Have You Been Born Again

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Jesus' said to Nicodemus, Verily I say unto you, ye must be born again. Except ye be born of water and the Spirit ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of God. Have you received that new birth?

This is one of the MUSTS of the Bible. Better look.

 

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The New BIRTH

"Jesus answered and said unto him... Except a man be born again (margin, 'from above") he cannot see the kingdom of God". John 3:5

Many sermons have been preached on the above subject, and it has been handled in many ways with different interpretations, but there is but one way that is right, and that is the way of truth.

The above passage is taken from a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. The latter had come to Jesus for an interview, but being a person of some importance in his circle of acquaintances he came by night, evidently not wishing to be seen by too many people coming to this Nazarene

Jesus perceived this in Nicodemus and at once began to tell Nicodemus that he was in no shape to profit by the kingdom of God without a change of attitude towards that which he sought. No one can profit through the message which Jesus preached without humbling himself and undergoing a change of spirit or regeneration.

"Jesus answered.. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

In this remark Jesus explains something of the nature of this birth, then following He stated:

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit."

There are many people today who still do not understand that it is the spirit of man which needs this new birth and they undertake to explain this by holding that this flesh has to be born a spirit or a spirit being. Not so; for Jesus was not concerned about the flesh of Nicodemus, the spirit of the man was not humble, but proud, and it needed a regeneration, so that he would not be ashamed to be seen coming to Jesus and speaking to him.

With such an idea in mind, many have concluded that this new birth consists of being baptized in water and then completing the process through resurrection from the dead, at which time we become spirit beings.

This idea is further fostered through offering verse

8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hear-est the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit,"

Proponents of this theory then show that Jesus was able, after his resurrection from the dead, to appear and disappear, etc. All this might have some: weight of argument but for the fact that Jesus was not a spirit being even after His resurrection~ See Luke 24:39,

"a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have." Further to prove that he was not a spirit ,He ate broiled fish and honeycomb.

Now, if Jesus Himself was not a spirit after His resurrection from the dead, and if we are to be like Him after our own resurrection from the dead, why do we claim that being born of the Spirit makes a spirit of us?

Jesus did not say, That which is born of the Spirit BECOMES A SPIRIT; but He said that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT. In other words, He was trying to tell Nicodemus that it is not the flesh that is born of the Spirit, but the spirit of man that needs to be born again, or born from above. This spirit of man has to be born of the Spirit of God. The flesh cannot be born of the Spirit, for they are materially different in character, but the spirit of man can be and must be regenerated before he can enter the kingdom of God.

In another place Jesus told the people that

"Except ye be converted and become as a little child, ye cannot see the kingdom of God."

Do you not see the similarity between these statements? The child of humble spirit and obedient, pure, and chaste, is an example of character which is necessary for us to enter the kingdom. Jesus also said,

"Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

This shows the character of men who are worthy of the kingdom, and because Nicodemus had a proud spirit, he was told that he would have to suffer a regeneration of the spirit, or as some would call it, he would have to have a change of heart.

It is interesting to note that this man was one of the two who came arid begged the body of Jesus after He was crucified. We believe that he had undergone this change by this time, for he certainly took the unpopular side in this effort, having been humbled in spirit so as not to be ashamed of Jesus.

One commentator on this subject concluded that Nicodemus would have to be born twice again; once of the water, by baptism, and then again through the resurrection This could not be true, for Jesus did not tell Nicodemus that he would have to be born again and again.

Following the same line of reasoning, one would have to be baptized three times, once in the name of the Father, once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Spirit, according to Matt. 28:19.

But Jesus told this man that he would have to be born again, of water and the Spirit. There are two things involved in this new birth, just as there are two people involved in the birth of a child. The flesh is in the natural birth, the product of two parents, and the birth of the spirit involves both the water and the Spirit of God.

Now if we can from the scriptures bring the proof of what we contend, that should be sufficient reason for our conclusion·

'But," says one, '1Doesn't the Scripture say that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom? How then, could we get into the kingdom without becoming spirit beings?"

I am sorry to say that many uninformed people make the above contention, and many well intending ministers will misquote the above scripture just that way; but if the reader will take the time to look this scripture up and read it, you will find that it does not say that.

