The one thing that sets Christianity apart from religion is the born-again experience. We have been born from above and have Jesus Himself living in our hearts.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of flesh is flesh: and that which is born of spirit is spirit.
- John 3:5,6
Man is a Spirit, he has a Soul (mind, will & emotions) and lives in a Body.
The new birth is essential for entering into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5), as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a member of the religious governing body of the Jews known as the Sanhedrin. Being born-again is not a second physical birth, but rather a spiritual birth. Our spiritual man or spirit became dead unto (separated from) God through sin. (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23, Rom 7: 9,11, Eph 2:1,5)
Just as we did not accomplish our physical birth ourselves we cannot produce this spiritual rebirth. We are totally incapable of saving ourselves (Jer 13:23, Rom 3:10-12, Rom 8:7-8, Eph 2:3), therefore we need a Saviour.
We simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died for us, shedding His precious blood on the cross to set us free from the penalty, power and presence of sin, giving us salvation. Salvation is not a reformation but rather a regeneration, a new birth, a new creation that can be accomplished by a creative miracle of The Holy Spirit (John 1:13, 3:5).
The instant we believe and receive the Lord Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we are born again (Rom 10:9- 10). Our spirit is instantly transformed into the image of God and is now made righteous and holy. It is sealed and cannot be contaminated by sin. Old things pass away the moment we are born again. Faith is the only condition(2 Cor 5:17, Rom 3;28, Rom 10:6-9).He who believes with saving faith, i.e., faith that produces actions, will be saved (James 2:20.)
Water baptism is an outward witness to the inner change that has already taken place in us. It is the sign of the new covenant in the same way that circumcision was the sign of the old covenant. It is the initial action taken upon believing in God and obeying the command to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost (Mark 16:16) or in Jesus because in Jesus dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col 2:9).
Jesus’ kingdom is spiritually established by His Word and not carnal weapons (2 Cor 10:3-5). Jesus said “the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation – behold the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). The Kingdom of God is therefore Christ’s “invisible church”, His body begun during His earthly ministry and is still ruling the hearts of man today. To be a part of His church (Rom 12:5, Eph 1:22- 23) we must be born-again.
(John 3:5) Being born of water is not speaking of water baptism as being essential for salvation. People were born-again before they were baptized in water. Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water (Acts 10:44-48). Jesus Himself was baptized in water, but it was not to produce forgiveness of sin as Jesus had no sin (Matt 3:15). It had two purposes, it publicly announced Jesus as the Lamb of God to the people (John 1:29-31) and fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 9:24 as Jesus was anointed by the Holy Ghost and empowered to begin His ministry.
This water (John 3:5,) could be speaking of the Word of God (John 15:3, Eph 5:26, James 1:18, I Pet 1:23). Once we are born again we should start the process of changing our soul (mind, will and emotions). The Bible calls it renewing our mind (Rom 12:2). We renew our mind as we read the Word of God, meditate on it, know the Word and exchange our thoughts for God’s thoughts which are spirit and life and set our mind to do what the Word says should be done (James 1:22-25)
The Word of God brings spiritual knowledge and understanding and is able to transform every part of our soul. Our will and emotions are determined by our thoughts. As we start thinking in line with God’s Word, our emotional life will be transformed. We make decisions which are in line with God’s Word thereby experiencing God’s anointing, joy, peace, power, victory and health and healing in our body (Prov 4:20-22)
In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24), wrong thinking separated him from his father, but right thinking brought him back. He accepted full responsibility for his actions, repented and returned to his father.
We should repent, turn around and forsake bad ways of thinking (Matt 4:17). When our mind is messed up by the world’s way of thinking and doing things, it contaminates our heart (Matt 12:35). For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Prov 23:7).
When we truly repent – feel sorry for the sin committed and turn away from it in heart and ask God to forgive us in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. He is faithful and just to forgive us of all righteousness. He loves us and is ready to set us free from the bondage of sin. Look to Jesus Christ.
Read the Word of God. The Word presents in the law of God and life of Jesus great principles of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. It convinces of sin and plainly reveals the way of salvation. Listen to the voice of God speaking to your soul, and when satan comes to condemn you, telling you that you are a great sinner, look up to your Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ and talk of His merits. Look to His light. Acknowledge your sin but tell the enemy that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (I Tim 1:15) and that you may be saved by His awesome love.
Deuteronomy 30:20 says - God is our life.
John 1:1 says – In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
Prov 4:20,22 says – “My son attend to my words, incline thine ear to my sayings – for they are life”.
“God, the Word and the life are the same”. To choose God is to choose the Word. To choose life is to choose the Word.
