C-3. What does it MEAN to be BORN-AGAIN? In Christianity as well as in other religions of the world there are “terms” used that are not necessarily used in the world that do not believe in God. Also, even among Christians, they use the SAME “terms” or words but different church denominations have DIFFERENT meanings to those same terms or words. So then, what does the Bible ITSELF mean by the term or phrase “BORN AGAIN”? We see this phrase “born again” for the first time in the Bible in John chapter 3 where Jesus is teaching Nicodemus that in order to see and enter the kingdom of God a person MUST be BORN AGAIN. In other words, if you want to go to heaven and NOT be cast into the lake of fire then you MUST be BORN AGAIN. Thus it is important and even vital that we know what the Bible ITSELF means by the phrase “you MUST be BORN AGAIN!”
Please read John 3:1-8.
“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 you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, (Or truly, truly) I say unto you, EXCEPT, a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE the kingdom of God. (I will explain this verse shortly) 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? 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. (Here we see TWO types of being BORN and it should be clear from the context that Nicodemus understood about being born from his mother’s womb. Thus it should also be clear that being BORN AGAIN is being born of the SPIRIT. Jesus explains these TWO types of births for us in the next verse.) 6. That which is born of the FLESH is FLESH; (That is our natural birth or man’s FIRST birth) and that which is BORN of the SPIRIT is SPIRIT. (So again being BORN AGAIN is speaking of being born OF THE SPIRIT. I will explain what is being born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT means shortly) 7. Marvel not that I said unto you, You MUST be BORN AGAIN. 8. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born OF THE SPIRIT.”
Now to ME, there is absolutely no doubt that Jesus himself is teaching us here that being BORN AGAIN means to be born OF THE SPIRIT. But what does being born OF THE Spirit mean? And what does Jesus means when he said that whosoever is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT? And for that matter WHAT is Spirit? Well let us not speculate and try and guess what Jesus means and all the words of Jesus himself to tell us what he means. Jesus goes on to say that GOD IS Spirit in the next chapter.
Please read John 4:21-26.
“ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain nor YET at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (All of Israel is NOT Israel. All the seed of Abraham is NOT of the seed of promise. The seed of Ishmael and Esau do not worship the Father, they worship Allah. Please understand that I am NOT saying that there were Muslims in the day of Jesus, but rather I am saying that the seed of Ishmael and Esau were living in the day of Jesus and that they are NOT of the seed of PROMISE.) 22. You worship you know not what:(The Muslims THINK that they are worshipping the God of Abraham because they are of the seed of Ishmael but they do not truly know and understand that they are, indeed, worshiping Satan. They know not what they worship) we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (The Jews of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the ones who were given the promise of salvation IF they kept the Covenant given to the children of Israel which they did NOT keep) 23. But the hour comes, and now is, when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. (Jesus is speaking of the NEW COVENANT that is soon to be established in his shed blood on the cross. Jesus began preaching the coming of God’s kingdom saying that ONLY the TRUE worshipers of God who worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRUTH shall be able to SEE or understand the Kingdom of God that comes without observation. AND then later ENTER the kingdom of God in the world to come which will be seen by all who are left alive after the wrath of Almighty God. In other words, we are in the unseen kingdom of God that has already come without observation. But there remains a kingdom of God that is yet to come which Jesus called the world to come) 24. God IS a SPIRIT: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth. (IF they want to be a TRUE worshiper of the one true and only Almighty God so that they will inherit eternal life in the world to come) 25. The woman said unto him, I know that Messiah comes, which is called Christ (Or is called the ANOINTED of God): when he has come, he will tell us all things. 26. Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto you am he.”
In other words, Jesus is telling the woman that he IS the CHRIST the ANOINTED of God who was prophesied to come and speak the words of Almighty God. We learn a lot from this passage of Scripture which can take us down the road to many studies but the focus of this study is to give a SOUND Biblical answer to the question “What do the words, BORN AGAIN mean?” We have already seen that we MUST be born again. Meaning that we MUST be born OF or BY the SPIRIT and then here in John 4:24 we see Jesus teaching us that GOD is SPIRIT. Thus, to ME, being born of the Spirit means that we MUST be born OF GOD. So how do we do that? How can we be born of GOD? Let us keep reading the Bible ITSELF and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture for us.
Please read 1 Peter 1:22,23.
“Seeing you HAVE PURIFIED your souls in obeying the TRUTH through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23. BEING BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY the WORD of God, which lives and abides forever.”