1 Cor. 15:50 "flesh and blood cannot INHERIT the kingdom of God.." Now to inherit a thing and to enter a thing are two different things. Personally, I can enter the Woolworth Building in New York, but I could not inherit it because my flesh is not of the lineage of heirs to this building. What Paul was trying to say to these people was that we do not inherit the kingdom through the flesh as we inherit property.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth", but He was not referring to meek flesh. He was talking of them who have a meek spirit.

My children can inherit what property I might leave behind, but they cannot come into possession of the kingdom of God in the same manner, else we might allow that the Jews, who boasted that they had Abraham to their father, would be the ones to inherit the kingdom, but although they may make such a boast, and they might have come into possession of the Holy Land through such flesh inheritance, they cannot inherit the kingdom in the same way. They; too, must born again, of water and the Spirit, for their flesh availeth them nothing when we consider the great inheritance.

In view or the above remarks, it is expedient that we show from the scriptures how these things can be, and what Jesus meant by water and Spirit. When Jesus was speaking with the woman at the well, He said to her, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall- give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14

Now, what was the water he offered this woman? Was it water as she knew it, or was it the word of the living God?

The writer takes the position that this WATER which Jesus spoke of to the woman is the gospel, by which we are begotten.

In I Cor.4:15 we read, "...for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."

Let us go to John 1:l and read "In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God."

If the gospel which Jesus preached was the word of God, arid if the word was God, then the word of God or God is the: father, or begettal agent, which through. the gospel generates life everlasting within them who believe it.

In Romans 1:16 we read, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;…"

If the gospel is the power of God. unto salvation, and if through the gospel Paul begat the Corinthians, etc· Then would it not be a logical conclusion to say that the word of God was that water which Jesus offered to the woman which He said would spring up within her unto salvation?

I believe, then, that we have found the begettal agent, even the Father, and this water is the Word, or Father which begets us. spiritually, having nothing to do with the flesh whatsoever. Jesus said that the flesh is born of the flesh, but the spirit is that which is born of' the Spirit. Is not God a Spirit? John 4:24 Read it.

Now, when the word of God is planted in the heart of man, what is the result of it? John 6:45 shows that, "...Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned

SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCE

The reader may pass from these inside pages to page "12" for the continuity of the text of this treatise, but upon reconsideration of the matter, we believe that it would be well to give some evidence to be found in the Greek for them who desire to make a more thorough study of this subject

Some will insist that the passages used from place to place are not the same when we consider the Greek text: let us see. John 3:3 "Except a man be born again"

Margin "from above"

Greek-- "gennethe anothen"

Verse 4 How can a man be born"

Greek-- "genethenai"

Verse 5 "except a man be born"

Greek-- "gennethe"

Verse 6 "That which is born of the flesh

is flesh..."

Greek-- "gegennemenon" "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit..."

Greek-- "gegennemenon1'

Verse 7 "...ye must be born again"

Greek-- "gennethenai"

Verse 8 Is everyone that is born.."

Greek-- "gegennemenos"

John 1:13 "Which were born... of God"

Greek-- "hegennethesan"

I John 2:29 "...that doeth righteousness is born of him"

Greek-- "gegennetai

I John 3:9 "...is born of God doth not commit sin"

Greek-- "gegennemenos"

"...because he is born of God'1

Greek-- "gegennetai"

1 John 4:7 "...that loveth is born of God"

Greek-- "gegennetai"

Chapter 5:1 "...believeth...is born of God

Greek-- "gegennetai"

Same verse "... loveth. . .is begotten of him"

"gegennemenon"

Verse 4, "Whatsoever is born Of God.."

Greek-- "gegennemenon"

Verse 18 "Whosoever is born of God"

Greek--"gegennemenos"

Same verse, "...is begotten of God..."

Greek-- "g ennetheis"

Math. 11:11 & Luke 7:28 …"that are born of wornen

Greek-- "gennetois"

1 Peter 1:23, "being born again..."

Greek-- ‘haagegennemencoi"

Matt. 2:4 " where Christ should be born"

Greek-- "gennetai"

Now, in consideration of this matter, let us examine a few passages which have the same Greek word. Take the word "gennetai" in the Greek. We find it is used in Matt. 2:4 where it was asked where Christ should be born. This surely does not mean "where he should be begotten", then we must consider that the same functional process is indicated in some other passages where this word is found.

