Mat 18:3 Then he said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Unless you changeand become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Generally people think this is a subject that is spoken of only in the Gospel of John when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus.
However, it is a subject that most of the Christian Scripture writers comment on with the exception of Jude and the writer of the letter to the Hebrews. Yet, even that writer comments on the means of how one isborn again, namely through “the word”.
Matthew, Mark and Luke’s contribution to this subject of being born again is by their recording of Jesus’ parable of the Sower which we will look at later.
So if we simply use the statements to Nicodemus in John’s Gospel regarding being born-again, elsewhere calledregeneration, we will only have part of the picture and so get a faulty understanding.
REGENERATION
The Greek word palingenesia means “regeneration.”
- First in time is the personal regeneration of individuals (Titus 3:5) – those who are born again.
- Secondly the concept applies to the regeneration of the whole world – the renovation of all visible things (Matt. 19:28).
REGENERATION OF THE WORLD
· “And Jesus said to them: Truly I say to YOU...In the regeneration(palingenesia ), when the Son of Man will sit down on his glorious throne...” (Matt. 19:28).
ESV renders“the regeneration” as: “in the new world,” NLT: “when the world is made new,” Barclay: “at the rebirth of the world ,” thereby demonstrating the fact that improving conditions will begin to exist very soon after the kingdom is established.
The regeneration of the whole world is synonymous with the Greek phraseapokatastasis panton meaning “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). This process begins when Jesus returns and establishes the kingdom.
· “...that he may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things (apokatastasis panton)about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time”
(Acts 3:20, 21).
This is not the restoration only of true worship but of the restoration of “things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time” involving humanity in general and resulting in “the new heavens and new earth” (Isa. 65:17-25; 2 Peter 3:13). It is as when God say “I will make all things new” (Rev 21:5). So shortly after Jesus returns this restoration begins.
Furthermore, it is logical that, after the establishment of the Kingdom and after dealing with his main enemies, Jesus would immediately bring into effect the processes to improve conditions in the world – for example world disarmament (Isa. 2:1-4). There would be no need for any decades’ long gap!
PERSONAL REGENERATION OF INDIVIDUALS
On the personal level regeneration denotes a spiritual change – a change of disposition toward God so that one is no longer estranged from Him. Now regeneration, both personal and cosmic, is the work of God. Nevertheless, personal regeneration involves the response of the individual as we shall see in a moment. Although there are these two different aspects to regeneration, namely the cosmic/universal and the personal, the Scriptures present personal renewal as really a part of the cosmic renewal. This means that the regenerated person has not yet reached the goal but moves forward toward it.
FROM PAUL
· “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration (palingenesia ) and (or “even”) renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
This second of the two times that palingenesia is used in the NT concerns individuals and so is personal. It results in such radical changes in the person that he has become a new person:
· “...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature...” (2 Cor. 5:17).
· “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10).
FROM JOHN
“But to those who did accept him [Jesus ] he gave power to become Children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born (generated ) not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God”
(John 1:12, 13 NAB)
Both 1 John 3:9 and 5:18: speak of Christians as being “born (begotten) of God.”Indeed, the synonymous terms of regeneration, begotten or born again with regard to individuals are metaphorical. Clearly, this usage does not mean any kind if literal birth as Nicodemus mistakenly thought.
JESUS’ DISCUSSION WITH NICODEMUS
“Jesus answered and said to him [Nicodemus ], ‘Amen, amen I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above ...I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit’” (John 3:3, 5 NAB).
“Being born of water” likely refers to baptism but interestingly “being born of...Spirit” refers, according to the writings of the other apostles, to one’s reception of “the word”. Often the usual evangelical discussion of this subject ends here. The thought is that the holy spirit performs a mystical operation on us, perhaps at the time of baptism, and we are miraculously changed forever! Yet this is far from the complete story. There is an actual process of this new birth – this being born again.
FROM JAMES
“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18).
FROM PETER
· “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy caused us to be born (generated) again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
· “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable butimperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God ...but theword of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word which was preached to you ”
(1 Peter 1:23-25).
