It has been bought to my attention that many speak of having been “born again.” What does this term mean? Millions think they know but do not. Do you? Let the Biblical Scriptures solve this problem for you.
Since Christ taught, “Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God,” correct understanding is vital. You can know Christ’s meaning. Here it is, made absolutely PLAIN!
BY DAVID C. PACK
Many Protestants and virtually all “evangelical” Christians think that, after becoming “believers,” they have been “born again.”
I have known many who believed this. While having no idea what the term actually meant, they had been told that “professing Jesus” was a kind of “new birth”—that they were in some mysterious way “born again.” It also became their Christian duty to bring others to this belief. I have been approached more than once and asked if I have been “born again.” I always answered no! This booklet explains why.
The popular concept of what it means to be “born again” is based largely on ignorance of God’s Word and outright silly reasoning. Yet the deception that this single misunderstanding presents is even more important when considering how many other true doctrines fall like dominoes in its wake. God’s purpose for man—that He is expanding His Family—the true gospel, most aspects of the kingdom of God, the meaning of being sons of God, character development, the pagan trinity doctrine, who is the antichrist, and more, become impossible to properly understand.
Almost none take the time to examine—or prove—what God’s Word says about this extremely important subject. If they did, they would be stunned—astonished—at what they found!
Most professing Christians believe that being “born again” occurs in this life upon “receiving Jesus.” But this is not what the Bible teaches. Being “born again” has nothing whatsoever to do with “professing Jesus,” “just believing in your heart,” “giving your heart to the Lord” or any other kind of religious experience. It does not happen at conversion. The Bible teaches that it happens long after this initial step in a new Christian’s life.
So few understand Jesus’ words: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Reread and consider them carefully. Take note of what Christ says is at stake in just this single scripture. One’s ability to “see the kingdom of God” hinges solely on whether he is “born again.” Obviously, one had better understand the enormous importance of how and when people are born again!
When Christ said “Except a man,” He left no room for misunderstanding. Do not be confused. Remaining deceived about being born again makes salvation impossible. Certainly, when this occurs, it is inseparable from properly understanding how it happens or what it means. Also, if one believes that conversion allows a person to “see the kingdom,” then he must believe that the kingdom is here now. Yet the Bible plainly teaches otherwise!
While Christ’s words require explanation, you can understand what so many do not. And it will be made most PLAIN!
First Things First—Basic Scriptures!
Of the 12 rules of Bible study, the most basic for proper doctrinal understanding is to start with the clearest scriptures on any subject. This is especially critical in removing misconceptions about how and when one is born again.
In fact, there are several plain verses about this subject. They introduce everything else that follows. Understanding them is the only proper way to approach the subject. The entire doctrine becomes quite easy to understand when you keep these few basic verses straight. We shall examine three before examining Christ’s statement in (John 3:3).
First, notice a most startling scripture written by the apostle Paul to the Colossians. Remember that the Bible always interprets itself, and to always accept what it says after it does.
Speaking of Christ, Paul wrote, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature…And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15, 18).
Christ is the firstborn “from the dead.” This is a big key to understanding when one is born again. Believe God, and fix this phrase in your mind. This verse states that one’s new birth occurs after death—and involves returning from the dead. Once again, accept what the Bible says, without adding to or subtracting from it. (Colossians Verse 15 ) uses the phrase “firstborn of every creature,” thereby adding double emphasis to Paul’s statement—and meaning.
Despite the plainness of this verse, some try to dismiss it by saying it has nothing to do with being born from the dead. They explain it away as merely a title given to Christ—that He holds the title of “Firstborn from the dead.”
This is silly—even foolish—and easy to disprove.
Notice the phrase “who is the beginning.” This alone proves that Christ’s Resurrection from the dead refers to the order in time sequence that this occurs. He is the “beginning” of all those others who will receive eternal life at His Return—when the resurrection of the dead occurs. “Beginning” has to be a reference to who is first. The next passage builds on and helps explain this one.
