Born again.
The same word, in the New Testament, can mean born or begotten. It
is quite often used incorrectly; which makes an otherwise simple subject,
a little complicated. Jesus said to Nicodemius; that he must be born again,
to enter the Kingdom of God.
JOHN 3 V 3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.
The first birth is our physical birth. The second birth is our spiritual
birth.
JOHN 3 V 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
JOHN 3 V 7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must
be born again.
JOHN 3 V 8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither
it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
We are begotten of the spirit: because of the resurrection of Christ.
1PET 1 V 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We have previously shown, from other articles: that we receive the earnest
of Gods Spirit; when we accept the death of Christ. We receive the Holy
Spirit of life, when we believe and love the correct knowledge of God the
Father and Christ
.
The following, and the previous scriptures show that we are begotten
of God, when we receive the Holy Spirit of life.
ROM 5 V 10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
1PET 1 V 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We are called Sons of God, when we receive the Holy Spirit of life,
even though we are begotten of God at this time and not yet born again.
Just as an unborn child
1JOHN 3 V 1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not.
1JOHN 3 V 2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like
him; for we shall see him as he is.
God looks on us as a Son of God, when we are spiritually begotten, by
receiving the Holy Spirit of life. God looks on us as a physical human
being, from our conception.
PSA 22 V 10
I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's
belly.
The following two verses have born and begotten in the wrong places.
JOHN 1 V 13
Which were born,[should be begotten] not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
JOHN 1 V 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among
us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten [should
be born] of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1 V 12 helps clarify verses 13 &14. When we receive Christ,
we have power to become sons of God. The earnest of the spirit gives us
power to be come sons of God. When we receive the spirit of life; we are
then sons of God.
JOHN 1 V 12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
It is clear that Jesus Christ is not the only begotten of the Father:
He is the only Born of the Father. Verse 14 above is talking about the
transfiguration of Christ, when he was seen in his spiritual glory. The
glory of Christ; as he was born of the Father.
MARK 9 V 2
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John,
and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was
transfigured before them.
When we receive the earnest of the spirit: we have the power to become
a Son of God.
When we receive the Spirit of life: we become a Son of God.
When we are resurrected to eternal life: we are born again. |