Now from this passage of Scripture we see HOW that a person can be BORN AGAIN which is being born of God BY his word of TRUTH. We also see that WHEN a person is BORN AGAIN by the WORD of God that they HAVE PURIFIED their souls by their OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH THROUGH the Spirit UNTO a true LOVE for the brethren. So then did WE beget ourselves by our OWN works of righteousness? Or did God beget us BY his WORD? Let us read James 1:16-18 to find out.
James 1:16-18.
“Do NOT err, my beloved brethren. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18. Of HIS OWN WILL BEGAT HE US WITH the word of TRUTH, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of HIS creatures.”
So then, according to the word of TRUTH, the Holy Bible ITSELF, we do NOT beget ourselves into the kingdom of God by our OWN works of righteousness. Rather we MUST be BORN AGAIN, which means that God HIMSELF begets us BY HIS word of TRUTH into the kingdom of his dear Son. And when we BELIEVE and I mean at the EXACT moment in which we BELIEVE that Jesus is the CHRIST, the SON OF God, is the very moment we are BORN again or born OF God BY the WORD of God. We are translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son Jesus the moment we BELIEVE the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us read 1 John 5:1-5.
“WHOSOEVER BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ IS BORN OF God: (So if anyone ever tells you that they alone are the one true church then you flee from that church because they LIE against God’s word of truth, the Holy Bible which clearly teaches us without any interpretation needed that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES that Jesus is the CHRIST is born OF God) and everyone that loves him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (In other words, everyone that truly loves Almighty God who begat you, will also love the brethren whom God also begat. This is NOT speaking of the entire world being begotten of God. This is speaking about being BORN AGAIN to be able to see or understand spiritual things in this unseen present kingdom that came without observation) 2. By this (Or by this LOVE that God has shed abroad in our HEART to LOVE the BRETHREN) we know that we love the children of God WHEN we love God and keep his commandments. (When we keep the commandment Jesus gave us, we fulfill all the law of God and by this, we know that it is God’s LOVE in us that empowers us to love the children of God) 3. For this IS the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (Yes, GOD’S commandments are not grievous but MAN’S commandments ARE GRIEVOUS. Keeping the MORAL commandments are NOT grievous but doing all the WORKS that are commanded by men who have exalted themselves as leaders over their man-made church denominations claiming to be the one true church ARE grievous and impossible for anyone to bear.) 4. For whatsoever (Or WHOSOEVER) is born of God OVERCOMES the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH. (It is our faith because it is the GIFT of God who GIVES us the FAITH to believe. Faith COMES by our HEARING and true understanding by hearing the WORD of God. We who are truly born of God were CALLED by the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ but there are other gospels going out calling their followers to WORKS of their OWN righteousness to make them worthy to enter into the kingdom of God.) 5. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that BELIEVES that Jesus is the SON OF God?”
The works come AFTER a person is BORN AGAIN and PURIFIED in the eyes of Almighty God to be made into the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God by FAITH in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It is ONLY when a person is TRULY born again that the Holy Spirit comes to DWELL IN the true believer, to ENDUE the true believer with POWER from on high and to DO the works that Jesus did THROUGH the Eternal Spirit who DWELT IN him including the works of living without sin. It is ONLY BY God’s GRACE that we have the POWER to live without sin. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying that we MUST succeed in overcoming every single sin in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. But rather we should come to the knowledge of the truth to know and understand that it is by FAITH, in the power of God’s word that will empower us to overcome any and all sin that we BELIEVE we can and WILL overcome. And so as long as we remain in FAITH we shall be granted the right to eat of the tree of life in the world to come. In other words, if we ENDURE unto the END, fighting the GOOD fight of FAITH, we shall receive eternal life in the world to come. What does the Bible itself mean by FAITH? Does the Bible teach us to strive to do our best to live without sin in our OWN strength? NO, it does not! In fact, the word of TRUTH warns us about such WORKS as being our OWN righteousness. We are to rest or trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and then all the glory goes to Almighty God the Father. And when we fall short and sin we are to REST in Jesus knowing that we have God's GIFT of righteousness when we repent and confess our sins.
Please read Romans 10:1-4.
“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be SAVED. (As far as I can tell the only ones teaching ANOTHER gospel were those teaching that the Law of Moses must be kept in order to be saved. But today there are many false churches teaching false doctrine where in order to be saved one must join THEIR church alone and obey all that they teach in order to be saved.) 2. For I bear them record that they have a ZEAL of God, but NOT according to knowledge. (The Bible says in Hosea 4:6 that God’s people are DESTROYED because of LACK of KNOWLEDGE and because they REJECT knowledge God will REJECT them) 3. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their OWN righteousness, have NOT submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4. For Christ is the END of the law FOR righteousness to everyone that BELIEVES.”