Paul wrote to the Romans, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). God intends on having “many” sons—Christ’s “brethren,” born later in His plan. If anyone is designated to be first, others must follow, or first has no meaning. It must be related to something else later. In the case of salvation, many will follow. This is further proof that “firstborn” has nothing to do with any supposed title!
Christ is not the only Son to be part of God’s Plan. There will be more sons who follow Him in the resurrection. He is firstborn of “every creature”—the other sons. The many other brethren are those converted over the last 2,000 years (and a few in the Old Testament). They are called to become younger brothers and sisters with Christ. If Christ is firstborn from the dead, then all other brethren would be “secondborn,” “thirdborn,” “onehundrethborn,” etc.
Let’s note one additional verse confirming when Christ was born again. The apostle John, recording Christ’s Revelation, wrote, “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Revelations 1:5, NKJV).
Though the Authorized Version (KJV) translates this as “first begotten,” virtually every other translation renders this verse as “firstborn from the dead.”
These verses make absolutely plain that one is born from the dead at the resurrection. Only then will—or can—anyone “see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus Questions Christ
Now for the verse that causes so much unnecessary controversy and confusion for so many. This should never be. Let’s examine why.
A series of verses in (John 3) is commonly misunderstood by people who believe that they can be “born again” in this life, as physical human beings, and, therefore, “see the kingdom of God.”
In this account, Nicodemus questioned Christ, who answered, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3: 3). Confused, Nicodemus replied, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered…Except a man be born of water [the first physical, human birth] and of the Spirit [again later, at the resurrection], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:4-5). To see and enter into God’s kingdom, you must become spirit. But people are physical. Entering the kingdom is impossible for them, because Paul wrote that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 15:50)!
While Nicodemus knew exactly what being born meant, he was confused about how it could happen again—a second time. This is why he asked about re-entering his mother’s womb. However, ministers and religious leaders today are deceived and confused in a different way. They claim that being born again has nothing to do with an actual birth—but that it is a feeling, an experience, a “conversion” and the like.
In verse 5, Christ explains what it means to be “born of water and of the Spirit,” and why, if this does not happen, one “cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Yes, the kingdom is something that can be “entered into.” But Christ explains His “born of water and of the Spirit” phrase when He states, “That which is born of the flesh IS flesh” and then “that which is born of the Spirit IS spirit” (vs. 6).
Of course it is. Flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of God—but spirit can! Human beings are made of dust (Gen. 2:7; 3:19), not spirit. Those born again are composed of spirit.
When born as humans, we are delivered from a physical mother. When born of spirit, we are delivered from a spiritual mother, the Church. People are destined to be born again as spirit, like Christ was, just as surely as they are born physically of a human mother, like Christ was. This will become plain.
Because Christ wanted no room for misunderstanding, He likened spirit to wind. Wind, like spirit, is invisible. It cannot be seen. Christ told Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it lists [does], and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3: 8). Those who are born of spirit will be like wind—they will be invisible! But human beings are flesh and blood, and can be seen.
Another comparison is important. Wind often demonstrates enormous POWER. While invisible, its effects are easily seen. The force of hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes and straight-line winds can be tremendous. But people possess relatively little power. The power of wind vastly exceeds that of the strongest human being—or a million put together!
So, there is a limitation on who can actually see and enter the kingdom. Anyone can see physical things. Therefore, the kingdom cannot be something physical, or everyone could see it. Understand these critical points that Christ made. You must be spirit to see the invisible kingdom of God!
Proper understanding of the Bible’s teaching about being born again is vital—absolutely paramount—to both “see” and to “enter into” the kingdom of God.
Grasp this about the John 3 account! Christ was making an exciting, thrilling announcement about the kingdom of God coming to earth—and that people can be born into it. But His “newscast” was received as a threat to the religious leaders. They saw themselves as losing power to both this kingdom and Christ because of His influence over the people.
When Nicodemus approached Christ, he acknowledged in verse 2, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God.” He plainly admitted that he knew who Christ was and that God had sent Him to earth. Notice that Nicodemus was speaking for more people than himself when he said, “we know.” Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He was referring to himself and the other Pharisees who understood who and what Christ was. These religious leaders well understood that Christ’s true authority to teach the truth and perform miracles came “from God.” They could not deny God’s power evident in the miracles He performed. But they still resented Him. On different occasions, they called Him a blasphemer, drunkard, heretic, seditionist, bastard, ignorant, demon-possessed, false prophet—and crucified Him!
