Part 1 - “Born Again” Is More Than You Think

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called ‘Born Again’ - It is Not What Most Christians Think.

Jesus’ reference to being “born again when He spoke with Nicodemus is not at all what most Christians think it is. Please hang in there as you read to the end of this 3-Part Study. It will be rewarding.

You will recall that when Jesus, spoke to Nicodemus concerning the Nation Israel, He said;

Marvel not that I said unto thee [Nicodemus], Ye [is plural, the whole Nation of Israel] must be born AGAIN (John 3:7)

Undoubtedly Nicodemus was startled. The emphatic and powerful statements of Jesus had raised issues that had not previously engaged his attention. Yet, really, he shouldn’t have been so bewildered, so we read Jesus’s gentle rebuke, “Marvel not.”

I say this was a gentle rebuke because after Jesus further explained the process of this new birth for Israel in verse 8, He responds to the dullness of Nicodemus (v.9) in much sharper terms:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Art Thou [Nicodemus] A Master of Israel, And Knowest Not These Things? “Verily, verily, I say unto thee [Nicodemus], We [Jesus and His disciples] speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and Ye [plural, referring to the Nation Israel] Receive NOT Our Witness” (John 3:10-12).

Before we think too poorly of Nicodemus, however, we should reflect upon the fact that this very subject is one that still eludes the grasp of most Christians today. Although the term “born again has come into popular usage, who can deny that its real Scriptural meaning and significance, which we will discuss in this study, has been almost totally lost and unnoticed.

This paper is to explain the real, Scriptural, meaning of Jesus’ use of the Bible term “born again when He spoke with Nicodemus. The basic issue involved in a NEW birth, not a reformation, nor is it religion. The basic issue is the doctrine of spiritual regeneration.” This is clear from Christ’s words to Nicodemus here in John 3:5-6;

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Notice how careful the Lord is to define the character of the new birth: It is not the reformation or improvement of the outward man, nor is it the re-education of the natural man, nor the purification of the old man for “that which is born of the flesh is flesh.” Rather it is “the Spirit of God” giving birth to a new life for ISRAEL, with the divine life and nature of God. It is partaking of “the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). Simply put, it is being born of God” …  “that which is born of the Spirit [of God] is spirit [the human spirit of man].”

A Common Doctrine:

Being born of the Spirit, is a doctrine associated in Scripture in God’s dealings with both;

  • the Nation Israel,’ who ultimately destined to ‘co-reign with Christ on earth forever’ (cf. Rev. 5:10, 20:6), and
  • The Church called “the Body of Christ,” which is destined to co-reign with Christ in the heavenly places forever soon after the Rapture (cf. 2Tim. 2:12).

The Bible word regeneration,” indicates the near equivalent of “born again,” meaning ‘a new beginning,’ The word Regeneration” is found only twice in the Bible… once in relation to God’s Program for the Nation Israel’s and … once in reference to the Body of Christ,but these two are distinctly different as you will see.

  1. The first occurrence of regeneration” is found here in Matthew 19:28, where Christ is speaking to His Twelve Apostles to Israel:

“Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye (of Israel) which have followed me, In The REGENERATION when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Notice carefully the wording here: “In the regeneration WHEN the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory.” This is a future “regeneration” that is coming for the Nation Israel. For it is associated with the time when Christ returns to earth to sit on “the throne of His glory.” Regeneration for Israel is clearly a part of her kingdom program and hope.

  1. The second occurrence of the word “regeneration” is from the pen of the Apostle Paul.

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the Washing of REGENERATION, and RENEWING of [from] the Holy Ghost [Spirit]” (Titus 3:4-5).

Obviously, here the doctrine of regeneration” is a spiritual truth which plays an integral part in God’s purpose for both Israel’s future kingdom program and the current “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:1-5) Thus, we must be careful to distinguish the Bible’s dual applications of this doctrine of “regeneration” as relates to these two different people groups of God.