What Does It Mean to Be Reborn Again

May 14, 2022 Post a Comment

The phrase "built-in again," a term synonymous with most Christians, is one of the almost important tenets of the Christian religion. Many, however, have historically scratched their heads and struggled to comprehend its true meaning and significance.

This was certainly the case when Jesus first told Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, that "no one can encounter the kingdom of God unless they are born once again" (John 3:three, emphasis mine).

In response, Nicodemus, who was an educated, inquisitive, and sensible human, asked a seemingly rational question, "How tin can someone be born when they are sometime? Surely they cannot enter a 2d time into their mother's womb to exist built-in!" (John 3:4).

Jesus, nonetheless, was not referring to any kind of literal or physical rebirth. He used the term "reborn" to affirm our need every bit individuals to exist completely transformed, refashioned, and spiritually remade through God's saving grace, offered through Jesus Christ, God's "1 and simply" son (John 3:16).

Why Is This Essential?

Because at our cadre, nosotros are all inherently sinful. Every bit the Apostle Paul writes, "All have sinned and fall brusk of the glory of God" (Romans three:23, emphasis mine). Our earthly, human nature is fallen, selfish, and corrupt.

Furthermore, the cost of sin and the prognosis of a sick and infected soul is spiritual death and separation from God. As Paul writes, "The wages of sin is death"(Romans 6:23).

Every bit for y'all, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which yous used to live when y'all followed the means of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is at present at work in those who are ill-behaved. All of us also lived among them at one fourth dimension, gratifying the cravings of our mankindand following its desires and thoughts. Similar the rest, nosotros were by nature deserving of wrath(Ephesians ii:one-3).

Information technology is a dour outlook for humanity, and no matter how hard we try to overcome sin, achieve heaven, or relieve ourselves through any kind of personal work, the outcome is always the same. We are in desperate need of a savior.

Thankfully, God had the perfect rescue plan in place and provided such a savior through His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said,

"F or God so loved the world that he gave his one and merely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but take eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the globe to condemn the globe, simply to salve the globe through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned" (John 3:16-18, emphasis mine).

In his letter to the Romans, Paul likewise writes, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for the states" (Romans five:viii).

He even goes on to say that "because of his great love for u.s.a., God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ fifty-fifty when nosotros were dead in transgressions — it is by grace yous have been saved" (Ephesians 2:iv, accent mine).

Many have tried to earn their conservancy, overcome their shortcomings, and heal their spiritual sickness and blindness without success.

This is why Paul writes, "It is by grace you take been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, information technology is the gift of God — not past works, then that no ane tin avowal" (Ephesians 2:8-9, accent mine).

Just when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved united states, not because of righteous things we had done, but considering of his mercy. He saved united states of america through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus iii:4-7).

Apart from Jesus Christ, there is no reply or cure for the sickness of our soul. Outside of Him, in that location is no conservancy or even reconciliation with God. Jesus said, "I am the mode and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John fourteen:6).

Jesus made it articulate: to enter the kingdom of God and experience true transformation and healing, complete regeneration is required.

The erstwhile, sinful life must be discarded, not covered or patched up. We must beginning over and start fresh, born once more into a completely new life "of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5).

John the Baptist even said of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, emphasis mine).

Those who believe in Jesus Christ, confess and turn from their sins, and accept the free souvenir of forgiveness and conservancy offered through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection are wholly made new (one John ane:9).

A New Creation

As Paul writes to the Corinthians,"if anyone is in Christ, the new creationhas come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled united states to himself through Christ and gave united states of america the ministry building of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them" (2 Corinthians v:17-18, emphasis mine).

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" the Campaigner Peter argued, "in his great mercy he has given united states of america new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3, emphasis mine).

Jesus paid the price for our sin so that we might get "children of God" and heirs to His kingdom, welcomed, "into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade" (ane Peter one:4).

This inheritance, Jesus argued is our eternal treasure (Matthew 6:xix-21).

Nicodemus would ask a very logical question to try and clarify a very spiritual truth. From his perspective, it didn't brand sense how a person could exist built-in a second fourth dimension or how one would return to their mother's womb to practice and then.

In purely physical terms, he was right. It isn't possible. Simply the mysteries of God and the wonders of His kingdom are not always credible or understood in purely literal or physical terms.

In fact, to the earthly mind, the wonders of God oft seem similar foolishness.

Matthew Henry writes in his commentary, that "such is the nature of the kingdom of God (in which Nicodemus desired to be instructed) that the soul must be re-modeled and molded, the natural homo must become a spiritual man, before he is capable of receiving and understanding them."

Nicodemus's inability to empathise what Jesus meant past being "reborn" proved Jesus' point.

Built-in of mankind, the human mind cannot grasp the mysteries of the kingdom of God or sympathize the fullness of God.

This level of understanding can only come from a spiritual transformation and re-forging of a listen that is made new or "born once again" through Christ.

Those who are "born again" will not only inherit eternal life, but they also inherit the "mind of Christ" and an entirely new perspective and mode of life (ane Corinthians 2:16).

Whether immature or one-time, those who are reborn in Christ are given fresh optics, a fresh eye, and a fresh start. For in Christ, all things are made new (Revelation 21:4-5).

For further reading:

What Does "Born Again" Mean? Why Did Jesus Say "Yous Must Be Born Again"?

What Is a Born Again Christian?

What Does it Hateful 'The Wages of Sin Is Death'?

What Does James 2:26 Hateful past 'Religion without Works is Dead'?

What Was Jesus' Mission?

Why Can the Bible Only Be Understood Through the Spirit?

What Does information technology Mean 'If Anyone Is in Christ He Is a New Creation'?

Joel Ryan is a children's book author, writing professor, and contributing author for Crosswalk, Christianity.com, Stand Business firm Men's Magazine, and others. He is passionate nearly telling groovy stories, defending biblical truth, and helping writers of all ages develop their craft. Joel discusses, analyzes, and appreciates the cracking writings of the past and nowadays on his website, Perspectives off the Pag e .