Born Again?



The term “born again” refers to a new beginning in the relationship between God and the person who is born again. (John 3:3, 7)


 God adopts those born again as his children. (Romans 8:15, 16; Galatians 4:5; 1 John 3:1) Similar to those who are legally adopted, they experience a change of status, becoming part of God’s family.2 Corinthians 6:18.

THE GREEK & “BORN AGAIN”
“Born again” starts with being begotten from above. Let’s look at the two words individually.

“Born” is the Greek gennao and in Yahshua’s teaching means the entire birth process – from the beginning at begettal to the ending at birth. Gennao is used in Matthew 1:20, where Joseph is told by the angel that Mary’s conception (gennao , begetting) is by the Holy Spirit.

“Again” is anothen and means: 1) from above, from a higher place; of things which come from heaven or Yahweh; 2) from the first, from the beginning.

We are begotten spiritually by the Word of truth, James 1:8 tells us. Yahshua uses the process of conception and growth of a baby to illustrate the same concept with a babe in the Word.

BORN IN THE FLESH

Well, think about it: What does a baby understand of the world when he is in the womb? Very, very little. There are some sounds and lights that get to the fetus, but do he understand them? No. Not until the baby is born does he start understanding the outside world. Jesus was saying that it’s the same thing in the spirit. When you are born again in the spirit, you’re being born into a spiritual world. God chooses those who will be born again, or anointed with holy spirit. According to the Bible, being born again “depends, not on a person’s desire or on his effort, but on God.” (Romans 9:16

The expression “born again” can also be rendered “born from above,” confirming that the selection of those who are born again comes “from above,” or from God.John 3:3 Then you start growing. A baby takes in everything, is curious about everything, and gets input from everyone around him, and slowly but surely grows. He starts learning about simpler things—simple shapes, mother’s milk—and gradually gets into more challenging things, like crawling, talking, reading, and eating solids. It’s the same thing with new Christians. After being “born again,” there is a lot to learn. This is why Peter says, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

BORN IN WATER

When Jesus discussed the subject, he said that those born again would be “born from water and spirit.” (John 3:5) This expression refers to baptism in water followed by baptism with Holy Spirit.Acts 1:5; 2:1-4.

BORN IN SPIRIT

Spiritually for the True Worshiper it starts at baptism, when a part of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands of the ministry to start the spiritual growth process. Paul said in 1Corinthians 1:22 that we are “…given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts.” He said again in 2Corinthians 5:5: “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] Elohim, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”

Earnest means down payment, from the Greek arrabon.
It is just the initial infusion of His Spirit. So long as the person does not quench the Spirit through sin, it will then develop and grow over time to create a fully developed Believer ready to be delivered by rebirth of that believer. He is at that time “born again.”

Jesus was the first person to be born again. He was baptized in the Jordan River, after which God anointed (or, baptized) him with Holy Spirit.
The path to salvation begins with repentance from past sins followed by water baptism and laying on of hands for the Holy Spirit.

To be born again we need power that comes down from above—from Yahweh Himself. And that power is the infusing of His Spirit. If this doesn’t happen, you cannot enter the Kingdom.

Paul had written in 1Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Master himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Elohim: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Master in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Savior.”
The process of spiritual maturity that started with repentance and water immersion ends with a miraculous transformation of a mind and heart, and from a physical human being into a spirit being at the return of Yahshua. He will raise His own at that time and reward them with a position in His kingdom.
“Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death had no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).

The Bible only uses the phrase “born again” (also translated as “born from above”), a couple more times outside of when Jesus initially explained it in John 31 Peter 1:3-5 1 Peter 1:23




WHY NICODEMUS COME TO TALK TO JESUS AT NIGHT TIME IN THE DARK?

Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospels;

FIRST TIME at John 3:2 during the night time at dark.

SECOND TIME at John 7:51 Nicodemus spoke up when the Pharisees were trying to find fault with Christ: “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

THIRD TIME at John 19:38 and 39 we find him assisting Joseph of Arimathea in a proper burial of Jesus. 

NOTE AT THE BEGINNING ITSELF verse 1 of John 3 begins stating some important details about Nicodemus. He was a PHARISEE. His name was NICODEMUS and that he was presently a MEMBER OF THE RULING JEWISH COUNCIL.

CHRONOLOGICALLY SPEAKING from viewpoint of time, at the first personal, one on one meeting, he acknowledges Yahshua (Jesus) representing Yahweh God. He addresses him respectfully as RABBI and says that Yahshua is surely a teacher come from God. John 3:3 The Second meeting, Nicodemus dares to Stand up & Support Yahshua (Jesus) – John 19:38, 39. Third time he is more open and supportive by providing burial assistance to Yahshua (Jesus).

Nicodemus was indeed being careful. He had his Status and Position at stake being a current Jewish ruling council member. He surely did not want unnecessary attention, he himself being, “Israel’s Teacher” – John 3:10.

Nicodemus was definitely monitoring the teachings and miracles of this self confessed new teacher on the geographical scene of Israel from a safe distance within a group. John 3:2.

SAFE CONCLUSION
And in the third encounter with Nicodemus, recorded in John 19:38 and 39, we find Nicodemus assisting Joseph of Arimathea in a proper burial of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea is described here as a secret disciple of Jesus because he was afraid of the Jews. PLUS Nicodemus meeting Yahshua (Jesus) the first time at Night under cover of the dark indicates that Nicodemus was fearful or ashamed of something.

Nicodemus has fearfully come to Jesus under cover of darkness. So it is interesting that Yahshua (Jesus) closes his conversation as a fitting climax by contrasting darkness or night with light with him by saying: “Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light [which Jesus is by his life and teachings] has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. For whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be reproved. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that his works may be made manifest as having been done in harmony with God.”John 3:19-21.