Understanding Born From Above (Born Again)
What does the Bible say about being born again? How can a person be born again? When do you know that someone has been born again?
Most questions regarding being born again arise from John’s Gospel. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, John wrote about a conversation Jesus had with a Pharisee, named Nicodemus. Although nearly all Christians generally understand a large amount of what Jesus said to Nicodemus, there are parts of their conversation, which leave them questioning.
In this article, we will look at what Jesus said to Nicodemus and why. My hope is that this article will help you have a fuller and better understanding of who are and what it is to be ‘born again.’
|
Translation Difficulties: The majority of English translations state that Jesus told Nicodemus that before a person could see the kingdom of God he must be ‘born again.’ This places the primary emphasis on the need to have a second birth.
However, the word ‘again’ does not appear in John’s original Greek text. When he wrote, John used the Greek word ‘ανωθεν’ (anothen) which means ‘from above,’ and not the word ‘πάλιν’ (palin) which means ‘again.’ Some literal versions have corrected this, by giving a more accurate translation and quote Jesus as saying that a person must be ‘born from above.’ This places Jesus’ emphasis on which kind of birth is needed; they must have a heavenly birth.
|
|
Enter the Kingdom
John 3:5: In the original Greek term ‘εισελθειν εις την βασιλειαν’ –‘eiselthein eis hay basileian that is translated, ‘enter the Kingdom’ does not denote going to a place. It literally means to ‘come under the reign and authority.’
Jesus was telling Nicodemus for him to come under the direct reign and authority of God; he needed to be born from above first.
|
During his earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly taught that the kingdom of God is spiritual and not earthly. Therefore, it should not surprise anyone that to be part of the kingdom of God a person must be born from above and have a heavenly or spiritual birth. Only after a person has been born from above does he become a spiritual being even though he still lives in his earthly body.
John 3:8: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. The Spirit blows where he will, and you hear his voice, but you do not know from where he comes and where he goes; thus is everyone who is born from the Spirit.
”Who can be born from above?
Jesus was also telling Nicodemus that no one could predict who will be born from above since it is the Spirit who decides, He comes and goes where He pleases, bringing spiritual birth to whomever He chooses. Later we can know who has been born of the Spirit, but we do not know beforehand.Very simply stated, those who come from human parents are also human (flesh=flesh.) Those come from the Spirit are also spirit. Jesus then added that the Spirit blows where He wills and you hear His voice, but cannot see Him come or go. This is true of everyone born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus’ confusion - Nicodemus did not understand Jesus’ teaching and asked him a question. “How can these things be?” Jesus responded and said “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
Jesus response tells us that this is not a new teaching. As a teacher of Israel Nicodemus should have already known about spiritual birth because many of the prophets had prophesied about the Christ. They prophesied that when He came, Christ would usher in the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus should have also known that several of those prophets such as Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Joel also prophesied that when Christ came, God would give His people new spirits, and new hearts.
|
Spirit
Literal versions correctly translate the Greek word πνευμα – pneuma in Verse 8 as ‘spirit,’ not ‘wind.’
|
Born from Above
Born of Spirit-Born of God
In his Gospel and his epistles, John uses the phrases ‘born from above,’ ‘born of spirit,’ and ‘born of God,’ almost interchangeably.
|
A person must believe that Jesus is the Christ before being born of God.
In John 1:9-13, two chapters before he wrote about Jesus and Nicodemus’ conversation, John wrote and told whom God chose to be born of Him. Those who received Jesus, and believed in His name, have the right by the will of God to become children of God.
John 1:9-13: That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
| |
A person must believe that Jesus is the Christ before being born of God.
In John 1:9-13, two chapters before he wrote about Jesus and Nicodemus’ conversation, John wrote and told whom God chose to be born of Him. Those who received Jesus, and believed in His name, have the right by the will of God to become children of God.
John 1:9-13: That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The characteristics of those who are born from above
Brotherly Love
In his Gospel, and all of his epistles, John emphasizes Jesus’ teaching that Christians must love each other. It was a common theme in his writings. So much so that it is the only command, which John listed as coming directly from Jesus.
John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
In 1 John 5:1, John states that those who are born of God are those who not only believe that Jesus was the Christ but also loves others who also are born from God. In other words they must love the brethren. If they do not love the brethren, they are not of God and have not been born of Him.
1 John 5:1: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (Loves others who are also born of God – brotherly love)
Has victory over the sinful desires of his flesh
A person must believe what the Bible said, that whatever is born of God overcomes the world. If he believes it, the new spirit within a person can and will have victory over his old carnal nature, and the sinful desires which come from his flesh.
1 John 5:4:“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.”
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.
|
Does what is right
Before a person is born in the spirit, they are merely flesh. In the flesh, they cannot please God; it is impossible. (Romans 8:7-8) When a person has a spiritual birth, he has a new spirit, which comes from God, has Godly desires to do only what is right.
1 John 2:29: If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.
| |
|