The Romans usually installed the Pharisees into positions of rulership under their occupying authority. This gave the Pharisees important status and made life generally better for them than for the admiring multitudes that Christ taught, healed, cast demons from and performed other miracles for.
Like the Pharisees, many today see the plain truth of the Bible, yet choose to ignore it in order to hold to their own traditions and ideas—and status! The Pharisees felt threatened by the potential for immediate loss of personal power to this new kingdom. This is why Christ spoke so bluntly to them when He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
When Was Jesus Born Again?
Despite the plainness of these verses, there are those who still dispute them. They reject the obvious meaning that the “born again experience” occurs at the resurrection, claiming that upon “accepting Jesus,” one can “see the kingdom” in his mind’s eye. But, in addition to ignoring that the kingdom must be “entered into” as well, this conclusion leaves them with another serious dilemma.
If Christ was not born again when He was “born from the dead,” then when else could He have experienced this? Remember, almost all professing Christians believe that one is born again upon “conversion.”
When did Christ experience conversion? When did He accept Himself? No one can explain this!
Since Christ had the Holy Spirit from begettal in Mary’s womb, when was He “converted”? Understand! The Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is given at conversion (Acts 2:38). Yet, Christ had God’s Spirit from conception. Would any suggest that He could “see the kingdom of God” when just an embryo inside His mother? Did Christ “give His heart to the Lord (Himself)” as an embryo in His mother’s womb?
The question of when Christ was born again takes on greater significance for another reason. True Christians copy Christ. The apostle Peter wrote, “Christ...leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (I Pet. 2:21).
It is impossible for Christians to follow Christ’s example of rebirth at conversion because He was never converted in the human sense. He had the Holy Spirit from the moment His physical existence began.
We have learned another important point about being born again that applies here. Remember, Christ said, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” This reinforces all the above verses about Him being born from the dead. After His Resurrection and return to heaven, Jesus was composed of Spirit—He was then like wind.
Before continuing, you must grasp this! The example that Christ set, which Christians must follow, is that He was born (again) from the dead, not at conversion. Like Christ, we will also be composed of spirit, and be like wind.
Christ’s Advance Announcement
Before we can delve more deeply into the truth of when one is born again, some background is needed as a foundation for truly understanding the big picture of this doctrine.
Wherever He went, Christ continually announced the kingdom of God. It was the subject of most of His parables. Like a newscaster ahead of his time, Christ came announcing a total change in the way the world would be governed at His Return—at the establishing of God’s kingdom. With this change would come unprecedented world peace, happiness and prosperity.
The prophet Malachi spoke of a Messenger to come: “Behold, I will send My messenger [John the Baptist], and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger [Jesus] of the covenant, whom you delight in” (3:1).
Christ came as a Messenger. And when He commissioned His twelve apostles and sent them to preach, the only instruction He gave was to preach about the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1-2). When He later sent out His seventy disciples (10:1), He also commanded them to preach the kingdom (vs. 9).
The terms “kingdom” and “kingdom of God” are found throughout the New Testament. Yet it is absolutely astonishing how nearly everyone has lost the knowledge and true meaning of what they refer to! Like the truth about being born again, this understanding has been suppressed for 2,000 years!
What IS the Gospel?
The word “gospel” is an old English word meaning “god spell” or good news. The word “kingdom” is also an old English term simply meaning government. In other words, Christ preached “the good news of the government of God.” World peace, happiness and prosperity for all will certainly be good news for mankind, who has not known it for 6,000 years!
Jesus came saying, “Repent you, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). But what is the true gospel? The truth of the gospel is now hidden from the vast majority of professing Christians. Ever since the first century, there has been a conspiracy to deceive would-be Christians about the meaning of the gospel. Shocking as it is, this statement is true!
