him and said: “Nicodemus, you need to be born again” (Cf. John 3, 5). In fact, he said:true, true”, and every time Jesus (Yahshua) used that expression, he meant that what was to follow was very important. He said: “Verily, verily I tell you… you must be born again” (John 3: 5,7).
Have you been born again? Call it conversion, call it commitment, call it repentance, call it being saved, but has it happened to you? Does Christ live in your heart? You know? Many people have thought about religion and Christianity for a long time, and yet have never committed to it. Are you committed to Jesus Christ (Yahshua Ha Mashiach)?
Nicodemus must have been stunned when Jesus (Yahshua) said: “you must be born againIt would not be surprising if Christ had said that to Zacchaeus the tax collector, the thief on the cross, or the woman caught in adultery. But Nicodemus was one of the great religious leaders of his time. Even so, he was seeking the reality.
You may go to church, but you may still be searching. There is an empty place in your heart, and something inside tells you that you are not right with God (Elohim). Nicodemus fasted two days a week. He spent two hours every day in prayer. Tithe. Why did Jesus (Yahshua) say that Nicodemus must be born again? Because he could read Nicodemus’s heart. Jesus (Yahshua) saw that Nicodemus had covered himself in religion but had not yet found fellowship with God (Elohim).
The root of our problems
What causes all our problems in the world: lies, cheating, hate, prejudice, social inequality and war? Jesus (Yahshua) said: “But what comes out of the mouth, comes out of the heart, and defiles a man” (Matthew 15:18). He said that the problem is in our hearts; our hearts need to be changed.
Psychologists, sociologists and psychiatrists recognize that something is wrong with humanity. Many words in the scriptures describe it. Among them is the word transgression: “Sin is transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, KJV).
What law? The law of Moses, the ten commandments. Have you ever broken one of those commandments? Then you are guilty of having broken them all (James 2:10).
The word sin carries with it the idea of missing the mark, not doing our duty, not doing what we should do. The Bible says: “All injustice is sin” (1 John 5:17). And yet, before we can get to heaven, we must have justice. God (Elohim) says: “Be perfect as I am perfect, holy as I am holy“(Matthew 5:48, 1 Peter 1:16).
Where are we going to get that perfection? We don’t have it now, but we can’t go to heaven if we don’t have it. That is why Christ died on the cross; He shed his blood and rose again to provide us with justice.
another word is iniquity, which means straying from the straight path. Isaiah said:All of us like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, each one, by his own path; And the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
- The Bible says: “Therefore, as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin… so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
Every person needs a radical change. We need our sins to be forgiven; we need to be clothed with the righteousness of God (Elohim). In order to find fulfillment in this life, we need to find something to commit to. Are you a committed person? What are you committed to? Why don’t you make Christ your cause and follow him? He will never let you down.
the new birth
Some people ask the question: What is being born again? Nicodemus also asked that question: “How can a man be born when he is old?” He wanted to understand it.
Let’s look at an analogy from a farmer’s point of view. How can a black cow eat green grass and produce white milk and yellow butter? I do not understand that. One could say: “Because I don’t get it, I’ll never drink milk again“. And you would say: “You are crazy.”
I don’t understand it, but I accept it on faith. Nicodemus could only see the physical and the material, but Jesus (Yahshua) was speaking of the spiritual.
What does this new birth imply?
How is it possible to be born again? We cannot inherit a new birth. The Bible says that those who are born again “they were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (Elohim)” (John 1:13).. Our fathers and mothers may be the greatest born again Christians in the world, but that doesn’t make us born again Christians as well. Many people have the idea that because they were born into a Christian home, they are automatically Christians. They are not.
Neither can we make our way to God (Elohim). The Bible says that salvation comes”not because of works of justice that we have done, but because of his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Ruaj Ha Kadosh)” (Titus 3:5).
Nor is reform enough. We can say, “I’m going to turn a new page” or “I’m going to make New Year’s resolutions”. But Isaiah said that in the eyes of God (Elohim) “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
What is necessary for the new birth
Some of us have changed on the outside to conform to certain social standards or behaviors expected of us in our churches, but on the inside we have never changed. That is what Jesus (Yahshua) was talking about with Nicodemus.
Said: “Nicodemus, you need a change inside”, and only the Holy Spirit (Ruaj Ha Kadosh) can do that. Being born from above is a supernatural act of God (Elohim). The Holy Spirit (Ruaj Ha Kadosh) convinces us of our sin; He confronts us because we have sinned against God (Elohim).
And then the Holy Spirit () regenerates us. That is when we are born again. The Holy Spirit (Ruaj Ha Kadosh) comes to live in our hearts to help us in our daily lives. The Spirit of God (Elohim) gives us security, gives us joy, produces fruit in our lives, and teaches us the Scriptures.
Some people try to imitate Christ. They think that all we have to do is try to follow Jesus (Yahshua) and try to do the things that He did, and we will get to heaven. But we can’t do it. We may know the religious songs. We can even say sentences. But if we have not been at the foot of the cross, we have not been born again.. That is the message that Jesus (Yahshua) is trying to teach us.
Being born again means that:
- “ He will give you a new heart and give you a new spirit.” (Ezekiel 36:26).
- “Old things have passed away; behold, they are all made new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- We are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4)
- we have “passed from death to life” (John 5:24).
The new birth causes a change in our philosophy and way of life.
The mystery of being born again
There is a mystery in the new birth. Jesus (Yahshua) said: “The wind blows where it wants, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going” (John 3:8).
But you can see the result. Jesus (Yahshua) did not attempt to explain the new birth to Nicodemus; our finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite. We come by a simple faith like that of a child and we put our faith in Jesus Christ (Yahshua Ha Mashiaj). When we do, we are born again.
Are you sure of your salvation?
It happens this way, we have to if these steps have happened in our lives. Let’s try to list them and see if you meet the requirements for this new birth (being saved).
- First we have to hear the Word of God (Elohim). “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Elohim)” (Romans 10:17). That’s the first…