In other words, for WHOSOEVER that does NOT believe that they are MADE the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God the MOMENT that they BELIEVE that Jesus is the CHRIST, the SON OF the living God, are yet still DEAD in their sins because they have not believed the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ but have believed in ANOTHER gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please read Galatians 1:6-9.
“I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER gospel: 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT the gospel of Christ. (The TRUE simple gospel of Jesus Christ becomes PERVERTED when men ADD and or take AWAY from the TRUE Gospel taught to us in the New Testament under the New Covenant) 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY OTHER unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (So then, ANY teaching for any church denomination, religious organization or group of believers that contradicts the TRUE gospel as it is taught to us IN the NEW Testament of the Holy Bible the ONLY word of TRUTH, then it is a PERVERTED message that is NOT from the one true and only Almighty God) 9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that you have received, (From the apostles of Jesus Christ) let him be accursed.”
So then what did the early church teach about the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God as opposed to one’s OWN righteousness? We have already read Roman 10:2 where some have NOT SUBMITTED to GOD’S righteousness which is BY FAITH in the Son of God as their savior who shed his blood on the cross for their sins.
Now let us read Romans 5:17-21.
“For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which RECEIVE abundance of GRACE and of the GIFT OF righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (So then, the ONLY way we can REIGN over sin is by FIRST RECEIVING God’s abundant GRACE and his GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS through our FAITH in Jesus Christ) 18. Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the FREE GIFT (Or faith, salvation and the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS) came upon all men unto justification of life. (I like what one preacher said, being justified means being made just, as just as if you had never sinned) 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Now a person can only be made righteous by their FAITH in the true gospel of Jesus Christ to be created as a NEW CREATURE IN Jesus Christ which is what being BORN AGAIN means. In other words, we, who RECEIVE the TRUTH are MADE the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF God the very moment we BELIEVE the true gospel of Jesus Christ to be BORN AGAIN by the WORD of God.) 20. Moreover, the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21. That as sin has reigned unto death, even so, might GRACE REIGN through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So then, the PERVERTED gospel wrongly teaches that we must keep all the Law of Moses contained in ordinances. But the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that when we first BELIEVE we are GIVEN the GIFT of God's righteousness and the earnest of the Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome sin. And the Bible defines sin as disobeying the MORAL laws of God. Jesus said that if we walk in LOVE then we fulfill all the law of God. So then, the only way that GRACE can REIGN in your life is to RECEIVE God’s GRACE and his GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS by FAITH in his Son Jesus the CHRIST. And then God's grace will empower us to obey all the MORAL law of God. Now, let us go back and read Romans 10:2-4 again with some more context.
Please read Romans 10:2-17.
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but NOT according to knowledge. (Now I see that many who are Jehovah’s Witness, Mormons, and Seventh Day Adventists have a sincere ZEAL and love for God but NOT according to the knowledge of the TRUTH of the whole word of God. They do indeed believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They do indeed believe that Jesus is the Christ, as in, Jesus is the Messiah who died for their sins. But they are NOT truly RESTING in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They are like the Jews that Paul is describing here in these verses) 3. For (Or BECAUSE) they being ignorant of GOD’S righteousness, and going about to establish their OWN righteousness, have NOT SUBMITTED themselves unto the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. 4. FOR (Or BECAUSE) Christ is the END of the LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS to everyone that BELIEVES. (So if they truly BELIEVE in the true gospel of Jesus Christ they would have REST to their souls. Their yoke would be easy and their burden would be light. They would have complete assurance that they ARE saved and not HOPING to be saved) 5. For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them. (Or be SAVED by them to receive eternal life by them) 6. BUT the righteousness which is of FAITH speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (In other words, do not keep looking in the future for the Messiah because Jesus has already risen from the dead) 8. But what says it? (The TRUE gospel of Jesus who IS the CHRIST) The word is nigh you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the WORD OF FAITH, which WE preach; 9. That if you shall CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall BELIEVE in thine HEART that God has raised him from the dead, you SHALL BE SAVED. 10. For with the heart, man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth, CONFESSION is made unto salvation. (This is the core of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. God saves us FIRST by FAITH alone which we CONFESS with our mouth and THEN we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit to receive the END of our salvation which is eternal life in the world to come) 11. For the Scripture says, WHOSOEVER BELIEVES on him shall not be ashamed.”
