What “Born Again” Means

What does “Born Again” Really Mean?

John 1:10-13

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)

John 1:10–13

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Foundational Biblical Premise for an Individual to have an Eternal Relationship with God (to truly be a Christian) is: You must be “Born Again” to become a Child of God.

The “Right” to become Children of God

John 1:12-13

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

• All who Receive Him…

• All who Believe in His Name…

• These are given the “Right” to become Children of God

• These are “Born Again” by God’s Will.

Jesus’ Encounter with a Curious Religious Leader – “You must be Born Again.”

John 3:1–8

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

“Born Again” to the Living Hope of an Everlasting Imperishable Inheritance

1 Peter 1:3–5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Family Love for those Born Again

1 Peter 1:22–23

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

There are Two Parts of “New Birth”

Part 1. Belief in “the Gospel”:

• A Personal belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ’s payment of our sins for the Redemption of our souls (before God) through the Shedding of His Blood and Sacrifice of His Life on the Cross – believing in Jesus Christ’s Death, Burial, and Bodily Resurrection from the dead.

• Believing these events as revealed in the Bible is known as believing “the Gospel”.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures….

Again, a Personal Belief that:

o Jesus Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the Scriptures.

o That He was buried.

o That He was raised on the third day – in agreement with the Scriptures.

John 3:16–18

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

The Old Testament Picture: The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12)

“When I see the Blood, I will pass over you!” Ex. 12:13 & 23

Romans 10:9–13

9 … If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Belief in the Redemptive power of Jesus Christ is necessary because of the Blood of Jesus Christ – the sinless “Lamb of God”. For it is only through Christ’s blood we can have the forgiveness of our sins and restoration of our broken relationship with a Holy God.

Belief in Christ, the Passover Lamb and His Blood Sacrifice, gives those who receive Him and believe in Him for salvation, “The Right” to be Born Again into God’s Eternal Family.

John 1:12-13

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood (heritage) nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 2:12–13

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

1 Peter 1:18–19

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Christ’s Death to give us “The Right” of Eternal Life was a mystery from the beginning of creation in order to allow the completion of the Divine sacrifice…

1 Corinthians 2:7–8

7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Redemption by the Blood of Christ – through the Eternal Spirit

Hebrews 9:11–15

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance….

Up to this point in human history, with the Old Testament sacrificial system, there was no possibility of “New Birth” or being “Born Again”, because the sinless Blood of the Lamb of God had not been shed to give atonement, so sinful mankind could be Redeemed.

Through Christ’s Redemptive and Sacrificial Death, we have “The Right” to become Children of God, and it is then through the power of the Holy Spirit, that we have “New Birth” and become transformed to be Children of God.

Part 2. “New Birth” transformation takes place through the power of the Holy Spirit

Have you ever wondered why there is such an emphasis on the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts? Why did the Holy Spirit reveal His Special Presence just following Christ’s death and resurrection – at the Feast of Pentecost?

The book of Acts evidences at least four occurrences of the revelation of the Holy Spirit’s coming on different groups of people.

• Representatives of the Jewish nation (Acts 2), which, up to that time, was God’s chosen representatives to bring His light to the world (Isaiah 49:6).

• Representatives of the believing Gentiles (Acts 10:44-47; 11:15-18).

• Representatives of those who repented of their sins with the baptism of John the Baptist (Acts 19:1-7).

• Representatives of those who were outcasts both to the Jews and Gentiles (repentant Samaritans – John 4) who had been baptized in Jesus’ name before the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).

When the leadership of the church in Jerusalem heard of this, their response was not an emphasis on the sign gifts, but on the revelation that God was giving even the Gentiles the opportunity of “repentance that leads to life” – quite a change to what they had been taught and believed previously!

Acts 11:17–18

17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The Coming of the Holy Spirit, at Pentecost, revealed to the Jewish people that salvation was open to all who repent, believe and receive Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit came to transform those who believe in Jesus Christ, to be Children of God!

The Old Testament’s “Symbolic Pictures” of New Testament Salvation and Spiritual Transformation:

o The Feast of Passover (on the Friday) – “When I see the Blood, I will pass over you!”

o The Feast of Firstfruits (Sunday morning) (Lev. 23:9-21) The beginning of Harvest – the Firstfruits of Harvest celebrated (Christ’s Resurrection)

o Then 50 days later at the completion of the harvest time, is the Feast of Ingathering also known as the Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15; Acts 2:1), when the Holy Spirit came on those who were believers in Christ.

The Primary Reason for the Holy Spirit’s Coming?

The primary reason for the Coming of the Holy Spirit was for Transformation and Regeneration of those who Believed on and Received Christ…in New Birth, so human beings corrupted by sin could be “Born Again” to be Children of the Most High God!

Titus 3:4–7

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

John 7:37–39

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Romans 8:9 &11

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him….

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

1 Corinthians 6:19

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

2 Timothy 1:13–14

13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, those who believe in Christ and had “The Right” of eternal life, were now given the opportunity to experience “New Birth”, and be “Born Again” through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

The Mystery of “Christ in you” – accomplished through “New Birth” by the power of the Holy Spirit…

Colossians 1:26–27

26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Holy Spirit could not transform through New Birth before there was a Redemptive Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit Came at the Feast celebrating the completion of the harvest – the fullness of time.

There was no “New Birth” or “Born Again” prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

How do I “receive” Christ?

I receive Christ by:

1. Understanding and accepting the Biblical facts that Jesus died for my sin and He is the only one who has the power to forgive my sins before God.

2. By asking Christ to come into my life, to cleanse my sin by His blood and to live in my life by His Holy Spirit.

3. When Christ comes into our life, by the Holy Spirit, our life is “regenerated” – reborn, and transformed through what the Scripture calls, “New Birth”, or being “Born Again”.

Jesus Christ came “In the Fullness of Time”.

There could be no “New Birth” until the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ was sacrificed and His blood gave atonement for sinful mankind to be Redeemed.

How do I know I have been “Born Again”?

My life has been changed.

• I have a desire to know God.

• I have a desire to repent of sin.

• I have a desire to obey God’s Word.

• I have a desire to be around others who believe as I do.

• I have a desire to share with others what God has done in my life through Christ.

•I have a longing to see Christ return.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 John 5:1–13

Those who believe in Jesus Christ, through faith – who are born of God, overcome the world (overcome its destructiveness, its depravity, and its death).

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? …

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Conclusion

The Foundational Biblical Premise for an Individual to have an Eternal Relationship with God (to truly be a Christian) is: You must be “Born Again” to become a Child of God.

Belief in Christ, the Passover Lamb and His Blood Sacrifice, gives those who receive Him and believe in Him for salvation, “The Right” to be Born Again into God’s Eternal Family.

John 1:12-13

Does your life evidence the transformation of “New Birth” by the Holy Spirit?

“Just as I am, without one plea,

but that Thy blood was shed for me,

and that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

• I know I have sinned against you.
• I do not deserve salvation, but instead I deserve judgment and hell. I repent of my sin.
• You have given me the hope of eternal life, through the Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ.
• I believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood and died for me on the cross, to cleanse my sin.
• I believe that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
• I ask you that the Blood of Your Son, Jesus cleanse me and wash away my sin so I can enter in to Your Holy Presence.
• I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.
• I receive the gift of eternal life that you offer me so freely, through Christ.
• I ask that Your Holy Spirit’s Presence to fill me and transform me by New Birth so that I am Born Again into Your Family.
• I love You and I want to serve You with my life – all that I am and all that I hope to be.
• Thank You for making me Your Child and giving me the hope of eternal life!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“Just as I am, and waiting not

to rid my soul of one dark blot,

to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”