Maurice Gibney - John 3. 7: You must be Born Again

CHAPTER 1

1. Why do I Need to be Born Again?

The bible teaches that at the beginning of creation God created man in his own image. From the dust of the earth God formed man and breathed into his nostril the breath of life and man became a living soul. God named the first man Adam, meaning ground or earth from which he was made. Adam was created as a vessel, his body was made to experience the natural realm, his soul received knowledge and understanding and his spirit, his inner being was designed for relationship with God. Jesus said that from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For the reason that a man would leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and the two would become one flesh. Just as there is unity between the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, God created Adam and Eve to live in unity with one another and with Him.

God gave to Adam headship to represent mankind and provided Adam with the ability to express free will. Having free will enabled Adam to make his own choices and experience love, which without free will is impossible. In order for Adam to freely love God and continue doing good, God gave to him one command that functioned as a test of obedience. This was Gods only commandment for both Adam and Eve to keep. However, a day came when they acted independently of Gods will and by one sinful act of disobedience they rebelled against Gods instruction, thus bringing sin into the world. The penalty for violating Gods commandment resulted in Adam and Eves spiritual death and their progressive physical death. Just as the body without physical life is officially dead, so anyone without spiritual life is described in the bible as being spiritually dead. Therefore the perfect relationship Adam and Eve once had with God was now completely severed.

The bible tells us that the fall of mankind took place in the Garden of Eden. Eden had been planted by God east of present day Israel, somewhere in Mesopotamia or Arabia. According to the bible it is from this geological location that the whole human race descended from Adam and Eve. Therefore everyone born of human parents inherits the consequence of Adams sin. We each have inherited a sin nature thus death continues to affect all of mankind, separating us also from the presence of God.

The final consequence of our sins after we physically die will be eternal separation from God. The good news though, is that God has given mankind the opportunity for reconciliation. The bible says that God gave to the world His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin and was without sin, so He could deliver sinful mankind from his wretched state. On the cross at Calvary Jesus Christ gave up His life as a ransom for many. By the shedding of His own blood He became our sinless substitute thus paying our sin debt in full. Through His sacrificial death He satisfied all of Gods righteous demands against sin enabling us to be united with God once again. We are told that God offers His saving grace as a free gift to those who repent of their sins and put their trust completely in Jesus Christ. According to the bible it is our confession and belief in the resurrection, plus our commitment to follow Jesus that restores our relationship with our heavenly Father. Our faith in Christ also allows us to escape Gods righteous judgment and eternal punishment in hell. Only after a person trusts in Jesus Christ are they truly saved from the penalty and power of sin, thus becoming born again.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. KJV

Matthew 19:4 Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female. KJV

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. NKJV

Genesis 2:16 - 17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. NKJV

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. KJV

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wifes name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. KJV

Ezekiel 18:4 The soul who sins shall die. NKJV

Acts 17:26 And he has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. NKJV

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. KJV

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. KJV

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. NKJV

Roman 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. KJV

Romans 5:8 But God com-mendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. KJV

Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one mans offense judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Mans righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. NKJV

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. NKJV

2 Corinthians 6:2 Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. KJV

2. What Does it Mean to be Born Again?

In Johns gospel, chapter three, there is a remarkable conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus. Nicodemus had come to see Jesus by night to investigate whether or not Jesus was the promised Messiah. He said to Jesus, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these miraculous signs that you have been doing unless he is receiving direct help from God. Before Nicodemus had a chance to ask Jesus any questions, Jesus said to him, I am telling you the truth, unless you are born again you will not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked Jesus, How can a man be born a second time? Surely he cant enter into his mothers womb and be born, can he? Jesus answered him and said, Dont be amazed that I am telling you that you must be born again. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Jesus describes being born from above as a supernatural experience rather than a natural one. In other words, when a woman gives birth to a baby this happens naturally, but he who is born spiritually has been born of God.

In order to become born again you must first come to terms with the knowledge that your sins have separated you from God. When an individual understands that his sin nature is responsible for Gods absence in his life, he needs to experience Gods mercy and forgiveness. The apostle Paul preached repentance toward God and faith toward Christ, resulting in our justification. When we repent of our sins and place our trust in Christ we automatically pass from death to life. Through faith alone in the atoning work of Christ all of our sins can be forgiven, past, present and future. This is Gods unmerited gift of amazing grace which He freely bestows upon repentant sinners. None are worthy or deserving of His grace, nevertheless, we are soundly saved because of it. The Holy Spirit carries out the divine work of renewing our spirit by taking residence within our mortal bodies, thus sealing us in Christ. This is Gods down payment of our full inheritance to come. The Holy Spirit also creates within us a new nature whereby allowing our spirit and soul to enjoy Christs presence in a supernatural way. The broken relationship between us and God is now restored and our new spirit has been made fit for the kingdom of heaven.