In our study we find that this word is preceded by the prefix "ge" in places where a rebirth is indicated, such as being born again. Wescott & Hort (lexicographer) state that this prefix is "an enclitic, throwing emphasis on the word to which it is subjoined. Thus "gennetai" is "born" while (gegennetai) would emphasize the birth or indicatea repetition of birth, "born again."

Now the word gegennetai occurs in the following passages:

"Marvel not that I say unto you that ye must be born again (gegennetai) ." John 3:7

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

"...he cannot sin, because he is born of God (gegennetai).

1 John 3:9

"...and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God (gegennetai)." ch 4:7

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. (gegennetai) ch 5:1

The word translated "begotten" from the Greek is usually "gene" or some form of it.

Here are some examples:

"Mono --genous" only begotten John 1:14

The prefix means "only one".

"mono-gene" only begotten" John 3:16

"mono-genes" only begotten, John 1:18

"hagennesa" I have begotten you. 1 Cor. 4:15

"hegennesai" I have begotten, Phn. 10

"mono-gene" Abraham offered up his Only Begotten

Son. Here we find Isaac the only begotten son of Abraham when he was offered up, but we do not believe that he was only in the embryo when he was offered . He was born and quite grown up, just as was Christ a man grown, though the only begotten son of God.

In Heb. 1:6 we find, "prototokon" translated "first born" as shown in the American Standard Version, and also in some Greek interlinear translations; but in the King James Version it is translated "first begotten"

In Rev. 1:5 we find this same word, "protokos" translated in the King James Version, "first begotten" in the passage, ...Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead." it is very plain to see that this passage should have been "first born".

For a better rendering of the Greek use of these words, or rather a more extended treatment, I refer you to an article on the subject in the Bible Advocate, Vol. 80, #5 by this same writer . The date of issue is February 4,1946, and a much lengthier discussion is found in that issue.

We trust that we have given enough in this treatise, however, to show you that, being born again is synonymous with regeneration of the individual. B.F. Marrs

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of the Father, cometh unto me."

The gospel, then, is the power in which God uses to draw men to Christ. It is the water which springs up within us unto life everlasting. It is the begettal agent. Now, as in natural life there can be abortion, so in this spirit process we may have abortion. The seed may be planted and still not spring into life because of reasons mentioned, or even though the seed sprouts, it may become unfruitful as is shown in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. Often the seed falls in infertile ground, among stones, or the fowl pick it up, or the weeds choke it out; but when the gospel finds fertility waiting, there is conception, and life begins within that person which springs up into everlasting life.

But as the natural birth requires a second agent, or mother, even so do we need a second element, in this spiritual birth or regeneration. This word, however is the begettal agent, just as the natural father is so in the natural process in the flesh.

In John 1:11-13 we read, "He came to his own and his own received him not. But as many-as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who 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." ' ': -

Please note that John said they WERE BORN.. Of God, not "Are yet to be BORN OF GOD".

In James 1:21 we read, "...and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls."

Here we find another proof that it is the word which is the begettal agent in the process of the new birth.

In 1 Peter 1:22,23 we read, " Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently; BEING BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God.,,"

Please note that Peter believed that we are born again by the word of God through the Spirit. He spoke to his readers as though they were already born again, of this incorruptible seed, which is the word of God.

Now what is the status, of them who are converted and brought to Christ? Are they not children, little children? See Matt. 18:3, "Except ye be' converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

In 2 Cor. 5:l7 we read ,Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

If a man is a new creature after conversion, then is it a matter of the flesh, or is it the spirit of him that has been regenerated? Please, let us forget about the flesh in this operation of the new birth and take Christ for what He said, that the flesh is born of the flesh and the spirit is born of the Spirit. It is the spirit of man that God is interested in, not his flesh. We retain the same flesh after conversion, but not the same spirit. We are possessed of the Spirit of God when we experience this regeneration. That is what makes us a new creature. So far as the flesh is concerned, no one could tell the difference, unless perhaps we might have had some unclean habits which defiled the flesh, and following this regeneration we clean up these filthy habits so that people would recognize that we are really a new man, both in speech and in habits.