Most believe that the gospel is about the person of Christ. Certainly He is an important subject, but Christ is not the gospel. The Bible shows that Jesus is preached in conjunction with the gospel. Of course, His role is extremely important. But again, He is not the gospel!
Notice Mark’s account again: “Now after that John [the first Malachi 3:1 messenger] was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (vs. 14). That is the gospel Jesus preached, saying, “Repent you, and believe the gospel.” What gospel?—the “kingdom of God.” Verse 1 refers to this message: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Christ’s gospel is about the kingdom of God—not something else! One must believe that gospel to be saved—not some counterfeit.
No wonder Christ answered Nicodemus as He did.
Everything that Christ said and taught He tied to the kingdom of God!
The Kingdom of God Explained
We have seen that Christians will be born again so that they can “see”—“inherit” (I Cor. 15:50)—the kingdom of God. This much is now plain.
But what is the kingdom of God? The term has no meaning if it cannot be understood. If Christians inherit it, they should know exactly what they are inheriting.
Let’s make this impossible to misunderstand. In this life, people are born into: (1) A human family, and (2) any one of many earthly human kingdoms (governments). A kingdom is comprised of a nation of people under a government that rules the nation.
It is the same with God. At the resurrection, humans are born into: (1) The God FAMILY, which is also (2) the KINGDOM of God. These are essentially one and the same. The parallel is perfectly clear when comparing the human physical pattern to the divine Spirit pattern.
God has a throne in heaven, from which He rules His kingdom (Isa. 66:1; Rev. 3:21). He literally rules the entire universe with Christ. When Christians are born again, they enter this kingdom—God’s ruling, governing Family!
Are you beginning to see God’s awesome purpose for your life—your inheritance? (Take time to read our free booklet What is the KINGDOM OF GOD?)
Daniel Understood
The prophet Daniel understood that the kingdom of God involved a literal government that would one day rule over real people and real nations on earth. He held no illusion that it was merely “sentimental fluff” or a “warm feeling in the hearts of men.” Through a series of dreams and visions (Dan. 1:17), God used him to explain much new, special understanding about how and when His kingdom would come to earth.
All that Daniel was shown was to be “closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (12:9). We are now in the time of the end. There are many proofs of this. His message is for us today! Daniel reported big—tremendous—news that will affect you in your lifetime! He understood and spoke the same gospel that Christ preached—and it is vital that we understand what he said! (Read our free booklet Are these the LAST DAYS? to understand more about how Daniel’s prophecy was written to be understood in our time.)
Carefully read Daniel 2:28-44. This astonishing, detailed prophecy reveals many things about God’s plan to restore His government to earth—including the time sequence in which this will happen.
The first several verses describe the image of a giant man. Verses 31 to 33 state, “This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.” This man is constructed of four distinct parts. Verses 34 to 35 describe a large supernatural “stone that smote the image [and] became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Note verse 34 states that this stone “was cut out without hands” because God, not men, formed it.
The “stone” shattered the image and replaced it, eventually encompassing the entire earth. This can only be the government of God coming to earth. In effect, Daniel is announcing the same gospel of the kingdom of God.
These same verses show a succession of world empires depicted by different metals of which the giant image (statue) was made. These were literal kingdoms. First, the Chaldean-Babylonian Empire of gold—second, the Medo-Persian Empire of silver—third, the Greco-Macedonian Empire of brass—and fourth, the Roman Empire of iron mixed with clay. The message from history is that these four kingdoms once governed vast areas, and the fourth kingdom will largely rule the world until the kingdom of God is finally established.
Saints Enter the Kingdom
Daniel wrote much about God’s kingdom—and the saints’ role in it, offering a direct connection to when Christians will be born again.
Chapter 7, verse 13, speaks of Christ coming in the “clouds of heaven.” Before His Return, God officially grants Him the authority to rule the world. The next verse states, “And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (vs. 14).
In this earth-shattering event, Christ is prophesied to come like lightning shining from the east to the west (Matt. 24:27). John wrote of this time: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).
God has a plan for how to manage all peoples and nations. Christ will not rule earth by Himself. The governments of men require the efforts of many, who assist a leader. God’s government is no different, where He is supreme.
