WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN AGAIN

A little over a while ago, my Pastor mentioned that we need to redefine with clarity, what it means to be born again. I for one was intrigued by this statement - mostly because I have identified as born again for as long as I can remember.

However, just like most words spoken in the realm of God, unless the speaker carries the  revelation of what it means to be born again, the statement carries barely any weight.

While I constantly said I was born again, I could never for the life of me explain, even to myself, what this actually meant. Or if it was true.

So - naturally, I went searching out what it means to be born again - and presently, this is what I have come to learn by God.

A. In the first instance

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” John 3:6

The celebration of birthdays has become such a constant lately. A person’s birthday is the date on which they were born by their earthly parents.

To be born of the flesh means many things but it also refers to the ‘natural’ life and how we come forth on the earth - from the wombs of our earthly parents. From their flesh, blood and will.

Consequently, the child takes on their DNA and overtime morphs into the splitting image of their parents as they grow.

The Word describes this as being born of blood by natural conception, the flesh by physical impulse or by the will of man. (John 1:4) The Greek definition of flesh also ‘denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, prone to sin and opposed to God’.

The flesh also aligns with blood and generational lines, including all things medically defined as ‘hereditary’. In the flesh, we are identified as the descendants of Adam.

The flesh is ranked by The Word as the lowest level of man, profiting nothing but corruption and death. (John 6:63)

Therefore, in the first instance, we are physically born of flesh (regardless of having originated from the spiritual) and align with this corrupted state.

Fortunately for all of us, The Word affirms the possibility of a rebirth into a higher realm, attained by believing The Son of God, and dying to the flesh, so we can be born anew. In Jesus is the power to bestow new Life. (John 1:4)

“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— [Is 56:5] who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].” John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

To be born again simply means to be born of God. By faith, a person previously born by the flesh agrees that they have died with Christ (because they have). It is then out of this death that the person is born AGAIN, but this time not through flesh and blood, but by The Spirit of God. (Romans 6).

B. Born of His Spirit

In a deeply personal conversation with a Pharisee, Nicodemus - Jesus teaches us that no one can see The Kingdom of Heaven unless they are born again. (Some versions use ‘born from above’).

To be born ‘again’ in its plainest form speaks to a new birth, and there can be no new birth without the death of an old thing/life.

Being born again is therefore by a divine act, and our role is to have faith. To be born of God, you must believe first of all that you have been (in the spirit) crucified with Christ and died along with Him.

Then, by the divine, The Spirit of God breathes new and far more superior Life into your own spirit - completely doing away with the old patterns. The old life of the flesh is a thing of the past. (Romans 6)

Jesus Christ explains to Nicodemus that for anyone to be born again, they must be born both of Water and The Spirit.

The water of which we are born refers to a baptism originating from the repentance of sins and often precedes baptism by The Spirit. This is one of the reasons why John (the Baptist) was sent ahead of Jesus - to lead the people to repentance first.

Likewise, the early converts often repented of their sin before they were baptized by The Spirit.

“And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬ ‭AMP‬

This baptism is not always by physical immersion - but alludes to the cleansing act of The Word of God. The Word is what often draws us into repentance. In Acts, the people were ‘cut to the heart’ and repented because of the Word of God spoken by Peter.

The Word therefore has a cleansing effect.

“…to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God.” Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭26‬ ‭TPT‬‬

The same cleansing Word was made available to the disciples, who were then consequently able to receive the baptism by The Spirit.

“You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].” John‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Following the washing by The Word, the Holy Spirit then breathes The Life of God into us, (John 6:63) resurrecting us from a life dead in the flesh, and translating us into sons born of The Spirit.

It was the same Breath that turned a valley of dead bones into a mighty army.

“Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life.” Ezekiel‬ ‭37‬:‭5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The Spirit, having Breathed into us a new Life also sustains us through it.

“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].” Job‬ ‭33‬:‭4‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The believer is now born of God, breathed into Life by His very Spirit. Someone remarked in a song that we ought to let the day we were born again into The Life of God be our birthday - I agree.

C. The Life of one born of The Spirit

In the Book of Luke, an angel explains to Mary, how Jesus was to be conceived and born by The Spirit.

The Angel Gabriel explains to Mary that;

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The Power of the Most High (God) indeed overshadowed Mary ‘like a cloud’. The cloud (Biblically) often alludes refers to The Glory of God. It was this same Glory that led the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21), filled the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 40:34) and - also raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 6:4).

As one born of The Spirit, Jesus’ life on earth reflects the fruit of being brought forth this way. It is therefore the standard benchmark for anyone that attains this life (seeing as to how we are imitators of Christ.)

The first natural effect of this rebirth is death to sin. A life born of The Spirit is not a slave to sin, but is called to a higher place - to walk in the newness of life. (Romans 6:6)

The newness of life includes a divine inclination to right living, inspired by the Breath of God operating on the inside of you.

“Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus...offer yourselves to God (in a decisive act) as those alive (raised) from the dead (to a new life) and your members (all of your abilities - sanctified, set apart) as instruments of righteousness (yielded) to God” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬, 13 AMP

Therefore, just like The Word lets us know that Jesus was tempted in every way but did not sin, a born again has the divine ability to live a life free of sin.

Secondly, our life as those born of God is transformed from the inside out, including even our own words. Because you have been born from above, you ought to speak and believe only what God (your Father) says about you.

“He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks [about things] of the earth [his viewpoint and experience are earthly]. He who comes from heaven is above all.” John‬ ‭3‬:‭31‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Third, the believer is now sustained by The Breath and Life of God - this is a Life of signs and wonders. The Christ (who spoke only Truth), testified that anyone who believed in Him would do even greater works than He did while He walked the earth.

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The simple realization of the power of God revealed through the things He created and sustains by His Word is enough to make you realise that to be born of God is no ordinary thing. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands. (Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬).

The realm of God is one of endless possibilities.

“For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭37‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The proof of this Life is visible throughout the Acts of the Apostles - I mean - Paul simply shook a viper off his arm and was in no way harmed by it. Peter was so saturated with The Life of God that his shadow healed people. The Spirit translated unlearned men into wise, bold men with understanding.

When The Church comes to the full revelation of what it means to be born of The Spirit, revival is inevitable.

D. So…

All this to say, there is no life outside God.

To be Born Again means to be reconciled to the Life we have always been meant to live as Children of God - before deception came in. May The Spirit open our eyes that we may come to the realization of all He has planted on the inside of us, and walk in it.