Born again
What is born again?

Born Again and the love of God
By :Dov Avnon
You probably heard some say “I am born again Christian” as if it was that there are Christians who are not born again. What does it mean? and what does the Lord Jesus Christ mean when He said to Nicodemus “verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
The purpose of the conversation was to explain Nicodemus why the Nation Israel should be born again and to let him know that the love of God through Christ is the same as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and this means Believing in Gods word.
THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
The Lord is talking here to an “a ruler of the Jews” about a national issue and not individual salvation from the wages of sin as we know today through the apostle Paul.
we know that thou art a teacher come from God
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?Matt. 16:14
From this verse and others, we can conclude that Nicodemus knew what the Lord was teaching. He says thou art a teacher come from God. It does not mean that he follows Christ but he heard what is all about.
Nicodemus probably forgot the words of the Prophets because the tradition of man in his time was much stronger.
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. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 Ezekiel 36:24-29
When the Lord Jesus talking to Nicodemus about “be born” it is all about Israel's future and the kingdom of God here on earth. We know that the Jewish rulers at that time were more into the tradition of man rather than understanding the word of the prophets.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. [5] Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? [8] For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. [9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.13] Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:3-13
The situation today under the dispensation of Grace is not much better. Many so-called Bible teachers did not hear about the dispensation of Grace (Eph. 3:1-9) or are not interesting to hear at all.
So it is very simple, Nicodemus understands that the Lord Jesus is someone special but already forget about the rebirth of the Nation Israel according to Ezekiel.
This born-again issue has nothing to do with turning to God for individuals under this dispensation of grace. If you trust Christ as your savior the Bible says that you are SAVED and not born again Christian
I say unto thee
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.
It is like Ezekiel said before and this teacher does not understand it. I sprinkle clean water upon you, And I will put my spirit within you
This kingdom of God – is the earthly 1000 years kingdom.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The ruler of the Jews like many others thought that just because they are the children of the covenant, they will enter the kingdom of God. It is like today with many religious people. They think that circumcision or infant baptism can give them the gift of eternal life.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. John 8:31-39
When the Lord was talking to Nicodemus it was about faith and not just because he was a circumcised Jew.
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 everyone that is born of the Spirit.9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Yes, the rebirth of the Nation Israel after the dispensation of Grace is spiritual. It started in Acts 2 when Peter told them: 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
It is the same Peter that in the light of Paul's conversion and the dispensation of Grace, written to the circumcision:
PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and a sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1
and knowest not these things?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
So here we are again. The rebirth of the nation Israel and the kingdom on earth is a heavenly thing? Nicodemus do not understand it because he just thinks that Jesus is a good teacher and not the messiah and the fulfillment of old testament prophecies.
heavenly things: because we know that the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven. We know also that the circumcisions were: holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling Hebrews 3:1
This is a general truth: entering the earthly kingdom of God is through the spiritual birth of all nations of Israel. To be saved under the dispensation of grace is also a matter of spiritual union with Christ's death and resurrection. Romans 6:1-11
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph 1:13-14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
8And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. Numbers 21:8
The serpent in the wilderness is compared here to the son of man, The Lord Jesus Christ, and His death and resurrection. It is about faith and believing in God and not just because they are children of Abraham in the flesh. It is about different gospel yet they have to believe it:
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
Nicodemus and many in his time or even today, think that just because they are children of Abraham in the flesh, they are children of the covenant and will enter the kingdom of God. This is the wrong assumption. Even during the kingdom program, faith was an important issue. Real faith will obey God's word about the low, circumcision, water baptism etc.
For God so loved the world
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The conversation with Nicodemus a Jewish teacher is about the rebirth of Israel and the love of God. The love of God here is about the birth of Christ into the world. Christ tells him things that were not known in the old testament. Many read ISAIAH CHAPTER 53 WHO hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? So the question is did Nicodemus believe it?
So now there is more and not just a prophesy. Now it is about the love of God. God's love is about everlasting life. Let's not confuse the love of God in the birth of Christ with what was later, revealed to us through the apostle Paul. You see many reading Paul and the gospel of the cross into Christ's conversation with Nicodemus.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jesus Christ is the savior and the light of the world in the earthly kingdom and in the dispensation of Grace.
Christ's conversation with Nicodemus is about the rebirth of Israel and how important that Jewish teachers will understand how much faith is important:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. acts 2:32
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none another name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. acts 4:10
to testify the gospel of the grace of God acts 20:24