More verses in Daniel 7 are critical to understand. Remember that God’s kingdom is foretold to replace the four previously discussed world-ruling kingdoms of chapter 2: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever” (vs. 17-18).
That is right! The ultimate calling of Christians is to join Christ and share rulership in the kingdom of God over all nations and peoples. Truly, Christ is “king of kings and lord of lords.” This includes anyone willing to accept God’s terms for entering His kingdom.
Verses 19 to 20 shed additional light on what happens when the saints return with Christ. Their first responsibility is to replace the “fourth beast,” which rules with the assistance of a “little horn.” This little horn is a religious kingdom and is the woman who rides the beast of Revelation 17. This religious kingdom (centered in Rome) has ruled over all of the previous resurrections, or revivals, of the Holy Roman Empire.
Notice: “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints [the work of the Babylonish whore of Revelation 17:5-6], and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (vs. 21-22).
Finally, verse 27 confirms the marvelous potential lying ahead for all the true saints of God: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
What could be more plain? No wonder Christ stated, “And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father” (Rev. 2:26-27), and added, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne…” (3:21).
The phrase “in My throne” is used because Christ understood that His throne is on the earth, unlike the Father’s, which is in heaven. Luke 1:32 shows that Christ will sit in Jerusalem on the throne of David. Also, see Revelation 5:10; 20:4; Matthew 5:5; Psalm 25:12-13; 37:11, etc. There is no doubt that when Christ returns, the saints will rule with Him!
God’s Government Once Ruled the Earth
Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The book of Job describes the time when God created the world. God asked Job a series of questions: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it?…When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (38:4-5, 7).
These “stars” were angels (Rev. 1:20; 12:4) and are described as “sons of God.” Literal heavenly stars do not sing. Notice that it says “all” of them “shouted” and “sang together.” Job reveals that the earth was created in a wonderful and beautiful condition, with angelic joy and singing. Lucifer and his angels had not yet rebelled at the time of the Genesis 1:1 creation.
Genesis 1:2 is mistranslated and does not reflect the meaning of the original Hebrew. The King James Version of the Bible states, “And the earth was without form, and void.” Three key Hebrew words are all mistranslated here, thus obscuring—and actually hiding—the verse’s true meaning.
The word translated “was” is hayah. In Genesis 2:7, this word is correctly translated “became,” and in Genesis 9:15, “become.”
The words for “without form, and void” are tohu and bohu. Correctly translated, they mean “chaotic, in confusion, waste and empty.” In short, a perfectly created earth (vs. 1) “became chaotic and confused” (vs. 2).
In effect, Isaiah 45:18 shows the way God did not create the earth: “For thus says the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain [tohu meaning chaotic or waste], He formed it to be inhabited.” The earth became chaotic after God created it—between the events of Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. The latter verse describes the earth’s re-creation 6,000 years ago. Verse 1 describes the original creation of the entire universe that scientists say occurred as many as 17 billion years ago.
We know what happened. But how did it happen? How did the earth go from being beautiful and perfect at creation to chaotic, confused, waste and empty? Since God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33), we know that He did not destroy it. Then who or what caused this?
Psalm 104:30 states that God “renews the face of the earth.” During the original creation week, God renewed a damaged, injured earth, then completely covered with water (Gen. 1:2).
This destruction was caused by the devil, who, lifted up with pride, sought to replace God. Physical devastation was the result.
Acts 3:19-21 reveals that Christ’s Return brings the “restitution [the restoring] of all things.” But, Satan is still the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4), and would continue to be, had Christ not qualified to replace him.
Christ Overcame and Qualified to Replace Satan
Satan demonstrated he could not be governed by God. So, a successor had to qualify to replace him, because Satan’s government was still in place on earth.
Almost immediately after Christ was baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9-11), He entered an extraordinary, extended battle with Satan.
Successfully resisting the devil’s temptation was the key to Christ overcoming sin and qualifying to replace and remove him at the establishing of the kingdom of God. Matthew 4 contains the account: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit…to be tempted of the devil” (vs. 1). Through enticement, the devil repeatedly tempted Christ, in various ways. Take time to read the account. At the end of several attempts by Satan to break Christ’s will, the account climaxes.
