The true meaning of being "born again"

[james1523]

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

To be born again means:

• to receive the Spirit of Jesus into our being and be joined to Him - 1 Cor 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
• to receive the Holy Spirit - Rom 8:15 but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” - Ezekial 36:27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
• to receive a new spirit - Ezekial 11:19 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
• to receive God's life. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

To be born again is to receive God's eternal life which is imparted into our being.
When we were born the first time, we received human life from our parents. When we are born the second time, we receive divine life from God.
The nature of receiving God's life is not to replace our human life, but for His life to be grafted and joined with our human life (John 15:5) to be come one spirit (1 Cor 6:17).
Before we were born again we only had a human nature, after we are born again we have both human and divine natures.
The nature of our regenerated spirit is not only human or divine, but both divine and human, yet not as a third entity called "divine-human".
It is best described as like iron in a fire. Iron symbolizes our human spirit, and fire symbolizes God's Spirit. When iron is put into fire, the iron glows. It appears both as iron and fire, yet it is not a new substance called "iron fire" - both human and divine elements can be clearly seen, and it is not a confusion or a mixture of substances - it is not a new mixture called "iron fire". The iron still appears as iron, and the fire still appears as fire, they do not change in form or substance. Without the fire (Holy Spirit) the iron is hard and cold, and in the fire (Holy Spirit) the iron is soft and hot. This is the nature of our born again regenerated spirit.
Just as Jesus Christ was both the Son of God due to being born of the Spirit, and also the Son of Man due to being born of Mary, Christians are also both sons of God and sons of men.

False teachings on this matter claim that by being born again the human part of us dies and only the Spirit, (divine) part remains (the human spirit is replaced by the Holy Spirit), or that the human part of us is renewed and healed but we do not receive God's divine life and become sons of God (the human spirit is made alive, but we have no divine life from God), or that both human spirit and God's Spirit becoming mixed and confused to create a third type of spirit (e.g. combining iron and carbon to create steel).

 

[RJ]

James, I find ourselves in complete agreement.
Especially John 3: 5-7 and specifically that you must be "Born Again"
A complete talk on being born again.

 

[judge not]

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

To be born again means:

• to receive the Spirit of Jesus into our being and be joined to Him - 1 Cor 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
• to receive the Holy Spirit - Rom 8:15 but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” - Ezekial 36:27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
• to receive a new spirit - Ezekial 11:19 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
• to receive God's life. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

To be born again is to receive God's eternal life which is imparted into our being.
When we were born the first time, we received human life from our parents. When we are born the second time, we receive divine life from God.
The nature of receiving God's life is not to replace our human life, but for His life to be grafted and joined with our human life (John 15:5) to be come one spirit (1 Cor 6:17).
Before we were born again we only had a human nature, after we are born again we have both human and divine natures.
The nature of our regenerated spirit is not only human or divine, but both divine and human, yet not as a third entity called "divine-human".
It is best described as like iron in a fire. Iron symbolizes our human spirit, and fire symbolizes God's Spirit. When iron is put into fire, the iron glows. It appears both as iron and fire, yet it is not a new substance called "iron fire" - both human and divine elements can be clearly seen, and it is not a confusion or a mixture of substances - it is not a new mixture called "iron fire". The iron still appears as iron, and the fire still appears as fire, they do not change in form or substance. Without the fire (Holy Spirit) the iron is hard and cold, and in the fire (Holy Spirit) the iron is soft and hot. This is the nature of our born again regenerated spirit.
Just as Jesus Christ was both the Son of God due to being born of the Spirit, and also the Son of Man due to being born of Mary, Christians are also both sons of God and sons of men.

False teachings on this matter claim that by being born again the human part of us dies and only the Spirit, (divine) part remains (the human spirit is replaced by the Holy Spirit), or that the human part of us is renewed and healed but we do not receive God's divine life and become sons of God (the human spirit is made alive, but we have no divine life from God), or that both human spirit and God's Spirit becoming mixed and confused to create a third type of spirit (e.g. combining iron and carbon to create steel).

The born again analogy has always been a tricky issue.
Jesus says in John 3:6 -" that which is born of the flesh is flesh -conversion while still human-that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit-the time of the spiritual resurrection.
After baptism and conversion and the indwelling of the HS are we still flesh?-yes. This is the 1st stage of God's transforming power.
At the time of the 1st resurrection when Christ returns we are raised as spiritual beings-born of the spirit-this is the 2nd and final stage of being born again into the family of God.
It's ok, Nicodemus didn't understand it either. But we can
There has to be a change from mortal -flesh and blood- to immortal-spirit- according to Jesus.

 

[james1523]

The born again analogy has always been a tricky issue.
Jesus says in John 3:6 -" that which is born of the flesh is flesh -conversion while still human-that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit-the time of the spiritual resurrection.
After baptism and conversion and the indwelling of the HS are we still flesh?-yes. This is the 1st stage of God's transforming power.
At the time of the 1st resurrection when Christ returns we are raised as spiritual beings-born of the spirit-this is the 2nd and final stage of being born again into the family of God.
It's ok, Nicodemus didn't understand it either. But we can
There has to be a change from mortal -flesh and blood- to immortal-spirit- according to Jesus.

