Born Again

Are you a Christian? Are you born again?

If the answer to the first question is yes, then the answer to the second question must have been yes for the answer to the first question to be correct. You can't be a Christian without being born again, for this is what the Lord Jesus Christ said:

"Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

Okay, no problem. Wait, what's that mean?

The Lord clarified:

"Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)

Okay, no problem. Wait, what's that mean?

Some people say, baptism. I don't think so. Jesus didn't say baptism. He didn't. Numerous passages about being saved by grace through faith don't square with the baptism being necessary. The salvation of the thief on the cross doesn't square with the baptism being necessary.

Some people say, natural birth. I.e. being born of water indicates natural birth and being born of the Spirit indicates spiritual birth. I thought this for some time, but I don't think so any more.

Recently I have been turned on to the idea that the two go together and describe two aspects of the spiritual birth. Being born of water and the Spirit most likely refers to the spiritual cleansing and the strengthening power of Christ. When we are saved, our past sins our forgotten -- we are washed clean. We also receive the Holy Spirit and gain the ability to be and do what we could not all on our own.

I don't know Greek, but I read that the Greek grammar in this passage indicates that "being born of water" and "being born of the Spirit" should be thought of as one thing. Not water first and Spirit later, but "water and the Spirit" all together. That seems to square.

So how do we become born again? Though our own devices? Absolutely not! It is through the spiritual regeneration brought by genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

If you're not sure if you're born again, ask yourself if Jesus Christ is lord of your life. That means he's in charge and first. Its easy for one to say he accepts Christ as Savior without ever acknowledging him as Lord. That's a dangerous position to be in. If one says he is saved, there should be evidence of a changed life, for when we admit we're sinners, repent, and throw our lives to Christ, we get a new heart, we become new creations, and he leads the way from that point into eternity.

Praise God!