15/06/2010

BE BORN AGAIN

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3

This is the first time the word born again appeared in the bible, also again Jesus said verily, verily or truly, truly or most certainly I say unto you, this is to say that being born again is very important. So what is the word born again, what does it mean to be born again and how can someone become born again.

In explaining what born again is, we allow the scripture interpret itself by using scriptures to interpret scriptures. When Jesus was explaining what it means to be born again He said further in the verse 5 of the same chapter we are considering, 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. Though still ambiguous, we will only be able to understand what Christ was saying by considering what other passages says about being born again, and also water and Spirit which we will consider individually and closely.

Being born of water Before I say what being born of water is, I will like to say what it is not, being born of water is not water baptism as many believes. Whenever the bible talks about water it always means the word of God or people. Firstly we look at the word as water, Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, 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. The bible says Christ gave Himself to the church and cleanse her with the washing of the word, it is very clear that when we were sinners, we were very dirty and filthy and for us to come into Christ, we needed to be washed and cleansed, so when Christ was saying that to be born again means we need to be born of water, He was saying we needed to be cleansed of our filth and the water for cleansing our filthiness is His word, which is why He tells His disciples in the book of John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you and also in the same book of John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth, and we’ll see it clearly in the book of 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. This is the second time the word born again appeared in the bible and it clearly says that being born again is by the word of God which lives and abide forever.

The bible also talk of water as meaning people, in Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the LovePeddler sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Narrowing it down, people are made of group of individuals and that individual is Christ who started another race (Born Again people), invariably to be born again means to be born of God or Christ Jesus. John 1:1 says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Christ is the word of God, so when He says to be born again means to be born of water, He’s saying you must be born of Christ or born of God. James 1:21 …………. and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Peter talks about the imperishable seed which is the word and James now talking about receiving the implanted word which is able to save your soul, the word which is the seed is the seed of Christ or of God which is planted in you as you receive the word of God in you which makes you born again, so to be born again or to be born of water means that you have the seed of God in you which makes you part of God’s family because it is the seed that differentiate the believer(Born again) from the unbeliever and makes us property of God.
Being born of Spirit Being born of the Spirit simply means being born of the Holy Spirit of God or being born of the Holy Ghost. But before I continue I will like us to know that being born of the Holy Spirit is not baptism of the Holy Ghost as many have come to believe, it is a different thing all together (Which is beyond the scope of this write up). In the verse 6 of the book of John 3 we are considering, Jesus said that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, which can also be translated as flesh given birth to flesh and Spirit given birth to Spirit. Going back to the Garden of Eden, God told man that In the day you eat from the tree in the middle of the garden thou shall surely die, but we clearly saw from the scripture after man ate the fruit he didn’t die. God did not mean that man will die physically but spiritually which was exactly what happened when man ate of that fruit, man was lost in the spirit, so right from then till date when man gives birth, he gives birth according to flesh because he has fallen from the realm of the spirit. When Jesus says flesh gives birth to flesh, He meant being given birth to naturally, and Spirit given birth to spirit, means being born spiritually John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We know that God is a spirit and also created us spirits who has a soul and lives in a body, so when our spirit man died (separated from God) He desired to reinstate us. And the only way to do that was to quicken our dead spirit, which can only be done when we are born again by the Holy Ghost, so being born of the Spirit means the Holy Ghost coming into us, quickening (making alive) your spirit and living in you forever. God gives birth to us by His Spirit because His Spirit gives birth to or quickens our spirit, so when He says Spirit gives birth to spirit, he meant He’s Spirit given birth to or quickening our spirit, to be born again means you have the Holy Ghost living in you because His word says in the book of Romans 8:9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, the bible also said He has given us His Spirit as a guarantee or foretaste of that which is to come, the Holy Ghost is a crest or mark on every born again or believer. When the bible talks about the Holy Spirit, He also means seed 1 John 3:9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. We see here that God plant His seed (Spirit) in us just as He planted His word in us. His Spirit and His word are both interwoven and can’t be separated, which means you can’t be born again without the word or the Spirit, or even separately. One more interesting thing about being born again, the bible says as a result of the seed which is the Holy Ghost, one who is born again has the ability not to sin because the Holy Ghost remains in Him.

