Born Again

Born Again

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

John 3:3-4

We must be born again. This was a brand new idea from Jesus. Some try and twist together some Old Testament ideas that speak of this but they don’t really speak about what Jesus is bringing here. Being born again is a key precept of the Christian life. Let’s take a moment to truly understand the meaning.

The first thing you must realize is that everyone must and is going to die. Now you might say- wait, those who will still be alive will not die but be transformed. Your right of course but you are giving an answer similar to Nicodemus. That thought is too literal and physical in nature.

To be born again, spiritually speaking and how Jesus meant it, means letting your original life and person die. The character, goals and person who exists before encountering Christ must die. Eternal life is not offered to that person (again spiritually speaking).

Salvation is giving up the old person with their sinful beginnings and limited life and accepting a new person that is spiritually filled and can live forever. Paul speaks about this in 1 Corinthians 15:46-49:

⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Being born again is about a new you being chosen. That new you is born connected with God and is filled with the Spirit. It is the new person who is given the gift of salvation and eternal life. Even physically speaking, these sinful bodies are given up and replaced with new perfect bodies at the resurrection. In a sense our old bodies die so that we can have new ones- even if it is within a moment and twinkling of an eye.

To be saved we must be born again. That is a choice that we must all make within our lives. Are you willing to give up who you are for who God wants you to be?

 

Blessings

Pr. Steven Couto