beloved57
Well-known member
There are millions and millions of people that profess to be Christians that have not been born again by the word of God.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. John 1:3.
Being born again is spiritual. If you don't have the Holy Spirit you will not understand what it means to be born again. Nicodemus could not understand what Jesus was talking about. Just like many of you that read this article will not understand what I am talking about.
Peter said, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed (Adam) but of incorruptible (Christ) BY THE WORD OF GOD, which lives and abides forever" 1 Peter 1:23.
What is the word of God? The word of God is either the law or the Gospel. In this case it is the Gospel. Those that are born again are those that hear and believe the Gospel. They were born again in the Old Testament by believing in God's promise of a savior.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Gospel for the very first time. Those that heard and believed Peter's Gospel were born again. The number was about 8,000, Acts 2:41 also Acts 4:4. They heard the Gospel, they believed the Gospel. God gave them the Holy Spirit and they were born again.
Paul wrote to the Galatians that were trying to be saved by works, "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law (because you did something) or by the hearing of faith? (hearing and believing the Gospel) Galatians 3:2. We hear the Gospel we believe the Gospel and we are born again by the word of God which is the Gospel. This also confirms what Paul said "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (which is the Gospel) Romans 10:17.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
Not many hear and believe the Gospel, this is why they are NOT born again. The Gospel is that work that Jesus did in our name and on our behalf. In our name and on our behalf Jesus has fulfilled all of the demands of God's Holy Law. Jesus has offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his holy law. It was this life that was lived for our justification, Romans 3:26. We have been justified by the life of Christ. This is the only life that God accepts for our salvation. We are accepted only in him and because of him. After Jesus fulfilled the law for us, he abolished it, Ephesians 2:15. We are no longer under the law, nor are we subject to it.
That was not enough. Jesus, in our name and on our behalf took our place on the cross and atoned for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. "For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21. As far as God is concerned sin, death and the devil have been destroyed, Romans 6:6. We now stand as perfect and complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10. No religion needed. If you need a religion to save you, you are not saved. Only those who believe this Gospel are born again and have eternal life.
You believe one is born again by his own freewill!