Notice that after being offered all the world’s kingdoms by Satan, Christ rebuked him (vs. 10), and commanded him to leave. The temptation ended and the devil departed. Christ had successfully resisted—and qualified!
Christ passed a very real test! He overcame the world, His flesh and the devil in defeating sin and qualifying to pay for the sins of the world.
God’s Purpose Completed Before Kingdom Can Be Established
Though Christ qualified to replace Satan over 2,000 years ago, there are several reasons for the long delay in establishing God’s kingdom.
God’s Plan encompasses 7,000 years. Few understand this. Numerous verses describe Christ’s 1,000-year reign, which begins at His Return with the saints (Rev. 20:4-6). A few more understand this much, but know nothing of the fact that God has allotted 6,000 years, or six millennial days of a “seven-day week,” to man’s rule, prior to the seventh 1,000-year “day.” The sixth “day” is drawing to a close. Satan is soon to be bound (Rev. 20:2).
Man has been given 6,000 years to try his own ways, governments, religions, philosophies, value systems, forms of education and methods of trying to solve the world’s greatest problems. Under the sway of Satan, he has practiced sin—disobedience to God’s commands—for all this time. Then he has tried to treat all of the ill effects instead of treating the cause—breaking God’s spiritual laws. God is allowing mankind to learn bitter lessons. The vast majority, who have never known the precious truth of God, are having to learn that their own ways—and solutions to problems—do not work!
Having conquered sin, Christ qualified to replace (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) the “god of this world.” He assured that the devil will soon no longer be able to deceive (Rev. 12:9) and confuse mankind (I Cor. 14:33). Having not yet been bound, Satan does everything within his power to thwart God’s Plan. His deceived ministers (II Cor. 11:13-15) teach, in effect, that God has failed to save the world. Yet, only by God’s permission does Satan hold sway over this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4; I John 5:19). Recognize that God is not losing some kind of great cosmic “wrestling match” over which He has full control. He knows exactly what He is doing, and the beauty of His plan can be known. No true God would ever condemn humanity without offering salvation to all!
There are other reasons for the delay in Christ’s Return. He had to first call and train the original disciples to become apostles—to become the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20) and to take the gospel to the world. Then, throughout the New Testament period, He had to train an administrative team to rule with Him.
Christ did not establish His kingdom immediately, because He had to ascend to heaven to become High Priest of those God calls. Christians are reconciled to God by Christ’s death, but they are saved by His life (Rom. 5:10)—His Resurrection. Also, while still human, Christ could not install Himself as Satan’s replacement. Daniel showed that He had to return to heaven (also Luke 19) to be crowned with power and glory before He could return.
The master deceiver has inspired many false religions, counterfeiting the truth in endless ways. The fruit of his efforts lies everywhere. But a 1,000-year “Sabbath rest” is coming soon. Man will then be forced to rest from sin and receive rest from Satan’s relentless deceit.
Mark 2:28 states, “the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” When the Lord of the Sabbath—Jesus Christ—comes to bind Satan, his dominion will end and the world will rest from sin. The then spirit-composed saints—born of God—will rule.
It is no surprise that Satan deceives the world about the saints being “born from the dead.” He knows their first order of business will be to bind and replace him!
God’s Ruling Family Kingdom
Physical kingdoms have people, and governments over them. God is no different. John 4:24 states that “God is a Spirit.” Under the Father, Christ leads His kingdom, composed of spirit beings. At His Return, Christ, as a member of the Family of God, will have many younger “brothers and sisters” (the “many brethren” of Romans 8:29) who will have qualified to rule with Him.
There is a plant kingdom, an animal kingdom, human kingdoms and an angelic kingdom. There is also the kingdom of God.
In Genesis 1:26, “God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” When referring to themselves, the One speaking says, “Us,” “Our,” “Our.” The Hebrew word here for God is Elohim. It is a uniplural term like group, team, committee or family. All of these terms represent one entity, comprised of several members or persons.