There is that phrase WHOSOEVER BELIEVES on him again which proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that the CLAIMS of those who say that they ALONE are the ONE TRUE church and no one can be saved unless they join their church and obey all that their church teaches are nothing but LIES. And the word of God WARNS us in Revelation 21:7,8 that ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake of fire. The TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us the WHOSOEVER BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God shall be saved.) 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:(Or whatever church denomination if you have received the truth to be BORN AGAIN by the word of God) for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13. For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be SAVED. (Not saved AFTER all YOU can do, but rather saved as soon as you BELIEVE the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the TESTS to KNOW if you are truly saved is to have the ASSURANCE or witness of the Holy Spirit that you ARE saved and you WILL receive eternal life in the world to come. Those who only HOPE that they are saved have NO assurance that they are good enough to receive eternal life in the world to come so all they can do is HOPE that they are good enough by their OWN works of righteousness, But that is only ONE test. Another way that we can KNOW that we are truly saved is that we do NOT want to sin anymore. We want to please God. We have a hunger to do God's will. We have a desire to learn more about God. But the best way is to simply BELIEVE that God's word is TRUE. And when you REST in knowing that the Bible is TRUE then the FEELINGS of assurance will eventually come to you. BUT if you trust in FEELINGS OVER believing God's word then Satan has the advantage over you and his LIES may convince you that God does not love you. So do NOT trust in FEELINGS alone.) 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they are sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of PEACE, and bring glad tidings of good things! (What the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, the Seventh Day Adventist church, and all seventh day of the week Sabbath keeping groups teach is NOT GOOD NEWS. Their gospel is GRIEVOUS and impossible to bear. All one can do to follow their gospel is to strive and HOPE they are good enough. There is NO PEACE in that kind of gospel which is NOT GOOD NEWS but a PERVERSION of the true gospel of Jesus Christ) 16. But they have NOT all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah said, Lord, who has believed our report? 17. So then FAITH COME BY HEARING, (Now, all different kinds of faith come by hearing. For example, a person can HEAR that Lucifer is the true God and they chose to BELIEVE that FALSE message to follow Lucifer. So just because one SINCERELY believes with all their heart something that they HEAR or read does NOT mean that it is the TRUTH. So then faith COMES by HEARING) and HEARING (Or TRUE understanding comes) BY the WORD OF God.”
Now, God has dealt EVERY man the measure of faith or the ABILITY to BELIEVE, so even our FAITH is a GIFT of God lest any man should BOAST. It is the PRIDE and BOASTING that God hates and that is why He wants us to be His workmanship and not our OWN workmanship.
Please read Romans 12:1-3.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (So then, it is our REASONABLE service that we crucify our FLESH daily to serve God in RIGHTEOUSNESS, In other words, it is our reasonable service to God to RESIST the temptation of our flesh to sin.) 2. And be NOT conformed to this world: (That makes excuses for sinning as if it is alright to sin) but be YOU transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according, as God has dealt to (Or has GIVEN to) EVERY MAN the measure of FAITH.”
In other words, God has given every person the ABILITY to BELIEVE. For you see, every person has the ability to make a CHOICE. And believing is simply making a CHOICE. We choose to believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ while some people CHOOSE to NOT believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we read in Ephesians 2:4-10.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (WHILE we were YET SINNERS) 5. Even WHEN we were dead in sins, has quickened us (Or has made us ALIVE or has freed us from that death in our past sins raising us to a new life) together with Christ, (by grace you ARE saved;) 6. And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (So then, we who BELIEVE the true gospel of Jesus Christ ARE saved. That means that we are forgiven of all our past sins. And thus, we have been made to sit in heavenly places already by being IN Jesus, the Christ. That means that we have been given power and authority to use the NAME of Jesus to defeat the weapons of the enemy, Satan, the Devil. Please read the study “G-1. JESUS THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES!”) 7. THAT (Or so that or in order that) in the ages TO COME he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8. For (Or BECAUSE it was) BY grace ARE you SAVED through FAITH; and that (Speaking of EVERY GIFT of God, the GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS, the GIFT of salvation, the GIFT of God’s GRACE, the GIFT of FAITH, God’s GIFT of his LOVE are) NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF God: 9. NOT of WORKS, lest any man should BOAST. 10. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works,(Which is our reasonable service) which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Again GOD’S commandments under the NEW Covenant are NOT grievous. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, walking in love toward one another, these are the commandments of God in the New Testament.