Yes there is also the resurrection and transfiguration of the body which is also a born again experience. My original post addressed only the change which takes place in the spirit at first belief in Christ.
Actually there are 3 times a believer is born again, first at believing, secondly over their life time (as a process) and finally the change from mortal to immortal body. These three experiences correspond to entering the 3 stages of the kingdom of Heaven- the spiritual and invisible kingdom of Heaven, the psychological and invisible kingdom of Heaven, and the physical and visible kingdom of Heaven.

 

[judge not]

Yes there is also the resurrection and transfiguration of the body which is also a born again experience. My original post addressed only the change which takes place in the spirit at first belief in Christ.
Actually there are 3 times a believer is born again, first at believing, secondly over their life time (as a process) and finally the change from mortal to immortal body. These three experiences correspond to entering the 3 stages of the kingdom of Heaven- the spiritual and invisible kingdom of Heaven, the psychological and invisible kingdom of Heaven, and the physical and visible kingdom of Heaven.

How does that equate with Revelation's description of the Kingdom of God setting up His throne on earth with the saints to rule over all nations Rev 5:10 ?
Will the Kingdom of heaven be on earth or will it be in the 3rd heaven where the Father and Son are residing now?

 

[james1523]

How does that equate with Revelation's description of the Kingdom of God setting up His throne on earth with the saints to rule over all nations Rev 5:10 ?
Will the Kingdom of heaven be on earth or will it be in the 3rd heaven where the Father and Son are residing now?

Most interpret "kingdom of heaven" to mean the place called heaven where the Father and Son dwell, when it does not mean that. Heaven refers to the kingdom's nature not its location. This is proved by the Kingdom of heaven drawing near to those on Earth when John the Baptist came (Matt 3:2), yet the kingdom of heaven was not yet manifested, and will not be manifested until the millennial kingdom.

The Kingdom of heaven is the heavenly part of the millennial kingdom which will be on Earth. The millennial Kingdom will have both an Earthly part and a Heavenly part. In the Earthly part is the Messianic Kingdom, the kingdom of the Son (Matt 13:31), the restored kingdom of David (Acts 15:16). In the Earthly part the saved remnant of Israel will be priests to teach the nations to worship God (Zech 8:20-23). The kingdom of heaven is the heavenly part, also known as the Kingdom of the Father (Matt 13:43), and in this heavenly part the overcoming saints will rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years (Rev 5:10, Rev 20:4,6). The saved yet unfaithful Jews and the non-overcoming Gentile believers will be thrown out of the kingdom and miss out on participating in it due to failing to walk the narrow way (Matt 8:12, Luke 13:24-30).

Many Christians are called to participate in the millennial kingdom however few Christians will be chosen to do so (Matt. 22:13-14, Matt 7:21), because many do not have the wedding garment (Matt. 22:13-14), which is the surpassing degree of moral righteousness, that Jesus said we need to have to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven..the heavenly part of the millennial kingdom of God on Earth (Matt 5:20).

Most, due to wrongly interpreting "kingdom of heaven" as the place called heaven, think that these things refers to eternal salvation from hellfire when in fact it refers to participation in the millennial kingdom on Earth, which is a special reward given to faithful and righteous saints.

It should be noted that to achieve the standard of righteousness required to enter the Kingdom of heaven is not by works or our own righteousness, but by living out by faith, the righteousness of Christ in our daily living, to be found "in Christ" (Phil 3:9-10), by abiding in Christ (John 15) and obeying the Law of the Spirit to regulate our living (Rom 8:2). This is what Jesus meant by seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness (Matt 6:33). To enter into His Kingdom, we need the surpassing righteousness that comes from Him. This is what Christ told us to seek first, instead of worrying about and seeking our physical needs. When Jesus said seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness in Matt 6:33, it means pretty much the same thing as to strive to enter the narrow door in Luke 13:24, and to "put on a wedding garment" which we need to participate in the enjoyment and feasting of the kingdom. If we live such a righteous life and aim to enter the kingdom of heaven, then the Father will take care of all our physical needs .c.f. Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

[B-A-C]

The kingdom of heaven can mean multiple things.

For example Christians can have a "membership" in the kingdom of heaven while they are on earth. ( Matt 5:3; Matt 5:10; Matt 6:33; Matt 7:21; Matt 11:12; etc... )
Heaven is a spiritual/physical/metaphysical place. The Father and Jesus are in heaven right now. ( Matt 19:28; Matt 23:22; Acts 7:49; Heb 8:1; etc... )
The New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven. Some people say the New Jerusalem is the same thing as heaven, but either way it's still a "place". (Rev 3:12; Rev 21:2; etc.. )
This appears to be slightly different from the kingdom of God. ( Matt 12:28; Matt 21:43; Mark 4:26; Mark 4:30; etc... )