Thus, the Bible teaches that there is one God, composed of two Persons—the Father and Christ—with many more to be added later. The first time when God will add more sons to His Family, is when Christ’s kingdom is established.
At that time, “many sons shall be brought unto glory” through the “captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10). Verse 11 adds that Christ “is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Christ is called “firstborn” among these brethren.
Do you grasp this? A true Christian’s goal is to be born into the kingdom (government) of God, as a spirit being to rule under Christ. What could be more wonderful—more glorious—for a Christian to look forward to?
Throughout His ministry, when Christ taught about the kingdom, He was actually teaching about the Family of God, and how humans may enter it by being born again.
Flesh and Blood Cannot Enter
The Bible teaches that God’s kingdom will rule over the people and nations of the earth. The nations are not actually part of that kingdom, any more than the citizens of any country are part of the government that rules them. One must enter the kingdom to be in it. As distinct from those who are governed by it, who is actually in the kingdom?
Recall Paul’s statement: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery” (I Cor. 15:50-51).
This is a mystery to almost everyone—that flesh-and-blood human beings cannot enter the kingdom of God. Only at the resurrection are people (true Christians) changed (born again) from flesh to spirit. Only then are those who were begotten of God born again. If we just believe the plain truth of the Bible, God’s kingdom cannot include flesh-and-blood people!
But exactly when does the change from physical to spirit composition occur?
Verse 51 continues into verse 52 and holds the answer: “We shall not all sleep [remain dead], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” But changed to what?
In verse 47, Paul continues with this clear explanation: “The first man is of the earth, earthy [a physical human]: the second man is the Lord from heaven [a Spirit God Being].” Verse 49 continues, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall [in the future—at the resurrection] also bear the image of the heavenly.” Verse 53 states, “For this corruptible [flesh is certainly corruptible] must put on incorruption [those born of God are spirit], and this mortal must put on immortality.” It is at this point that flesh is changed into spirit!
Genesis 2:7 states, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.” Human beings are composed of flesh—of the dust. God will change their flesh to spirit at the resurrection. Those entering the kingdom must be composed of spirit.
Let’s examine this further. Matthew 22:30 states, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God.”
Hebrews 1:7 shows that angels are made of spirit. This is important to understand about our composition in the resurrection. But do not misunderstand and think that Christ was saying that the resurrected saints would actually be angels. He merely meant that they would be “as” the angels, in that neither angels nor resurrected saints marry.
This is what Nicodemus could not comprehend. It truly was a “mystery” to him. Christ had to explain it to him, as Paul had to explain it to the Corinthians—that we will all be changed at the resurrection. This is when we inherit the kingdom of God—when we are born again. No one can “see” or “enter into” the kingdom until Christ returns and establishes it.
Seeking Immortality—a Spirit Body
Before continuing, we need to examine immortality from a different perspective. Understand! The “immortal soul” doctrine states that everyone is already immortal. But what about the following verse referencing God and Jesus Christ? Notice: “Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting” (I Tim. 6:16).
If God and Christ are the “only” ones who have immortality, this leaves no room for people to possess immortal souls. People are not born with immortal souls (Gen. 2:7; Ezek. 18:4, 20; Matt. 10:28).
Romans 2:7 gives God’s perspective on immortality. Notice this instruction to would-be Christians: “seek for glory and honor and immortality, enternal life.” If people already have immortality, God would not tell them to seek it. Paul would not have told the Corinthians that their “mortal [bodies] must put on immortality” (I Cor. 15:53-54) at the resurrection.
Human beings do not have life inherent within them. Since you are not immortal, your life will span a certain allotted time, after which you will die. That is absolute (Heb. 9:27). Unless God intervenes, you have no future—no hope—beyond a limited time of 70 to 80 years.
Stop believing the fables of men about immortal souls. This fiction is not taught in the Bible!
Joint-Heirs—Not Yet Inheritors—With Christ
Matthew 5:5 states that “the meek [true Christians]…inherit the earth”—and “rule with Christ.” But how does one become an “heir with Christ”?
