22 Answers
An educated man came to Jesus in the night and asked Him 'what must I do to have eternal lif' Jeasus did not say to him that as he was a good man he was ok. No, He said 'You must be born again'
Roger Willcoe
13 years ago. Rating: 16 | |
there you go. educated men do stuff I guess? did the educated man debate the jez-us or go bowling for beers?
I know this is long, I got it from my Bible software, but it describes the meaning of being born again in great detail if you've never understood what Christians mean about this expression, this will help you understand what is meant by the expression.
2. Question: "What do Christians mean when they say they have been 'born again?"
Answer: This is essentially the same question that Nicodemus, the great Jewish teacher, asked Jesus one night long ago. Jesus had just said: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Nicodemus replied: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
Jesus, of course, was referring to a spiritual birth, and He made this clear by saying: "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). This can better be translated "water, even the Spirit." That is, the waters of baptism, which symbolize the entrance of a believer into the Christian life, are representative of the spiritual birth that takes place when a person passes out of the old life, and is baptized by the Spirit of God into a new life in Christ.
Every individual, once he reaches an age where he knows right from wrong, soon becomes a conscious sinner, and therefore a guilty sinner, in the sight of an all-holy God. Although he may do many good things and may even be a religious person, he is nevertheless a sinner. Both Scripture and universal experience unite in their testimony that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
God's moral law is a unit and is "holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12). To break any part of His law is to break all of it. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). A man who is proud, or selfish, or who distorts the truth, or neglects the Sabbath, or uses profanity or vulgarity in his speech, is as much a lost sinner in God's sight as the thief, or adulterer, or murderer. Sins of omission also are evil. "Whosoever, therefore, knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
The Bible, in fact, teaches that all men are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Since men are all in a state of spiritual death in their natural condition, separated from God and out of fellowship with Him, it is no wonder that Jesus said: "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).
The Bible also teaches that men, in their natural state, are "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3). They are "children of the devil" (1 John 3:10) and "children of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6). The popular notion that all men are fundamentally "children of God" is an utterly false and dangerous idea, completely without any basis in Scripture.
It is therefore clear that every man urgently needs to be born again to become a "child of God" rather than a "child of the wicked one," to have spiritual life rather than to continue in a state of spiritual death. But the great question is still, as Nicodemus asked: "How can these things be?"
The only solution is found in Christ Himself. Since each ordinary man is already dead in sins, he cannot bring himself to spiritual life by his own power. He must receive such regenerative power from the Holy Spirit, and this can only be given if his sins are first forgiven and washed away. But "without shedding of blood is no remission" of sins (Hebrews 9:22), for "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Christ is the sacrificial "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He was offered up for our sins, "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). He explained it thus to Nicodemus: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." That is, He must be lifted up to die on the cross. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:14, 16).
Now, therefore, when an individual sees the sinfulness of his own life for what it really is, deserving nothing from God but eternal separation in hell, but then also truly sees and believes that Christ loved him and suffered and died to save him from his sins, his heart is thereby made ready for the marvelous miracle of regeneration. In response to his repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit—that is, God Himself—enters his heart and imparts His own eternal spiritual life to the new believer. His sins are charged to Christ's account, and Christ's perfect righteousness is placed to his own account (2 Corinthians 5:21). The indwelling Holy Spirit gives him a new nature, new motives, new goals, new understanding, and new power. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name" (John 1:12).
The Bible Has the Answer.
2. Question: "What do Christians mean when they say they have been 'born again?"
Answer: This is essentially the same question that Nicodemus, the great Jewish teacher, asked Jesus one night long ago. Jesus had just said: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Nicodemus replied: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
Jesus, of course, was referring to a spiritual birth, and He made this clear by saying: "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). This can better be translated "water, even the Spirit." That is, the waters of baptism, which symbolize the entrance of a believer into the Christian life, are representative of the spiritual birth that takes place when a person passes out of the old life, and is baptized by the Spirit of God into a new life in Christ.
