Focus: The New Birth

Text: Jh.3:3

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

In this sacred text, Christ is dealing with the subject of the kingdom of God. Citizens of this kingdom must be changed men and women. New birth is a fundamental necessity for a person to become a citizen of God's kingdom.

It is by being born again that a person can SEE the kingdom of God. That means that spiritual rebirth must take place before a man can see the kingdom and understand what it is all about. In verse 5, Jesus Christ says, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot ENTER into the kingdom of God" (Jh.3:5). Christ talking about seeing and entering God's kingdom, and He says that it is by means of being born of water and of the Spirit.

Christ is differentiating between physical and spiritual biologies. One's natural birth cannot guarantee him a place in the kingdom of God. One's religious affiliation cannot earn him a spot in the kingdom of God. Absolutely no one becomes a member of God's kingdom who has not been transformed from a child of a certain man into a child of God.

A Christian is not one by name, but by nature. One does not become a child of God by mouth, but by spiritual rebirth.

You can be born in a church, and still not be a Christian. You can be baptized in water, and still not be a Christian. You can hold a position in church, and still not be a child of God. You can be a participant of the Eucharist or Holy Communion, and still not be a child of God. A person only becomes a child of God by means of spiritual rebirth. Hence, You MUST be born again.

Another word for 'born again' is conversion or regeneration (Mt.13:15; 18:3; Mk.4:12; Lk.22:32; Jh.12:40; Act.3:19; 28:27; Tit.3:5). It is a sort of spiritual metamorphosis. Paul describes it as a "new creation." By being born of the Spirit, one becomes a new species that had never existed before. One becomes a brand new person, and Paul says, "Old things are passed away, and all things have become new." It means setting aside the old, and starting over again. It is bringing a new you into existence. It means that the old you is totally ruined or marred beyond repair. By a means of divine recreation you become a new entity - original, unique and authentic.

It is a rebirth made possible by God's Spirit. But on the human side, each individual must receive Christ, believe in Christ, have a change of mind, and turn about to a new direction. It involves repenting of one's sins and placing one's faith in Christ.

John says, "But as many as RECEIVED him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on his name" (Jh.1:12). Jesus Christ says, "REPENT ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15). Amid the believing, receiving and repenting, God's Spirit is begetting, recreating, converting, and regenerating us. Interestingly, the Spirit makes possible the believing in, repenting of one's sins, and receiving of Christ into one's heart, and all of this takes place as one is hearing and receiving the preached word of God. In an instant, the Spirit brings about conviction in us, which leads to our conversion.

Have you ever had this supernatural experience in your life? Do you know your spiritual birthday? Can you tell of your 'born again' encounter? Have you met with Christ in an intensely personal way? Are you convinced that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life? Do you have the assurance of heaven in your spirit?

Listen, until a man is truly changed, he cannot change another man. The kingdom of God is for changed people. The new birth must become a reality in the human heart. Examine yourself and be sure that you are born again.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter