Some have ignorantly used “born again” as a way to define and separate the devout Christian from the nominal Christian. Unfortunately, many believe they are saved because they have a “born again” feeling, changed life, or emotional experience, yet they have no testimony of trusting Christ’s finished work of the cross as the object of their faith and the sole basis of their salvation. Though we may sense that we are saved, our feelings are not the basis of our salvation.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)

When studied from the Bible “rightly divided” (2Tim 2:15) we can discern between that which applies only to the Nation Israel and that which applies to the Gentiles “body of Christ.” The words “born again” apply only to Israel. No Gentile could be born again. I will explain why this is.

Israel’s First Birth:

To understand why only Israel could be born again, we must know how they were born the first time.

In Exodus the nation of Israel was born the first time when God delivered them out of Egypt. The LORD calls the nation His firstborn son.

“And thou [Moses] shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me…” (Exodus 4:22-23)

Having been delivered and redeemed from Egypt, Israel was given “the law,” the Mosaic covenant, that sanctified them as a people unto God.

Israel’s Need for a Second Birth:

Over time Israel became consistently disobedient, for where the law was, sin abounded. They were no longer bound by Egypt, but they were bound by the covenant to their sins with no way out. As Israel’s sins grew it was clear that merely being born a Jew racially into the promises and covenants of God was not able to cause them to serve the Lord.

Israel’s prophets of God had spoken of a “better covenant” that would replace the old Mosaic covenant for “the house of Israel” (Jer. 31:31).

This new covenant would include the literal impartation of God’s Spirit to “cause them to walk in his statutes” (Eze. 36:27). It was this new covenant that was necessary for God to fulfill His kingdom promises to Israel.

Concerning Nicodemus and ‘Born Again’:

That the prophets already spoke about Israel’s new covenant is why when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about being born again Jesus said:

“Art thou [Nicodemus] a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” (John 3:10)

Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, should have known that Israel had a great need, and that the need was for their nation to be redeemed from their ‘old Mosaic covenant,’ from the law and its bondage in order to enter the kingdom God had promised them.

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except [unless] a man be born again, he cannot see [perceive] the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee [Nicodemus], Except a man be born of water [by human birth] and of the Spirit [God’s Sprit], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that the nation had to be born again when he said “Ye [plural, the Nation of Israel] must be born again.” (John 3:7)

(Note above that the word “ye” is the plural pronoun referring to the whole Nation of Israel; while “thee” in verse 5 is singular referring the Nicodemus specifically. Jesus is saying all Israel needs a new birth. Thus, ‘thee’ and ‘ye’ are always important to interpreting who is being spoken of. Sadly, the modern Bible hide truth by substitution “you” for both these words.

Even today, the Nation Israel that we see in the mid-east remains “Loammi,” meaning, “not my [the Lord’s] people,” from about the time the Lord’s manifested glory departed the Temple in Eze. 10:18-19. Prophetically, the Lord spoke to Hosea,

“the Lord said, Call his name Lo-Ammi [Not-my-people], for you are NOT My people and I am not your God. ¹⁰ Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and instead of it being said to them, You are not My people, it shall be said to them, Sons of the Living God!

¹¹ Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves one head [Jesus Christ], and they shall go up out of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel [Armageddon]; the SPIRITUALLY REBORN ISRAEL, a divine offspring, the people whom the Lord has blessed. Isa. 11:12] (Hosea 1:9-11 AMP)

Jesus came to Israel ministering to their need for being a reborn nation through a better “new covenant.” If they believed and received Jesus, they no longer would Israel be identified by the “Old Covenant” but by the “new.” (Christians of the Gentile “body of Christ” today have neither the Old or New Covenant – we are not a covenant people; see Eph 2:12)

The people who today think they must be or are born again ignorantly assume that they are in some way related to Israel, but they are not, not at all. The “body of Christ” on earth today is an entirely “new creation” in Christ Jesus.

A New Creature:

We’ve established that only Israel could be “born again,” because only Israel was born unto God a first time.

“And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: {Exodus 4:22)

We Gentiles cannot be ‘born again,’ because we are not saved by being Israel or by abiding in Israel’s covenants. Paul writes to the believing Gentiles describing their condition before they were saved by grace through faith in Christ, saying;

“That at that time ye [Gentiles] were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12)

Gentiles are strangers of Israel’s covenants and without God (above). Gentiles are not born into God’s covenants with Israel.

As Gentiles, our salvation would not be a second time opportunity for us. It would be a first-time salvation offered directly to us apart from anything to do with Israel’s program.

Our salvation by grace through faith alone is not the result of a changed life, a Spirit unction, or a better way to obey God’s statutes.  Our salvation is not described as being born again into a second covenant, but by being made alive as a new creature in union with Christ and His resurrection life (Eph 2:15).

“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man [consisting of all races, Jews and Gentiles], so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)

This new creature, called “the Body of Christ,” is neither Jewish nor Gentile, and is not under any covenant, promise, or law given to Israel (Rom 6:14; Gal 3:28).

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

This new creature is the subject of Paul’s “mystery of Christ” (God’s eternally planned secret program for the Gentiles). This could not have been known by Nicodemus, the prophets, nor any of the apostles in John 3. It was only after Israel’s rejection of Christ at the Cross and stoning of Stephen that Paul received the revealed “secret” plan of God that had the power to change lives. Thus, Paul wrote;

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [secret plan of God], which was kept secret since the world began,” (Romans 16:25).

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)

So, herein is the Problem…

When people use Israel’s “born again” language to describe their salvation today, it hides the unique preaching and power of the cross, which is unique to the formation of the entirely new creature by God’s grace.

“Born again” language takes us back to before the cross in John 3 and replaces the gospel of Christ with Israel’s new covenant.

Born again language is a denial of “the mystery [secret] of Christ” in the believer that was first revealed to the apostle Paul.

So, it’s easy but wrong for people to think they are born again and think they are in some way related to Israel. Thus, many so-called believers today also erroneously think “the body of Christ” has replaced Israel. This is NOT TRUE. Israel is Israel and “the body of Christ” is His new creation.

CONCLUSION:

Being born again is something for Israel only. And, since Israel is fallen, you couldn’t be born again with Israel if you wanted to.

What you can be is saved by God’s grace through faith in his finished work on the cross. At the moment you believe, the Holy Spirit seals you in Christ making you part of a new creature.

Trusting the cross of Christ is what will save you today. Trusting your experience, devotion, or changed life will not. Being saved is far better than being born again.

So, what ‘spiritual experience’ then applies to the believing member of “the body of Christ” today? Our “Apostle to the Gentiles,” Paul (Rom. 11:13), uses the word “regeneration.”

“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 [by] the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5)

Whereas, we had been dead toward God in trespasses and sins, we needed to have our spirit cleansed and regenerated. This occurred the moment we first believed and His resurrected “Spirit of life” came into our “spirit of man” and we became “one spirit.” From thence;

“… he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” {1 Corinthians 6:17)

His Spirit in our spirit… brought us cleansing and regeneration... with the eternal life of Christ in us.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ In You, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)

Having His Spirit in our spirit … we have the capacity to express His life, His glorious, eternal, resurrection life.