Every individual, once he reaches an age where he knows right from wrong, soon becomes a conscious sinner, and therefore a guilty sinner, in the sight of an all-holy God. Although he may do many good things and may even be a religious person, he is nevertheless a sinner. Both Scripture and universal experience unite in their testimony that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
God's moral law is a unit and is "holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12). To break any part of His law is to break all of it. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). A man who is proud, or selfish, or who distorts the truth, or neglects the Sabbath, or uses profanity or vulgarity in his speech, is as much a lost sinner in God's sight as the thief, or adulterer, or murderer. Sins of omission also are evil. "Whosoever, therefore, knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
The Bible, in fact, teaches that all men are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Since men are all in a state of spiritual death in their natural condition, separated from God and out of fellowship with Him, it is no wonder that Jesus said: "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).
The Bible also teaches that men, in their natural state, are "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3). They are "children of the devil" (1 John 3:10) and "children of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6). The popular notion that all men are fundamentally "children of God" is an utterly false and dangerous idea, completely without any basis in Scripture.
It is therefore clear that every man urgently needs to be born again to become a "child of God" rather than a "child of the wicked one," to have spiritual life rather than to continue in a state of spiritual death. But the great question is still, as Nicodemus asked: "How can these things be?"
The only solution is found in Christ Himself. Since each ordinary man is already dead in sins, he cannot bring himself to spiritual life by his own power. He must receive such regenerative power from the Holy Spirit, and this can only be given if his sins are first forgiven and washed away. But "without shedding of blood is no remission" of sins (Hebrews 9:22), for "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Christ is the sacrificial "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He was offered up for our sins, "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). He explained it thus to Nicodemus: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." That is, He must be lifted up to die on the cross. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:14, 16).
Now, therefore, when an individual sees the sinfulness of his own life for what it really is, deserving nothing from God but eternal separation in hell, but then also truly sees and believes that Christ loved him and suffered and died to save him from his sins, his heart is thereby made ready for the marvelous miracle of regeneration. In response to his repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit—that is, God Himself—enters his heart and imparts His own eternal spiritual life to the new believer. His sins are charged to Christ's account, and Christ's perfect righteousness is placed to his own account (2 Corinthians 5:21). The indwelling Holy Spirit gives him a new nature, new motives, new goals, new understanding, and new power. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name" (John 1:12).
The Bible Has the Answer.
13 years ago. Rating: 9 | |
Funny you should ask... My inlaws and Hubby have a Christian Appearl line Named "BORN AGAIN". The Nicodimous scripture in on the tag. I have lived around "Born Agian" for 13 yrs ever since my FIL was saved. He gave all to Christ, his life his business and his heart. I am fully convinced of the scripture and hope one day to live up to it... However I am a sinner, always will be. I desire to be more like Christ, to serve and I whole heartedly want to make Goddly decissions.. But I fall short everyday. God is good and so is the grace he has given me.
13 years ago. Rating: 9 | |
" "Both Scripture and universal experience unite in their testimony that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20)." "
How can anyone consider a child born with severe cerebral palsy,for instance, a sinner ? Does scripture address this issue or was it an oversight never corrected ?
Headless Man
How can anyone consider a child born with severe cerebral palsy,for instance, a sinner ? Does scripture address this issue or was it an oversight never corrected ?
13 years ago. Rating: 6 | |
Glad you read the Bible, maybe you need help?
Being born again means you confess your sins and try to sin no more, but you will fail and continual to ask again, but Jesus died for our sin so he will forgive.
As for the child, they are not responsible until the age of accountably, if because of mental reasons they are under gods grace.
Being born again means you confess your sins and try to sin no more, but you will fail and continual to ask again, but Jesus died for our sin so he will forgive.