“THE WORD” IS THE MEANS OF OUR REBIRTH
· “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
· “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
MORE ON BEING “BORN AGAIN” FROM JESUS
THE EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Matthew 13:18-23 :
“Hear then the parable of the sower
1. ‘when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
Such understanding is not based on intelligence or lack of intelligence.
2. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arisesbecause of the word, immediately he falls away .
3. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealthchoke the word, and it becomes unfruitful .
4. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil , this is the man who hears the word and understands it ; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
This parable gives 3 key factors:
- The sower = Jesus
- The seed = the word of the kingdom
- The soil = each individual and their various responses
WHAT IS “THE WORD”?
As noted in the earlier verses of the parable “the word” is “the word of the kingdom” or “the word which was preached to you ” according to Peter:
· “And this is the word which was preached to you ” (1 Peter 1:25).
So “the word” is not simply the Bible but the specific message that Jesus preached of the coming Kingdom – the good news of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15):
· “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43).
“AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST”
An integral part of the message is everything about Jesus as king of the kingdom, including, the fact of his sacrificing of himself and his resurrection:
“When they believed Philip preaching the good news of the kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ , they were being baptized...” (Acts 8:12).
RECEIVING THE SEED
So those who are spiritually dormant are first of all awakened when, through various means, they come to hear the message of the kingdom and “the name of Jesus Christ.” Then they are enlightened by this message. And finally they arepersuaded by it. So for one to be born again involves the willing reception of this seed “word of the kingdom, ” and the understanding of it. It is this receiving that causes a person to be “born again,” which means being “born from above,” “born of God” or “regenerated.” Such a born again Christian has become a“Son of the kingdom”(Matt. 13:38),“a new creature...” and then he begins to bear fruit “and brings forth, some a hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty” according to their varying circumstances.
MORE DETAILS FROM LUKE’S VERSION OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Luke 8:10-15 ESV:
“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God ... Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God [the message of the kingdom ].
- The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe andbe saved .
- And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy . But these have no root; they believe for a while , and in time of testing fall away.
- And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
- As for the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
Now in Matthew’s version of the parable we notice that it is only the first [the road ] that did“not understand it.”This type of person isnever a believer – is never born
again. However, the 2nd type [the rocky soil ]in both Matthew and Luke received the word of the kingdom with joy, but they “believe for a while , and in time of testing (i.e. affliction /persecution) fall away.” Being no longer believers they are no longer “born again.”
NOTE: This is a metaphorical phrase so that in that sense someone can become unborn.
If we look at the details of the 3rd type [the thorns ] in both Matthew and Luke we see that the seed word of the kingdom “becomes unfruitful” i.e. “their fruit does not mature .”
All this indicates that the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th soils all became born again. So categories 2 and 3 had become genuine Christians, were born again, and were saved; yet group 2 falls away and is no longer saved. This shows that the concept of once saved always saved is not biblical. Yet, group 3 seems to remain saved but does not allow its fruit to mature.
THE FRUITAGE OF BEING BORN AGAIN
· “No one who is born of God practices sin, because his seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
According to the NIV notes this does not mean: “a complete cessation of sin, but of a life that is not characterised by sin.”
· “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but he [Jesus ] who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18).
AGAINST “WORKS OF THE FLESH”
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissention, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins like these... anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21 NLT).
FRUITAGE OF THE SPIRIT
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”
(Gal. 5:22, 23 NLT).
So to be born again means an absolute revolution/transformation in us as people. The whole person is being changed from his worldly way of feeling and thinking to God’s way of feeling and thinking, so that now he has God’s mind on things.
Our on-going fight against “the desires of (our) sinful nature” and our bearing the good fruit as above will complete us as people who will be used by Jesus in the furtherance of God’s kingdom purpose at the regeneration of the world.
SUMMARY
Being born again or regenerated concerns the Messianic hopes for the final restoration. On the personal level it is the future “life of the age to come” as brought
into our present experience (John 3:16) by our positive response to the good news message of “the Kingdom of God” as demonstrated in the parable of the sower. On the cosmic/universal level it will be the rebirth of the world in the kingdom “new heavens and new earth.”
Elijah Returns
