Born Again

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

2 Corinthians 5: 17 NKJV 

Back in the day, my friends and I would take every chance we could get to challenge one another to one video game or another.  It was the dawning of the electronic age, and we were taking full advantage of it.  While we had fun, there were times when one of us would be losing so badly that he would quickly hit the reset button to start the game once again.  As I passed yet another birthday this week, I got to thinking about that reset button.  How many Christians out there long to reset the lives they have lived?  How many of us yearn to begin once again from the beginning?  To start from a place where our sins do not exist and our bad decisions and choices are a thing of the past.  I know I've often longed to begin again.  The apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth, reminded the believers there that they had the opportunity to begin life all over again.  To come to a place where all things are once again new.  This is the reconciliation which we find in Christ Jesus.  Paul proclaims that through Christ Jesus we are new creations {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  Is this indeed what Christians refer to as being "born again?"  Jesus tells us that we must be born of the water and the Spirit {John 3:5}.  Was He referring to the practice of baptism?  I disagree with this thinking, as baptism is a practice meant as a public testimony of ones acceptance of Christ.  Of course, folks who have read of the works of John the Baptist in scripture may disagree with me.  I'm not dismissing the importance of baptism, I just don't think that this is what Jesus was referring to in His water and Spirit verse.  Then again, I've been wrong before.  One thing is certain, Jesus absolutely claims that one cannot be born again without the Spirit.  For if we do not have the Spirit of Christ in us, how can we be born again?  Spirit of Christ in us?  Absolutely.  Paul teaches us that it is Jesus Himself who now resides in him {Galatians 2:20}.  Who can argue that Paul was born again?  Therefore, the Spirit of the Lord is essential to our rebirth.  

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."  Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"  Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit."

John 3: 1 - 6 NKJV 

The Pharisee Nicodemus was on a secret mission.  Coming to visit Jesus in the middle of the night, he obviously did not want to be seen by any of his comrades of the Pharisee order.  We know that Nicodemus knows that Jesus is of God, as this is he opens his conversation.  What is interesting is that Nicodemus uses the word "We" as he speaks to Jesus.  Obviously, the Jewish Pharisees knew that there was something special about Jesus as well.  Yet Nicodemus soon gets confused by the ages old born again discussion.  He asks Jesus how a man can be born again from his mothers womb {John 3:4}.  Nicodemus is thinking physically here.  His understanding is centered around the physical experience of birth.  Jesus explains to him that being born again is much more than that.  As Jesus proclaims, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" {John 3:6}.  I don't discount Christians for the continuing debate on the meaning of being born again.  However, one thing that is without question, without Christ Jesus there can be no rebirth.  Without Jesus there can not be a new creation.  

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" 

John 6: 63 NKJV 

~Scott~