Born Again

There was a man named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews who under cover of night went to Jesus.  He acknowledged that Jesus was sent by God and he called Him Rabbi; he was taking a big risk going to Jesus and calling him a teacher from God.  Jesus replied to the man that he had to be born again.  This confused the Jewish leader because he was trying to imagine a second physical birth.  Jesus went on to explain that a person needs to be born of water (full immersion water baptism in Jesus name) and born of spirit (being filled with the Holy Ghost or baptism of the Holy Ghost).

John 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.

John 3:5 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.

There are many Christians; who claim to be born again, but they have not been baptized in Jesus name and they have not been baptized in the Holy Ghost.  It is more than just believing.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

We know that when this most important event takes place (water and Spirit Baptism) that we are a new creature.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

There Is More

So we get baptized in water and baptized in the Spirit.  Are we fully saved?  Has the born again event been fully manifested in our life?  We become a new person and all things are new; but we must remain faithful until Jesus Christ returns.

Matthew 24:45-47 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  (46)  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  (47)  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Looking at what Jesus said about being born again; there is clearly a manifestation of that event yet to be fulfilled at His coming.  We must become spirit.  I am not yet a spirit; not yet like the wind; but mortal and capable of backsliding; still flesh and blood, as my two month hospital stay has proven.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Connect more Deeply

So how do I connect more deeply as a born again Christian?  At baptism in Jesus’ name and the receiving of the Holy Ghost (both are necessary) I became a new creature, much like what takes place at human conception.  I believe that I am a spirit in embryo form and I am growing and transforming in Christ.  At His return, the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we which are alive will experience the fullness of being born of Spirit; changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.

Water Baptism, Spirit Baptism & Remaining Faithful

We are only saved if we do all three of the above.  The more we yield to Jesus, the more likely we will remain faithful, but we must endure to the end; we must remain faithful.

Matthew 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.