BORN AGAIN -What does it mean?

[billwald]

"Born again" refers to being regenerated. One has no control over it, as John 3 clearly teaches. One can't force God by "inviting Jesus . . . ."

 

[wopik]

Jn
3:6
Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.


3:8
The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."


Unless you can come and go invisible like the wind, you are not yet "born again".

-

 

[Matt Black]

Originally posted by Jarthur001:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Hope of Glory:
"Born again" is not used in John 3:3. That verse says, "Born from above". That's when you're born into the family of God.

"Born again" is used in 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.) which is an entirely different concept.

But, misuse of the phrase "born again" has led to much confusion.

Humm..
well, no matter what the true meaning of the words, it is clear Nicodemus understood it to mean a natural birth. It is also clear that Nic thought Christ was saying it was the 2nd time of the natural birth. If he had thought Christ meant born from above, would he have asked about his mothers womb?

John 3: 4 ..Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

</font>[/QUOTE]Like I said, it is Nicodemus who - erroneously - thinks Jesus is talking about being born for a second time here rather than from above. It has to be remembered also that the passage has to be viewed in the context that the Jews believed that to be 'saved' you had to simply be born of a Jewish mother, hence the references to birth here being associated with salvation.

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

Strong's supports the inference that 'from above' means 'anew' in this context...

Born Again or Born Anew is a good rendering of the intent of the Greek...

 

[Jarthur001]

Originally posted by Matt Black:

Like I said, it is Nicodemus who - erroneously - thinks Jesus is talking about being born for a second time here rather than from above.

Indeed. And that is the very point. Christ was CLEAR as He addressed Nic and therefore the message Nic came away with was that of a 2nd birth. Yet Christ had another meaning to this phrase.

The same idea can be seen in Matt 26

61And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

When Christ talked of the temple, it was clear by all that he meant a building for they stood next to the building. Yet he had another meaning in mind.

A truth is found even when one is wrong. Like when Moses hit the rock 2 times. Moses was wrong, yet what a picture of Christ and sin we now have because Moses was wrong. Christ dies once.

Nic was wrong, yet it showed us a good truth. The key word is BORN. We are born again/from above...the same idea carries. We were once born from our mother and now we must be born again, but this time from above.

Why use the word born? It is the picture of us being dead/no life to God. Dead in sins. God in the new birth...a birth from above...gives us life in Christ.


In Christ....James

 

[BobRyan]

Originally posted by James_Newman:
How do you know your faith isn't phony?

God's Word has already addressed this problem

Matt 7
17 ""So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 ""A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 "" Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 ""So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21 "" Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Gal 2:
17 ""But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
18 ""For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 ""For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
20 ""I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1John 2
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 The one who says, "" I have come to know Him,'' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

 

[Claudia_T]

Originally posted by Jarthur001:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Claudia_T:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jarthur001:
How was Abraham saved? How was he made RIGHTEOUSNESS?

Romans 4

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."

4Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

***************

There are only 2 systems. One is based on our works, the other is based on Gods grace. In works glory comes to us. In Grace God is given the glory. In works salvation is due us. In grace salvation comes from God, when NOTHING is due but damnation.

Why are we saved?

Romans 5

2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and WE EXULT IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.


Do you glory in our works or do you glory in Gods salvation?


In Christ..James

The fact is that the Bible says clearly that we cannot be saved without works. Jms:2:14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

the obvious answer is NO

You have no genuine faith if works dont follow and therefore you wont be saved "by faith" since what you have is phony faith. No matter how much you claim you are doing this and that for God's glory, its a phony. If you cared about God's glory, here is what you would do:

Mt:5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. </font>[/QUOTE]I have met many people in my 47 years, but I have yet to meet anyone so full of good works that they out shine the blood of Christ. Lets face it Claudia, with your view of faith, it does not matter what God has done, its all about your works!!!

Even if God sent His Son and bleed and died for your sins, salvation is in YOUR hands not God. To you God does not have the power to save...it is YOU with the power.

The fact is Claudia You are YOUR own Christ. Its up to YOU to save yourself. Your WORKS...Christ was wrong when He said it was finished..its not finished till YOU say so. You do the Good Works, salvation is Due you. God should be thankful to YOU...for Claudai is the holy one. Your the ONE that went b the LAW. Your the ONE that did not drink. Your the ONE that always was in chruch. Look at what YOU have done, God owes it to YOU!! You are the one in control, are you not Claudai?

On the other hand...look at old joe. He hardly ever goes to church. One time he lied to you Claudai. Surly joe knows God will not let sinners like him into heaven. Look at that...he only put one dollar in the plate. Thanks God your not like old Joe...the poor sinner. Tee hee...look..joe only has 2 Sabbath day pins. HEY JOE!!! look at all MY Sabbath day pins. I have yet to miss a Sabbath in 4 years. Yes..i think this is a record. Maybe you can be like ME someday Joe. Get out of the way joe...your blocking my glowing shine.

Forget about the Sonship of the family. Born again means..your only in the family till YOU say so..and then YOU can just "work" your way out.


Works points the glory at YOU. Grace is ALL about God.

I am a sinner...only a sinner...saved by grace.


In Christ...James </font>[/QUOTE]]


James,

Where in the world did you get all these ideas about me? LOL!

Claudia

 

[Claudia_T]

1Jn:2:29: If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1Jn:3:9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1Jn:5:18: We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

1Jn:4:7: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

 

[Jim1999]

bump..I'm just trying to get rid of the Dahlen posts.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[wopik]

born again is when you can go to and fro, like the wind, invisible (Jn 3:8). No human but Jesus has been born again.


We are still flesh: that which is born of the flesh is flesh (Jn 3:6).


That which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Jn 3:6).


Jesus is the only human who has gone through this change.

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

While I agree that we do not have our Heavenly Bodies...

I think that you are mistaken about the Born-Again Part...

Can we be a New creation without being Born-Again?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

And, I believe Peter is talking present tense begetting here not some future tense?

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.

And, Paul says that we are already:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And, having a Spirit component means we can, today, be Born of the Spirit...

SMM

 

[wopik]

....we can, today, be Born of the Spirit...

Jn
3:8
The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."


-

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

Originally posted by wopik:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />....we can, today, be Born of the Spirit...

Jn
3:8
The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."


- </font>[/QUOTE]Well judging from some of the responses to some of my posts...
This sure seems to be true of me.

but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going

There seems to be a lot of posts that way here...

SMM

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

Wopik,

What did the day of Pentecost do for the church if not Birth it in The Spirit?

SMM