As for the child, they are not responsible until the age of accountably, if because of mental reasons they are under gods grace.
im born again. i went down in the watery death to become alive in Jesus. now i am dead to sin and alive in the Lord! hallelujiah! praise be to God.
digger
carmaxable
13 years ago. Rating: 6 | |
Saint Carmaxable will NEVER sin again. Isn't being pretentious considered a sin? You've failed already. Try again.
ye who re without sin let him cast the first stone. i know im a sinner and i also know that i am forgiven and covered in Jesus blood. you have to confess you sins and repent daily. no one said im a saint. far from it. mr high and mighty know nothing
Here's another example of scriptural inconsistency.
"Although he may do many good things and may even be a religious person, he is nevertheless a sinner."
How does being born again prevent one from forever sinning again ? It doesn't. So why does the act of being born again give one eternal life if in realty, nothing changed ?
"To break any part of His law is to break all of it. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10)."
"Although he may do many good things and may even be a religious person, he is nevertheless a sinner."
How does being born again prevent one from forever sinning again ? It doesn't. So why does the act of being born again give one eternal life if in realty, nothing changed ?
"To break any part of His law is to break all of it. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10)."
13 years ago. Rating: 5 | |
I'M BORN AGAIN!!!! SO, IF I'M WRONG I'VE LOST NOTHING BUT IF YOUR WRONG YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING!!!THINK IT OVER!!!
digger
Headless Man
Colleen
13 years ago. Rating: 4 | |
What you're saying is that you've chosen to be "born again" out of fear. Fear of the possibility that you would be excluded from eternal life , as promised by scripture, if you did not sign up to the club.
You make no reference to tangible evidence or reasoned thought in your defense. You simply hedge your bet.
I do understand your decision. Every week, I kick in two dollars into our office pool's 6-49 lottery draw. I don't hold my breath every Saturday evening awaiting the winning numbers to be announced. I participate out of genuine FEAR. I fear the thought that my work colleagues would win without me and not show up to work on Monday morning with me holding up the fort !
You make no reference to tangible evidence or reasoned thought in your defense. You simply hedge your bet.
I do understand your decision. Every week, I kick in two dollars into our office pool's 6-49 lottery draw. I don't hold my breath every Saturday evening awaiting the winning numbers to be announced. I participate out of genuine FEAR. I fear the thought that my work colleagues would win without me and not show up to work on Monday morning with me holding up the fort !
BOGGY, never said out of fear, although out of fear of God is a good thing.
Did you ever obey your parents out of fear of punishment, didn't it make you a better person?
Did you ever obey your parents out of fear of punishment, didn't it make you a better person?
Digger, you nailed it. They accept anything fed to them by the men in charge. They fear hell so much they are willing to believe anything. Hell is a great tool. Like the strike of a whip to keep the followers in line.
Didn't you know you are suppose to fear God? You're suppose to fear everything! Fear, fear, fear, hate, hate, heat. The most common words used by the thumpers.
Didn't you know you are suppose to fear God? You're suppose to fear everything! Fear, fear, fear, hate, hate, heat. The most common words used by the thumpers.
Do we have to be born again? I know my vote will be in the minority but I am used to it. I see people quoting the bible for their answer to this question. The bible is not a Holy book for me. In fact I don't have any real "holy book" to say. In my path we make our own books, the Book of Shadows are very precious to us. It is a book that we write down all that is important to us. Spells that have been wonderful experiences. We put all kinds of things in our book of Shadpows. You see I am a Witcb. Some of the people who post to this group may not seem to like the idea of a Heathen to be with you. For instance a heathen is a person of the Heath. Our numbers have been demonized even after we tell people that the devil is not part of our path. The devil is part of the Christian world. I love the Goddess and she has helped me so much on my travels on this earth. It is my belief that we treat each other with respect. That has not been my experience with Christians and some people have had truly bad experinces with people who say they are Christians who persecute us all the time. That does not bother me. So all I can say is Goddess bless you.
13 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
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