YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Many people profess to be Christian and truly believes that when they die, they will go to heaven. However, this profession of faith is due to either family heritage or some sort of affiliation to Christianity.

Furthermore, professing Christians could also be those who are caught up in cults but also the carnal and hypocritical Christians. Nevertheless, the big question is, are these people true Christians?  Absolutely not. Therefore, if those who professed to be Christians with such external beliefs, are not Christians, who then are the proper Christians? 

According to the Bible, true Christians are those whose hearts have been transformed by God. They have been born again. It’s a faith that flows from a transformed heart, it works from the inside out. Importantly, proper Christians can profess their faith but it’s a fundamental spiritual transformation that can be externally observed.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 ESV

A distinguished Jewish ruler approached Jesus claiming that he grasped who Jesus is. Nicodemus perceived that Jesus was just a teacher who came from heaven. Jesus's response revealed the superficiality of Nicodemus’s faith, as he was a professing believer of God. Nonetheless, the exclusive and authoritative statement of Jesus towards Nicodemus, clearly states that to see the kingdom of God, a person needs to be born again or born from above.

It’s a solemn charge of utmost importance, despite education, background or church membership unless a person is born again they cannot see the kingdom of God. Therefore, the prerequisite for salvation or entry into the kingdom of God is the new birth.

“Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as those who have lived much amiss, or to little purpose. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims”. Matthew Hendry (1662-1714).

The person who is born again doesn’t contribute to their birth just like a natural birth. The new birth is a spiritual work done by God, called regeneration. (John 3:8).

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

God promised through Ezekiel that He will give sinners new hearts. It’s a spiritual heart surgery done by God. In the Old Testament it’s called circumcision of the heart, meaning the heart of sin is cut off and replaced by a new heart of flesh. That’s why Jesus challenged Nicodemus for not knowing this fundamental truth (John 3:9-10). Evidently, Old Testament saints were regenerated as a result they were able to exercise faith in God (Romans 4:1-3).

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. Romans 5:12 ESV

The reason why every person on earth needs the new birth, it’s because we are all children of Adam. Sadly, not all will accept this truth and be saved. The sin of Adam, was passed down to his countless descendants. And it’s evident that every person has the sin nature and a default to sin.

Therefore, because the initial birth of a person is sin that leads to death, everyone needs the new birth to enter the holy kingdom of God. Whether you are a high moral, religious or kind person, if you’re not born again, you will not see the kingdom of God.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14 ESV

This account was a veiled demonstration of how a person can be saved. In the wilderness, the fiery serpent bites the rebellious Israelites as God’s righteous judgment and its poison was killing them (Numbers 21:4-9).

However, the brazen serpent lifted up on the pole was a parable of the reality of who took the righteous judgment on their behalf. Therefore, the Israelites who looked at the brazen serpent were physically healed as a result believed God.

If only Nicodemus will look to the Son of Man who is lifted up on the cross, the Suffering Servant and Glorified Son, he will be spiritual healed. The new birth is confirmed in believing in Christ. Nicodemus must have believed and born again as he publicly declared his faith in Jesus (John 19:39).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

The good news to the world is that, God in His love sent His only eternal Son as a sin offering to satisfy His wrath and Judgment. On the cross, Jesus took this upon Himself, separated from the Father. He was punished, dead and buried but was raised on the third day and alive today.

Those who believe in Jesus will not be condemned. For someone to see the kingdom of God they need to repent of their sins and believe in the work of Christ (Acts 2:38).

Can you see the kingdom of heaven by works or being neutral? It’s only possible through being born again and made new in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Finally, those who are proper Christian have been transformed by Christ. The source of their salvation is what Christ has achieved on their behalf and the fruit of their lives will be clearly visible by all. By their fruits you will know them. Accordingly, if you are born again you will bear fruit that keeps with righteousness and you will certainly see the kingdom of God.