Right now I am leaning towards believing that say for example...
Elijah was born again,“second birth” as John the baptist. But I am not 100%
persuaded of this right now as of yet! I am still investigating and proving some things I think I have learned!
Let my try to explain the new birth.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
--There are two kinds of birth: one of the flesh (that is how we enter the world, and one of the Spirit. When Jesus said, "You must be born again, he was referring to the second birth "being born of the Spirit.
We are all born of the flesh, but not all are born of the Spirit. Thus: "You must be born again."
How is this possible. Admittedly, Nicodemus was confused, and their were many confusing philosophical ideas floating around. But that doesn't matter. What matters is the truth. How is it possible to be born again?
John 3:5 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.
--Jesus said you must be born of water and of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. Note that here there are two agents mentioned and only two--water and Spirit. Most of us understand that Christ demands us to be born of the Spirit of God. Without the Holy Spirit there is no salvation. He is the one that does changing work in our lives at salvation. He regenerates our lives.
What then does "water" refer to? It is symbolic of something, but of what?
The Catholics say it means water, but that is heresy. The passage does not teach "baptismal regeneration," or that baptism saves.
Some teach that the "water" is amniotic fluid of the womb, but I don't think that Nicodemus would be thinking of that.
I believe that the most plausible interpretation is that "water" is symbolic of the Word.
Nicodemus, knowing the OT, would have thought of Scripture such as Psalm 119:11, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word."
--God's Word cleanses us.
The question needs to be asked: What is water most commonly used for?
It is an agent for washing. We all use water for washing, The Bible uses water symbolically for that which washes, and in this case it is the Word.
Jesus said:
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
The Word washes us; cleanses us.
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
--Notice here that it is again the Word. But here the word used is begat, the same as "to be born," or born again. We are born again by the Word.
And the most clear passage of all:
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
--Very clearly one is born again by the Word of God.
This is the plain teaching of the Bible.
Remember there are two and only two agents by which a person is born again.
John 3:5 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.
One must be born of water (the Word) and of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to bring salvation and regenerates the individual.
Without the Word of God, the message of the Gospel it is impossible to be born again or saved. It is an absolute necessity. God's Spirit works in and through the the Word of God.
Water cleanses. Water is symbolic of the Word. The Word cleanses. We are born again through the Word (1Pet.1:23).