Please read Matthew 22:36-40, John 12:34.35, Galatians 6:2, and Romans 13:8-10.
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment. 39. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40. On these two commandments hang ALL the LAW and the prophets.”
John 13:34,35.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one to another.”
Galatians 6:2.
“Bear you one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Romans 13:8-10.
“Owe no man anything, but to LOVE one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the LAW. 9. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandments, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 10. LOVE works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE is the FULFILLING of the law.”
And the ONLY way a person can truly walk in LOVE without having any pride or BOASTING is THROUGH the eternal Spirit DWELLING IN us. And the ONLY WAY that the Holy Spirit can DWELL IN a person is for that person to RECEIVE God’s GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS to be made PERFECT in the eyes of God because the Holy God will NOT dwell in an UNCLEAN vessel. And this is why Jesus said we MUST be BORN AGAIN to see or understand the kingdom of God to be able to ENTER the kingdom of God. Those of us who are truly BORN AGAIN Christians are IN the kingdom of God that has already come WITHOUT observation.
Please read Luke 17:20,21 and John 17:13-21.
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes NOT with observation: (Now, most all Christians agree the when the kingdom comes AT the second coming of Jesus that EVERY eye shall see it coming. So the kingdom that has already come without observation is the one we are in right now as God’s NEW CREATION being created in Jesus Christ. In other words, if you are a TRUE BORN AGAIN Christian then you ARE saved WITHOUT the works of the law, you are being saved from faith to faith in the present world. And IF you endure unto the end you SHALL be saved to receive the end of your salvation, your crown of eternal life, in the world to come.) 21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU.”
John 17:13-21.
“And now come I to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (This is right before Jesus is to be crucified, raised from the dead and ascend to his Father in heaven) 14. I have given them your word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, EVEN AS I am not of the world. 15. I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil. 16. They are NOT of the world, even as I am NOT of the world. (Satan is the god of this present world but we, as true born again believers, are NOT of this world. Rather we have been TRANSLATED into the kingdom of God’s dear Son Jesus and have been DELIVERED from the POWER of Satan) 17. Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth. 18. As you have sent me into the world, even so, have I also sent them into the world. 19. And for their sakes, I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them ALSO which shall believe on me through THEIR word; (And the word of those that believe and those that believe by their word all the way through the entire church age has the TRUE gospel been handed down. Even if it would have never been WRITTEN down for us, God would have made sure the TRUTH would never pass away as some falsely claim so they could exalt themselves as the one true church alone) 21. That they ALL may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they ALSO may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Now some of you may not be aware that we, as Christians, are ALREADY IN the kingdom of God in this present world. In other words, some Christian plead and beg God for things that God has already GIVEN them. To say this another way, some Christians are not aware that they have been given the POWER and the AUTHORITY in the mighty name of Jesus to be reigning OVER Satan to destroy his works as Jesus destroyed his works. Please read the study “G-3. THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!”
Please read Colossians 1:3-15.
“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4. Since we heard of your FAITH in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (So these are truly born again Christians) 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6. Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you heard of it, and knew the GRACE of God IN TRUTH: (In other words, the grace of God that is NOT in truth is the grace taught by the LDS church or the church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints which wrongly teaches that God’s grace can only be received AFTER one does all they can do FIRST. That is the exact OPPOSITE of what the word of TRUTH teaches us in the Holy Bible) 7. As you also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8. Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10. That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and INCREASING in the knowledge of God; 11. Strengthened with all might, according to HIS glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (When we become strong in the power and glory of HIS might to overcome sin then we have reason to rejoice in HIS mighty and glorious power and not our OWN strength) 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which HAS MADE us MEET to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. WHO HAS DELIVERED us from the power of darkness, and (WHO) HAS translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14. In whom we HAVE redemption THROUGH his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature:”
Jesus is the FIRSTBORN of every NEW CREATURE of God’s NEW CREATION. Jesus is the FIRSTBORN from the dead, the FIRST human being to be given the divine nature of immortality. Jesus is the FIRSTBORN among many brethren. Jesus is the BEGINNING of the creation of God. It is Almighty God the Father who CREATED us IN his Son Jesus. It was Almighty God the Father who HIGHLY EXALTED the Son of MAN Jesus to become God’s ETERNAL SON. Please read the three part study “O-14. WHEN DID JESUS BECOME GOD'S ETERNAL SON?” and “O-13. WHAT DOES THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE TRULY MEAN?” NOW are we the sons of God as we walk after the Spirit and NOT after the flesh, but we do not become God’s ETERNAL sons until we endure unto the END.
