True Christian Meaning Of Born Again
Yahshua the Messiah made famous the words “born again” to enter the Kingdom of Yahweh. Very interestingly, many people around the world today claim to have been “born again.” Many evangelists talk about it on TV and radio stations. Ministers of many religious denominations have constantly preach about this either privately or publicly at their home churches or their local congregations. Perhaps the words “born again” is one of the most popular “religious” phrases that’s out there today. But for a genuine Christian what does it really mean to be born again? While speaking to a Pharisee Nicodemus what did the Savior Yahshua meant when He said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Yahweh”? As always on this faithful message we are going to discuss with you based on Bible truth, the true Christian meaning of born again.
The sacred phrase “born again” first appears in the third chapter of the apostle John’s epistle where it reads: “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Yahshua by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from Yahweh; for no one can do these signs that You do unless Yahweh is with him.” Yahshua answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Yahweh.” (John 3:1-3). Yahshua the Messiah’s reply in this instance seems unrelated to Nicodemus’ statement. And in response to Yahshua’s startling statement, Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born”? (John 3:4). In reply, Yahshua said this: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Yahweh” (John 3:5).
Like so many people it was very clear that Nicodemus’ latter statement above had some erroneous ideas about Yahweh’s coming Kingdom in relation to the born again principle spoken of by the Redeemer Yahshua Messiah. The born of water refer to total immersion in water on baptism, symbolizing the washing away of the sin in our lives, as it’s written: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). The born of the Spirit means being born from the Spirit of Yahweh where apostle Paul said should be evident in those who are led by Yahweh’s Spirit as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Both of these are sacred requirements for “born again” Christians in order to see or enter the coming Kingdom. As Yahshua the Messiah further explained: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). We all came into this world through the kind of birth Nicodemus had in mind, that is flesh. But once you have been “born of the Spirit” (the kind of birth necessary to see or experience the Kingdom of Yahweh), then you are spirit. You’re now privileged to belong to the Holy Family of Yahweh!
Furthermore, when Savior Yahshua spoke of being born of the Spirit, He was speaking of a literal change of bodily composition, the same change the apostle Paul spoke to the people in Corinth where he said: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed–in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Paul was indeed speaking of a radical bodily change, a change from a corruptible flesh to incorruptible spirit being! He stated clearly that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Likewise, the expression or the words “born again” is found in the apostle Peter’s first epistle, where he had these words to say: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of Yahweh Elohim which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).
Understand that Yahshua the Messiah was speaking of the change or spirit transformation the true saints will experience when He returns to establish His Kingdom on earth. Notice how Yahshua further explained what He meant by “born again” where he said: “Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:7-8). All the dead genuine saints will be raised and changed simultaneously, but the living true saints will experience the change, or new birth, without having experienced death! This truth is brought out clearly by the apostle Paul to the people at Thessalonica where he told them: “For the Master himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Elohim; and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: Then we (faithful, genuine Christians) which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Master” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
In conclusion, Yahshua the Messiah was saying that those “born again” or born of the Spirit are like the wind in that they are invisible and powerful. They are like His resurrected self (1 John 3:2), who was able to appear and disappear at will (John 20:19,26), and who is described by the apostle Paul as a “life-giving Spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Therefore, Nicodemus’ and many people modern ideas about “entering” or “seeing” the Kingdom of Yahweh are completely wrong. To see or enter Yahshua’s Kingdom, you must be born again; you must be changed from flesh to spirit, from mortal to immortal. The citizens of the coming Kingdom are able to accomplish great things in a way no flesh and blood or the natural human body ever could. If you are a member of Yahweh’s true church; if the Spirit of Yahweh dwells within you, then you are a child of Yahweh, a new creature in Yahshua. Yahshua Messiah is your Elder Brother. You are an heir of Yahweh, and joint heir with Yahshua. We, true Christians, must grow and develop spiritually to enter into a new world, the Kingdom and Family of Yahweh and Yahshua. We pray that we helped you understand the true Christian meaning of born again. Bless you. Shalom, Halleluyah!