I am not here saying that if some of these old filthy habits remain in us that we are not born again; but we might liken such a birth to a child born with a disease that makes them imperfect and in need of attention in order that such a blemish or handicap might be overcome.

Galatians 6:l5 also shows that if we are in Christ we become a new creature or creation. This is through the power of regeneration that makes of us a new man in Christ.

In I Peter 2:2 we read, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby,"

Peter did not say, "AS UNBORN BABES," but as NEWBORN BABES. Peter recognized the fact that there has been a new birth in the regeneration of our lives, or in conversion.

Conversion means a changing. This change is not a physical matter, but a spiritual matter, and this change is that new birth of which Christ spoke to Nicodemus

Suppose that we accept the theory that we are just begotten here in this life and not born until the resurrection. What would be our status as of the present?

We would be unborn babes, in the embryo, without a will of our own and lacking utterly in any responsibility.

Who, then, would be to blame if we do not make it through the resurrection in a saved condition? Don't you see how impossible it would be for us to take milk? What, then, could Peter have meant by admonishing us to take the sincere milk of the word? A child in the embryo cannot take milk. It has no mind of its own, it cannot grow in knowledge, nor into the stature of a man (Eph. 4:15) before birth.

In Titus 3:5 we read, "'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (through verse 7)

Here we find how we become heirs of the kingdom. It is not by reason of the flesh, but by this "regeneration" spoken of here, which is the new birth, a "rebirth". This is not the birth of the flesh, but the regeneration or rebirth of the spirit of the man, which makes us a new creature, with a new outlook on life 'and the 'humility and purity of a child new born.

In Romans 12:2 we read, "And be ye transformed (changed) through the renewing (regeneration) of your minds that ye may prove what that …"

But we meet with an objection that I John 3:9 says 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." I am asked if I can sin, The reply is NO. If you use the word "can" as meaning possible, then the answer might be different; but if you would ask a Christian to help you rob a bank, what would be his reply? "I cannot do that, for I am a Christian, and such a thing would be repulsive to me," Still, we must admit that there would be a possibility he could help rob the bank, but there is every probability that he WOULD NOT, FOR HE IS A CHILD OF GOD AND CANNOT Do SUCH THINGS,

To those of you who are prone to use this text to prove that we are not born of God because it is possible for us yet to sin, please read the 6th verse of the same chapter and tell me whether you know God, or whether you abide in Him. Then read verse 8 and tell me whether you are of God or of the devil.

Come, now, and let us reason together. If anyone would use one scripture to upset all we have shown you with regard to this being born again, it would be pitiful, when said scripture reasonably interpreted makes harmony with other and associated passages.

Now, let us summarize: The spiritual birth closely resembles in process the natural birth.

1) There is the begettal by the Father …Word

2) Born of the mother………………...Spirit

3) There is an outcry…………...…….Confession

4) Washed in clean water...…………..Baptism

5) Anointing of the infant…………….Holy Spirit

6) Mother's milk for growth………….Milk of the word

7) Into the stature of a man.. Stature of fullness in Christ.

It is the Spirit of God which brings us to birth in this rebirth. It nourishes and gives substance to the word by which we are begotten, just as a mother supplies nourishment for growth of the unborn child.

How beautiful, then, did Jesus explain this change which must come within us in saying,

"YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN"

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The above treatise can be substantiated through use of the Greek to show our point, but as not many of our readers know the Greek anyway, we feel that to have presented this subject as we have, it will be understood by them who are spiritually minded.

To them who have not experienced this new birth, let me remind you that Jesus made it a necessary part of your salvation. This is a MUST, for Jesus said

"YE MUST Be BORN AGAIN."

Sincerely Yours, Burt F. .Marrs

5O79 Steele Street

Denver 16, Colorado.

Are you ashamed of Jesus? Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. WHY?

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven; But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew l0:32-3, HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS

by

E. A. Hoffman

"Have you been to Jesus for His cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior 's side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?

Pure and white in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright?

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside your garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean: 0, be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Are you washed in the blood

In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"

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This treatise is addressed to them who have not yet been born again~vith a prayer that they will not delay this important step to God.

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Are you washed in the blood In the so~. c~ men

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~~ord.7)' Into the stature of a ffullness in Christ.

menhim ~ I confess also before my Father ~~ich

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