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| HOW CAN ONE BE “BORN
AGAIN”? |
#113
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These days, it seems we hear a lot about “Born Again
Christians.” We often hear media talk shows or television
“sit-coms” making generalizations about those who identify with
this title. Many people are probably curious about this
expression, but really don’t know where to go to find out what
it means. We shall search for the source of
the expression and see what it meant to those who originally
used it.
In the New Testament, the first person to present this idea
was Jesus. One night, a Jewish religious leader came to visit
with Jesus. As they talked, Jesus suddenly said to him, “Truly,
truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The man, whose name was Nicodemus,
was surprised and confused by the statement. He asked, “How can
a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into
his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Then Jesus said, “Unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
The idea of starting all over in life, of becoming a new
person, of being born again, is truly an appealing prospect.
Wouldn’t it be great to have the slate wiped clean and to be
forgiven of all past wrongs and to start all over again, even at
your present age and knowledge level? Well, Jesus said that this
was possible, and even told how to do it. He said that the
process involved “Water” and “Spirit.” There are two other
passages in the New Testament which combine these two
ingredients, and which help to amplify what Jesus was teaching.
In Acts 2:37, a crowd of convicted sinners asked the
apostles what they must do. The answer, found in Acts 2:38,
involves these same two elements mentioned by Jesus. They were
told to “ ... be baptized” (there’s the water) and that they
would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” As we have seen in
previous Bible Talks, baptism is the point where our faith
climaxes in obedience. Our sins are forgiven and we are restored
to a place of union with the Spirit of God. It is not hard to
see how this condition could be described as a “New Birth.”
Being born of the Water and the Spirit involves the obedience of
baptism and the restoration of the Holy Spirit.
This explanation of Jesus’ teaching is seen even more
clearly in Titus 3:5. In this verse, Paul explains to Titus the
process of our salvation. He begins by giving credit to the
mercy of God, then says that we were saved “by the washing of
regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” Some Bible
translations actually read, “the washing of rebirth and renewal
by the Holy Spirit.” When Saul of Tarsus washed away his sins in
Acts 22:16, he was participating in the “washing of rebirth”,
and, like the people of Acts 2:38, he surely received the gift
of the Holy Spirit. Or, as Paul put it, he was renewed by the
Holy Spirit. Renewed to what? Renewed to the spiritual
relationship with God that had been lost in sin.
Here are three passages which combine the water of baptism
with the restoration of God’s Spirit. These three passages
describe the process of becoming a new person. Indeed, Paul
reminded the church in Rome that after baptism we can “walk in
newness of life” (Romans 6:4). He told the church in Corinth the
same thing. He said, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new
creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have
come” (II Corinthians 5:17).
We can’t know what everybody else means when they say they
have been “Born Again,” but we can know what Jesus and Peter and
Paul meant. Not only that, but we can actually participate in it
and enjoy a new life in Christ.
| Bible
Probe |
HOW CAN ONE BE
"BORN AGAIN"? |
113
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1. Jesus said, “Unless one is born of __________ and the
____________, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John
3:5).
2. Agree/Disagree: In Titus 3:5, the phrase “washing of
regeneration” in the NASB means the same thing as “washing of
rebirth” in the NIV.
3. How is being forgiven of sins (Acts 2:38) and the washing
away of sins (Acts 22:16) like a new birth?
4. When Paul used the expression “washing of rebirth,” do
you think he had in mind the same thing which Jesus called being
“born of water”?
5. Is the Spirit of God in fellowship with those who are
still in their sins? (Isaiah 59:2)
6. Is the Holy Spirit reunited with those who obey the Lord?
(Acts 5:32; I Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 4:6)
7. Since sin results in a spiritual death, explain how
reconciliation with the Spirit of God is like a new birth.
8. If one receives the “gift of the Holy Spirit” at baptism
(Acts 2:38), might this be the same as being “born of the
Spirit” (John 3:5) and the “renewal” of the Holy Spirit (Titus
3:5)?
9. After careful comparison, do you think John 3:5, Acts
2:38, and Titus 3:5 are describing the same process?
10. Does the prospect of “starting all over” ... “getting
another chance” ... being “born again” ... have any appeal to
you? (Romans 6:4; II Corinthians 5:17)
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Your Bible questions answered here.