To be born again, all you need to do is to invite Jesus into your heart as your lord and personal savior, believing in your heart and confessing Him with your mouth. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

In conclusion, what it means to be born again or born of God is to be born of water which is the word of God and to be born of the spirit which is to be born of the Holy Ghost. Being born again also means the ability not to live or continue in sin, because the Holy Spirit provides the empowerment not to do so and to be spiritually minded.

This is true, I hope this opens many people's understanding about salvation. @pastor olu T where does holy ghost baptism come in ?

Secret_Dreams: This is true, I hope this opens many people's understanding about salvation. @pastor olu T where does holy ghost baptism come in ?

I pray so myself, HolyGhost baptism has nothing to do with being bornagain but service in the kingdom.

When we get bornagain the HolyGhost comes within us (which is the spirit within) 'cos without the spirit we cant be bornagain, n we'll not be able to serve in the kingdom as we ought to, so there is need for baptism of the HolyGhost (spirit upon).

The spirit within us produces the fruit of the spirit as found in Galatian 5:22-23, while the spirit upon us produces the gift of the HolyGhost for service as found in 1Corinthians 12.

Space would not permit me to do justice here, I enjoin u to read my write up on evangelism 3 power to witness, I will also open a thread on baptism of the HolyGhost to do thorough study on it.

Happy Sunday, stay blessed n remain rapturable

Pastor Olu T:

I pray so myself, HolyGhost baptism has nothing to do with being bornagain but service in the kingdom.

When we get bornagain the HolyGhost comes within us (which is the spirit within) 'cos without the spirit we cant be bornagain, n we'll not be able to serve in the kingdom as we ought to, so there is need for baptism of the HolyGhost (spirit upon).

The spirit within us produces the fruit of the spirit as found in Galatian 5:22-23, while the spirit upon us produces the gift of the HolyGhost for service as found in 1Corinthians 12.

Space would not permit me to do justice here, I enjoin u to read my write up on evangelism 3 power to witness, I will also open a thread on baptism of the HolyGhost to do thorough study on it.

Happy Sunday, stay blessed n remain rapturable

yeah That's true, most people believes its a major criteria for entry into God's kingdom. I'll be waiting for your thread on Holy ghost baptism. Thanks. Shalom !

Secret_Dreams: yeah That's true, most people believes its a major criteria for entry into God's kingdom. I'll be waiting for your thread on Holy ghost baptism. Thanks. Shalom !

Yeah but before then do read the one I suggested (evangelism3 power to witness), for that too is comprehensive enough.

Thanks for the epistle.

I dont need to be born-again. I wanna grow up

Pastor Olu T:

Yeah but before then do read the one I suggested (evangelism3 power to witness), for that too is comprehensive enough.

I've gone through it, dropped a comment too. Thanks

FOLYKAZE: Thanks for the epistle.

I dont need to be born-again. I wanna grow up

Like seriously are u paid to do this on NL?
BE CAREFUL, FOR IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT FIRE UNDER YOUR CLOTH N NOT GET BURNT!

Pastor Olu T:

Like seriously are u paid to do this on NL?
BE CAREFUL, FOR PUT FIRE UNDER HIS CLOTH N NOT GET BURNT!

Heat is needed for the body. Grow up

FOLYKAZE:

Heat is needed for the body. Grow up

Wiegraf, don't troll pastor Olu, please leave him alone.

Yooguyz:

Wiegraf, don't troll pastor Olu, please leave him alone.

Hey mr.....you got two different name here. Troll and wiegraf. Im not any pls.

What happen to your spiritual vision? Go and pray so that God reveal to ya that im FOLYKAZE

Secret_Dreams: I've gone through it, dropped a comment too. Thanks

Kk, will definitely gettin touch

Pastor Olu T:

Kk, will definitely gettin touch

thanks, can u open a thread on 'demons in modern day christianity', I've been curious about it for some days now, would have opened it myself but I feel u might know more about it.

Secret_Dreams: thanks, can u open a thread on 'demons in modern day christianity', I've been curious about it for some days now, would have opened it myself but I feel u might know more about it.

Would love to for that will b an eye opener for us all n in the Christendom, bt I am so tight right now. May be u open it n I will make adequate contributions.

Pastor Olu T:

Would love to for that will b an eye opener for us all n in the Christendom, bt I am so tight right now. May be u open it n I will make adequate contributions.

yeah, it will be an eye opener. No problem, I'll try opening it. Shalom !

