Is This Important?
Yes because this ties in with many other aspects and truths of the Bible.
Fits together perfectly
Born Again Already
What does it mean today in modern Christianity?
They don’t all agree
But most believe that when we accept Jesus Christ we are born-again now
Most connect it with baptism and an ultimate change that occurs at that time
This is simply not true. Once again, we will let the Bible interpret the meaning for us.
Christ and Nicodemus
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
We know how much trouble the Pharisees were
John 3:2 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.”
He is a bit different than the others
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Part of the problem comes from the word that is translated into born can also mean begotten, as in conceived.
If other verses in the Bible that are correctly translated “begotten” must mean born-again then this could completely change the meaning of “born again”
Gennao has to do with origin or origination: genesis genealogy generation
conception and birth both are starts in life, just in different ways
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived [gennao] in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
in this case it means begotten
even though this is not the same word, we see that the translators understood that begotten could also refer to born
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
What we see in the bible is that it can refer to born or begotten or the parts of the process in between…it depends on an true u/s of the term “born again” and the context in which gennao is used
This is what makes it difficult to understand and translate
I dont know of any translation that has it all correct
We must be careful of the context and let the Bible interpret the Bible
Another issue with John 3:3
Born from above vs born-again
One way shows how the birth has to happen
For us to become spirit it has to come from God
The other describes that we have to be born a second time
Which the rest of the conversation supports
Interesting that most of Christianity has adopted the phrase “born again” but refuse to acknowledge that it means exactly what it means
In both cases we are not yet in this state
One more thing here “see” is literal and does not mean “perceive” which is a completely different word.
Another attempt to change the word of God to conform with their belief
John 3:4 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?”
Nicodemus understood that Jesus Christ was saying and meant “born again” [previous verse]; a second time.
In spite of his ignorance or impudence he clearly understood that Jesus Christ was referring to a literal second birth; in other words being born again
Now He gives some conditions
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ is very succinctly describing the two-part conversion process
Baptism by water; Laying on of hands; receiving a down payment of Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
A guarantee of what?:
Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:14 who [better translated: which] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
An earnest, down payment, pledge, or deposit of the Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of the full payment that comes when we are born of spirit.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Baptism is a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 4:24
A Big Difference Between Being Born of Flesh and Being Born of Spirit
1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
Jesus Christ was tempted which implies that He could have sinned…otherwise it was not a temptation (Hebrews 4:15; James 1:13; Matthew 4:1)
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
We know that after we have been begotten of God we still can and do sin.
Example of David
Psalm 51:11
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
[This is after we have received the Holy Spirit]
John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
What was his face doing at this point? :9 “How can these things be?”
John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
first we see that God is and can be invisble; this is what Jesus Christ is describing in verse 8
He is telling Nicodemus what we will be like when we are born-again.
“cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes”
IS THIS OUR CONDITION NOW? Or anyone that claims to be born-again?
Another key to understanding this subject today as well as several other concepts in the plan of God is in the latter part of the verse:
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made
We understand the spirit from the physical – this is the way that God made it:
He instituted marriage, He made the family, AND He designed the birth process the way that he did for a reason: TO EMULATE THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH PROCESS!
As a small sperm carrying genetic coding implants an egg with its own genetic coding, We are conceived (a beginning; a type of birth; our begettal), we grow in a nurturing environment until we are born into a different environment and joined together with our family
In much the same way our spirit is implanted with an earnest of Gods Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16), this is our begettal; conception
Then throughout our life in the church, we grow and are nurtured until we can be born-again as Spirit beings and a part of the family of God.
Galatians 4:26; Ephesians 5:24-27; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:32; Revelation 19:7-8; Ephesians 5:29; Revelation 21:2 A father begets a child, while the mother takes care of it.
John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
It was a lot to lay on Him, BUT Nicodemus should have known better
John 3:10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
Jesus Christ is saying that he could have/should have known much of this already. The Pharisees knew of water baptism
Adam Clarke: To the baptism of water a man was admitted when he became a proselyte to the Jewish religion; and, in this baptism, he promised in the most solemn manner to renounce idolatry, to take the God of Israel for his God, and to have his life conformed to the precepts of the Divine law
Also John the Baptist:
Matthew 3:5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
Matthew 3:6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
They at no time said: what is this crazy thing that you are doing?
Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
John 3:11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
A Change of Necessity
1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “THE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING BEING.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
No one in heaven EXCEPT Christ who was BORN-AGAIN
Christ is the Firstborn Among Many
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
NOW IS…
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
WILL BE…
Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
First born implies others
Simultaneous Birth
Isaiah 66:8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
Isaiah 66:9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
So we cant be born-again at the time of our baptism – that would make us all born at a different time
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Then we are reborn though it will be to a position of rulership
Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
So, Why is this Important to Understand?
Salvation is a process
Human potential seen in analogies
God is reproducing Himself through us as sons and daughters
Why wouldn’t we want this?