Born-again

I think these two words baffle most people and especially those that are full of religion and think they are right with God because they do good things like attending church and helping others, which sounds good but is not enough to be in right standing with God.  Feeling righteous because of the things that you do will never be good enough to get you a place in heaven!!  God’s Word says our righteousness is like filthy rags and means nothing as far as our standing with God is concerned.

This is what it says about this in Isaiah 64:6-7,

“But we are all like an unclean thing,

And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

We all fade as a leaf,

And our iniquities, like the wind,

Have taken us away.

And there is no one who calls on Your name,

Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;

For You have hidden Your face from us,

And have consumed us because of our iniquities.”   

When these verses were written, Israel was in devastating circumstances because of their sins and they finally admitted it, recognizing that they were spiritual lepers and their righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags.  It is very hard for religious men to accept this, but until they come to grips with this truth and repent, they will not be saved.  They are not alone, there are many self-righteous people today that fall into this same category, thinking they are going to get to heaven by their own righteousness.

The Word also says this in Romans 3:9-12,

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

As it is written:

There is none righteous, no, not one;

There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Neither Jews or Gentiles are superior to one another, which proclaim total depravity, man left on his own, will never seek God because he is spiritually dead.  This is the condition of man, totally lost going his way instead of God’s way.  

There were some self-righteous men in the days when Jesus walked the earth that were called Pharisees; they lived by the law, even making up many man-made laws to follow, thinking they were better than anyone else.  One of them came to Jesus by night; his name was Nicodemus who was said to have been one of the richest men in Jerusalem, who was a ruler of the Jews.  You can find his story in John 3:1-21.  This man came to Jesus secretly at night seeking some answers.  The first thing Jesus told this man was except a man is born- again he cannot see the kingdom of God.  This man knew about the Old Testament but it seems he didn’t know much about the Messiah.  Nicodemus must have been surprised when he heard Jesus say, “Ye must be born-again,” because he made this statement, “How can a man be born when he is old, can he enter into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus said this in John 3:5-8, “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. 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.”

Nicodemus’ response to these verses was, “how can these things be?”

Jesus responded this way in verse 10, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?”

Knowing the scriptures is very important, but knowing the Messiah personally is more important.  Jesus was crucified, died and was buried to bring salvation and spiritual renewal and rebirth to all who would receive it through faith.  Being born of water is a physical birth, being born of the Spirit is the work of God and cannot be fully explained; Jesus says it is like the wind, you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes.

The Word says this in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Also in Revelations 3:20 it says this, Jesus talking to the churches, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

If you are truly born-again, this verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 should be evident in your life, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

If you claim to be right with God and there has been no change in your life, then you better examine yourself to see if you are really in the faith.  If you would like this born-again experience, which is the only way you can be right with God, stop what you are doing and bow your head and ask the Lord to save you and to forgive your sins and to come into your life and take control.  Tell Him you are sorry for your sins and to cleanse you and wash you with His precious blood.  If you are tired of the life of sin, tell Him so and don’t be in a hurry, let the Lord’s peace, love and joy fill your soul, then go forth rejoicing.  Ask the Lord to lead you to the congregation He would want you to attend and then start growing spiritually.  Something to think about, have a super day and may God bless you and yours!!