There has been a lot of discussion about this in the past.
Some Christians will reign with Jesus in the kingdom ( 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 2:26; Rev 20:6; Rev 22:5; etc... )
Reign over who? The nations... there has been a lot of discussion about who the nations are as well.
( Rev 15:4; Rev 19:15; etc... )
So who are these people? Some believe "lesser Christians" who have not attained their full rewards that God had prepared for them.
Some believe these are non-Christians who ares still alive after the millennial reign.
( Rev 20:7-10; ) We know Satan will gather a great multitude of people ( like the sands of the earth ) to war against Christ and the saints.
(This is after the millennial reign).
It seems that those who are dead will be judged ( Rev 20:11-15; )
But it's possible some people will still be alive.
In Rev 21:27; it seems to indicate there will still be people who can practice abominations, and lie.
In Rev 22:11; It seems to say let those who are doing evil during this time keep on doing evil.
Rev 22:15; says that outside the city are sorcerers, immoral, murderers, liars, idolators, (this is after the great throne judgment)
Are these the ones Christ and some saints will will reigning over?
In Rev 22:2; it says the leaves of the tree of life are there for "the healing of the nations". If there is no more pain and sickness for those in heaven
who are these people who still need healing?
Many people believe that these people will be ruled by the "kingdom of heaven/Christ" but they won't voluntarily submit to him yet.
Some people these people are simply the ones who believed and there fore received eternal life, however they didn't live Godly/sanctified lives
so even though they are saved from the lake of fire, they still aren't worthy to enter into the New Jerusalem.

For the saints (true believers) who have been resurrected, they get new Glorified bodies. It seems these will somehow be different from our earthly bodies,
yet we will still be recognizable as who we were before. This part of what happens "after" we are born again however
being born again for the most part is simply dying to the old fleshly self and being raised again in Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit.
(a new creature, a new creation, clothed with Christ, etc...) while we are on earth we still have the same fleshly body, but we have a new spirit within us
a spirit of love, humility, compassion, etc...

 

[james1523]

In Rev 21:27; it seems to indicate there will still be people who can practice abominations, and lie.
In Rev 22:11; It seems to say let those who are doing evil during this time keep on doing evil.
Rev 22:15; says that outside the city are sorcerers, immoral, murderers, liars, idolators, (this is after the great throne judgment)
Are these the ones Christ and some saints will will reigning over?
In Rev 22:2; it says the leaves of the tree of life are there for "the healing of the nations". If there is no more pain and sickness for those in heaven
who are these people who still need healing?

You are right that there are many varied opinions and teachings about this. When Christ comes to rule for 1000 years on the Earth, he with the saints will rule over the nations. But a part of these nations will rebel against him for a final time at the end of 1000 years. These will be cast into the lake of fire. The nations who do not rebel, will comprise the nations outside of New Jerusalem in the new earth. In the time of the New Jerusalem, on the New Earth, I believe that the nations will be resurrected to receive their mortal bodies of flesh. To survive, these need to eat the tree of life, as God also originally intended for mankind in the Garden of Eden. These are the ones that the Christians, with immortal bodies, will rule over. I don't think there is any evil doers outside the city except those in the lake of fire. Those evildoers outside the city, are those in the lake of fire, which is the giant trash can outside the city.

 

[DieAmartyr]

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

To be born again means:

• to receive the Spirit of Jesus into our being and be joined to Him - 1 Cor 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
• to receive the Holy Spirit - Rom 8:15 but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” - Ezekial 36:27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
• to receive a new spirit - Ezekial 11:19 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
• to receive God's life. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

To be born again is to receive God's eternal life which is imparted into our being.
When we were born the first time, we received human life from our parents. When we are born the second time, we receive divine life from God.
The nature of receiving God's life is not to replace our human life, but for His life to be grafted and joined with our human life (John 15:5) to be come one spirit (1 Cor 6:17).
Before we were born again we only had a human nature, after we are born again we have both human and divine natures.
The nature of our regenerated spirit is not only human or divine, but both divine and human, yet not as a third entity called "divine-human".
It is best described as like iron in a fire. Iron symbolizes our human spirit, and fire symbolizes God's Spirit. When iron is put into fire, the iron glows. It appears both as iron and fire, yet it is not a new substance called "iron fire" - both human and divine elements can be clearly seen, and it is not a confusion or a mixture of substances - it is not a new mixture called "iron fire". The iron still appears as iron, and the fire still appears as fire, they do not change in form or substance. Without the fire (Holy Spirit) the iron is hard and cold, and in the fire (Holy Spirit) the iron is soft and hot. This is the nature of our born again regenerated spirit.
Just as Jesus Christ was both the Son of God due to being born of the Spirit, and also the Son of Man due to being born of Mary, Christians are also both sons of God and sons of men.

False teachings on this matter claim that by being born again the human part of us dies and only the Spirit, (divine) part remains (the human spirit is replaced by the Holy Spirit), or that the human part of us is renewed and healed but we do not receive God's divine life and become sons of God (the human spirit is made alive, but we have no divine life from God), or that both human spirit and God's Spirit becoming mixed and confused to create a third type of spirit (e.g. combining iron and carbon to create steel).

Baptism by Water, Fire or Spirit is how I understand it.