Secret_Dreams: yeah, it will be an eye opener. No problem, I'll try opening it. Shalom !

Kk, will be looking forward to it, I also have some interesting threads/teachings I will be opening.

Pastor Olu T:

Kk, will be looking forward to it, I also have some interesting threads/teachings I will be opening.

okay, looking forward to them already

Secret_Dreams: okay, looking forward to them already

I have made three new threads already this morning, peruse the teachings n be blessed bro.

Stay blessed n remain rapturable

Holiness is not an outward display but a thing of the heart, but interestingly enough that which is in the heart can't remain hidden but manifest with time.

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

Hebrews 12:14

Stay blessed and remain rapturable

U must be bornagain or u go to Hell, salvation is important than any desire!

Is this harsh? I am just dropping it as its hot!

Are you prepared for the second coming of Jesus?

Spending unique quality time in the presence of the Father daily to pray and read the bible, will keep one spiritually inclined and alert!

Stay blessed and remain rapturable

Thanks sir, i must confess that am always bless and refreshed by ur threads n posts on NLAND..thank God for ur type.

Pls sir,can u open a thread on backslider or backslidin n its traits?..cos alot has derailed and need be re.directed...some are so used to the scipture n merely practicing Religion but lack the power thereof..or probably living on past glory..of which i was once a victim..but God's mercies saved me..thnks to brother Gbile Akani's book..the costly mistake.. Pls i will be hapi if u culd help on that.

ebenice: Thanks sir, i must confess that am always bless and refreshed by ur threads n posts on NLAND..thank God for ur type.

Pls sir,can u open a thread on backslider or backslidin n its traits?..cos alot has derailed and need be re.directed...some are so used to the scipture n merely practicing Religion but lack the power thereof..or probably living on past glory..of which i was once a victim..but God's mercies saved me..thnks to brother Gbile Akani's book..the costly mistake.. Pls i will be hapi if u culd help on that.

Thank God n bless u too bro, bro Gbile is one man I admire also n its glad to know u read his books.

Concerning ur request, that would be next week 'cos my hands are already full this week.

Stay blessed n remain rapturable

As a bornagain, how does one know he's got the spirit of the Holy Ghost? Must one speak in tongues to know?

achi_cares: As a bornagain, how does one know he's got the spirit of the Holy Ghost? Must one speak in tongues to know?

U dont have to speak in tongues before u know if u have the spirit or not, the moment u gave ur life to Christ u had the spirit for without Him u cant be saved Romans 8:9.

But the way it is is there are different manifestation of the spirit, there is a spirit within (He came inside of u when u got saved for creating in u the fruit of the spirit to make u like Christ n it will remain with u till Jesus comes), and a spirit upon which is always with the manifestation of power n speaking in tongues which comes upon u for service in the Christendom.

I enjoin u to read my thread "Evangelism 3 Power to witness" for better understanding.

ebenice: Thanks sir, i must confess that am always bless and refreshed by ur threads n posts on NLAND..thank God for ur type.

Pls sir,can u open a thread on backslider or backslidin n its traits?..cos alot has derailed and need be re.directed...some are so used to the scipture n merely practicing Religion but lack the power thereof..or probably living on past glory..of which i was once a victim..but God's mercies saved me..thnks to brother Gbile Akani's book..the costly mistake.. Pls i will be hapi if u culd help on that.

I think u should read my thread on "salvation (spirit, soul and body)" that would also help till I do ur request!

We are in the last lap of our race on earth and would soon give accounts of our sojourneying on this side of eternity. The bible says we should be wise as serpent and gentle as a dove, also it says it is required in stewardship that a man be found faithful.

Let us all arise from our slumbering and receive the light and life of Christ running with focus and perseverance the final lap of the race we are called to!

Seeing wherefore brethren that we are compassed around with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us do away with every sin and weight which easily beset us, and running this race with perseverance that is set before us. Looking unto Christ the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was placed before Him endure the cross, despising the shame and has sat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Stay blessed and remain rapturable

There is more to this life than here and now, do not get too attached to this world that you lose eternity.

If you do not get married, build a house, own a car, or even get all that heart could wish on this side of eternity. Do not be perturbed for God has so much for you on the other side of eternity that you would not have been there one minute before asking yourself why you were so attached to the world.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

Stay blessed and remain remain rapturable