This chapter explains what the new birth is, and what effect it has on us.

The Pharisees were a sect of Judaism that came into being at a low spiritual ebb in the history of Israel. Their aim was to bring holiness back into the nation's life.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a teacher of religion. He was also a leader in His community and served on the Sanhedrin, which was the Supreme Court in Israel. So his life was devoted to holy living and serving the community. One could say that he represented the cream of the nation. Yet Jesus told this "righteous" leader of God's chosen nation that he wouldn't be able to see the Kingdom of God, let alone enter it, unless he was born again (John 3:3-5).

But Jesus wasn't talking about another physical birth: He was talking about a spiritual birth — the beginning of a new and transforming spiritual dimension in Nicodemus's life. And just like Nicodemus, if we are to understand the things of God we'll also need to be born again, to be born of the Spirit.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV)

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3, KJV).

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5, KJV).

THE WORD OF GOD IS AN AGENT OF THE NEW BIRTH

When we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, it has a cleansing effect on our lives, in much the same way as water cleanses. So the Bible sometimes uses water to depict the Word of God:

..... even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25-26, KJV)

And it was this "water" of the Word of God to which Jesus was referring, when He talked about the new birth in John 3. Peter also confirmed that the Word of God is an agent of the new birth when he told Christian believers that they had been born again through the living and abiding Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). This ties up with the teaching that we are saved through faith in Christ, and that the saving faith we need comes about through hearing, or comprehending the Word of God (Romans 10:17).



THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AN AGENT OF THE NEW BIRTH

The other agent that is necessary, besides the "water" of the Word of God, is the Spirit. The new birth comes about as a result of the combination of the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said in John 3:5 that we must be born of water (a picture of the Word of God, as illustrated above), and the Spirit. And He Himself gives us the Spirit the moment we trust in Him for salvation.

If any man is (spiritually) thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were to receive ..... (John 7:37-39, NASB).

HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE "BORN AGAIN?"

We'll know that we've been born again because of the change in our lives. We will experience the incredible freedom of forgiveness of sins, and will know that we are right with God. Also, our spiritual blindness will be a thing of the past. Spiritual truths we'd never previously seen, will become crystal clear to us. And the Bible will become so meaningful to us that, that we'll want to keep on reading it all the time. We'll be led and guided by our Saviour, and our lives will start bearing spiritual fruit (see Galations 5:22). Our priorities will change to such an extent that our lives will never, ever be the same again. And we'll be able to testify to the reality of 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 (KJV).

Speaking to his fellow born again believers in the church at Colossae, Paul expressed the implications of the new birth in these terms:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14, KJV). (Italics inserted by the writer.)

Becoming a Christian isn't possible, other than through being born again. And it's only Christ's Spirit indwelling us that makes us Christians.

..... Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9, KJV).

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11-12, KJV)

If you would like to write to the editor, your letter will be most welcome. You will find me at:

response@bibtruth.com

The first two links leads to the previous chapters of this booklet, and the third link will take you to the next chapter:

Chapter 1, The Fall of Mankind
Chapter 2, The Cost of Salvation
Chapter 4, Preparing for the Christian Journey



© 2009 by Yvonne Gibbs. All rights reserved.