Please read Revelation 21:7.
“He that OVERCOMES shall inherit all things, and I WILL BE his God, and he SHALL be my son.”
There are TWO steps to overcoming and no one can accomplish the second step WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING the FIRST step which is FREELY given to us as God’s GIFT to all who BELIEVE.
We have already read 1 John 5:1,4 showing us these TWO steps of salvation.
“1. Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him… ...4. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH.”
So then, by FAITH we are BORN AGAIN being BORN OF God by our FAITH in his WORD of truth. God then gives us the POWER to become his eternal sons and daughters AFTER we overcome even as Jesus overcame. And whatsoever, speaking of whatsoever NEW CREATURE created IN Jesus Christ overcomes the world. And THIS is the VICTORY by which we OVERCOME sin, EVEN our FAITH. Even when we fall we overcome by CONFESSING our sin and BELIEVING that God is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgives us and CLEANSE us from all our unrighteousness no matter how many times we fall. Now that is GOOD NEWS, the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ. But even GREATER NEWS is that you CAN live your live FREE from sin and the JOY is full giving THANKS to God our Father and his Son Jesus who MAKE it possible. With men it is IMPOSSIBLE but WITH GOD all things are possible by FAITH. God showed me that I was trying to live without sin with my OWN strength. I kept trying and trying and failing and failing. And then God showed me that I did NOT BELIEVE in his promises in his word. Then I saw that FAITH is how I gain VICTORY over sin by overcoming ONE sin at a time by overcoming ONE temptation at a time. Please read the study “F-12. HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN!” But for now, please read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 where Paul is speaking to true born again Christians who are already the temple of God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
“Be you NOT unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has RIGHTEOUSNESS with unrighteousness? and what communion has LIGHT with darkness? 15. And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that BELIEVES with an infidel? 16. And what agreement has the TEMPLE of God with idols? for YOU are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will DWELL IN them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (Wait a minute. Did you see that? We are ALREADY received by God being IN his Son Jesus Christ. We are already reconciled to God. We have already been forgiven of all our past sins. We have already received God’s free GIFT of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. God is ALREADY DWELLING IN us and he is telling us that he WILL receive us IF we separate ourselves from the world to NOT touch any unclean thing) 18. And WILL BE a Father unto you, and you SHALL BE my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
You see dear child of God, we are NOW the BORN AGAIN sons and daughters of God, as in, our inner man has become a NEW creature created in Jesus Christ to be translated into the kingdom of his dear Son that has already come without observation to those who do not believe. But it does not yet APPEAR or it has not yet MANIFESTED what we SHALL be but we know that we shall be LIKE Jesus for we shall see him as he is, to be BORN AGAIN, receiving eternal life to ENTER into the kingdom of God to rule and reign with Jesus over the MORTALS on the earth. We shall be CHANGED in a moment in a twinkling of an eye at the coming of Jesus and given immortal glorified bodies like Jesus was given after his resurrection. Jesus ascended into heaven the second time with an IMMORTAL body of FLESH and BONE. Jesus was God’s Son during the days of his MORTAL FLESH as the Son of MAN. Thus, it was only AFTER Jesus OVERCAME sin by becoming OBEDIENT to do all the will of his God and Father that Almighty God the Father HIGHLY EXALTED the Son of MAN. That was when Almighty God the Father gave Jesus eternal life to be having in himself even as the Father has always possessed immortality in himself being the SOURCE of all life and creation. Please read the study “O-14. WHEN DID JESUS BECOME GOD’S ETERNAL SON?” for all the Scripture that supports what I am summarizing here in this study.
Revelation 3:21,22.
“To him that OVERCOMES will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also OVERCAME, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”
Some have asked the questions, Was Jesus born again? What did Jesus mean by a person MUST be born of WATER and of the Spirit? Does being born of WATER means that we MUST be BAPTISED in water before we can be saved? These are some very good questions which I will cover in another in-depth study called “O-2. WAS JESUS ALWAYS GOD'S SON?” Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. So, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading >>>D-0. THE BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of JESUS!<<< And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading >>>C-0. THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH!<<< This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED!
To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY is according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So please read ALL of the studies under the heading >>>N-0. WHO is JESUS ACCORDING to the BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>U-0. VERSES used for THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>V-0. VERSES used to TEACH that Jesus PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL of the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
RETURN to HOMEPAGE at
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Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ! |
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