A single verse exists that defines a Christian, but it is not the popular idea taught in the so-called “Christian” world. This verse also introduces being heirs.
God’s Holy Spirit within a mind makes one a Christian. Paul wrote, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Christians have the Holy Spirit leading them. Having God’s Spirit is absolutely essential to being a Christian. Some verses earlier, Paul said, “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (vs. 9)!
It is that simple! One either has the Spirit of God, and is a Christian, or does not have it, and is not a Christian—is “none of His.” All who are truly converted must have the Holy Spirit in them.
This much is clear. What is not so clear—or even known—is this: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (vs. 17).
The Bible reveals a connection between sons and heirs—and being “glorified together.” An heir has not yet inherited what is to come to him. I Corinthians 15:50 states that we will “inherit the kingdom of God.” But those called now, in this lifetime, are heirs—begotten (not yet born) sons. Paul explains, “And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise…Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 3:29; 4:7).
A true follower of Christ and the Bible is an heir with Christ! Heirs are not yet inheritors. An heir is one who later inherits what has been promised to him. We have seen that Christians inherit the kingdom at the Return of Christ, when they are changed.
But what does this mean? It means you must receive God’s Spirit. But how?
Most believe that there are no requirements—conditions—to being saved. This is not true. The following verses prove that there are three pre-conditions that must be met just to receive the Holy Spirit.
On the day Christ established the New Testament Church, Peter gave a powerful sermon. It was so convicting that 3,000 were baptized. Before baptism, many asked Peter, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). He instructed, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
This is God’s plain command to: (1) Repent and (2) be baptized—in this order—to receive the Holy Spirit! Mark 1:14-15 adds that Christ taught one must also (3) believe the gospel of the kingdom of God.
From baptism forward, the new convert is begotten and led by the Holy Spirit! What does “begotten” mean?
Spiritual Begettal Parallels Physical Begettal
As explained, one receives the Holy Spirit at baptism (through the laying on of hands). At this point, the Christian is begotten by the Father, just as Christ was begotten in Mary’s womb by the Father. Once begotten, a Christian takes on the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5), who now lives in him (Gal. 2:20).
We can understand spiritual begettal by examining the process of human begettal. Life begins when the human father’s sperm unites with the mother’s ovum. In the reproduction process, an egg has to be fertilized by a sperm cell. It then becomes “sealed off,” unable to be re-fertilized by another sperm.
Human life begins as an embryo, develops into a fetus and eventually grows and matures toward birth about nine months later. Begettal, development and parturition (separation from the womb) are entirely separate phases of the process by which each human being progresses toward birth. A fertilized egg is not a born human being. Similarly, a spirit-begotten human is not a born spirit being or person, as Christ became after His Resurrection. How plain!
God has carefully created an unmistakable comparison—a parallel—between human birth and divine birth at the time of the resurrection. That which is “born of the flesh is flesh”—is a physical human being. And that which is “born of the spirit is spirit”—is a divine spirit-composed being.
There is an all-important time element to both human and Christian development. Both involve a “gestation” period! With humans, the role of the father is complete at fertilization, but the role of the mother continues for nine months. She must literally carry the child all the way to birth. Everyone understands this process of development. No one confuses begettal with birth. If you doubt this, just try telling it to an abortion-rights activist. These people view birth as everything and see begettal as having almost no meaning or importance, and barely acknowledge it as part of the process. In this way, even deceived abortionists recognize a clear distinction between begettal and birth.
Why then do so many believe that professing or accepting Christ automatically leapfrogs them to the point of spiritual birth, without gestation and development? No one speaks of pregnant women as already having new babies.
Why can’t professing Christians comprehend such basic understanding? Why can they not see the critical time element, so essential to human development, as necessary for spiritual development?
Born Again Through Continuing With Holy Spirit
Now understand this point! The very same Spirit, dwelling in us from the moment of conversion, raises us (all those begotten of God) to join God in His kingdom.
Paul describes how spiritual begettal, when the Holy Spirit enters, leads to the time of one’s second birth to spiritual composition—when one is born again: “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11). The very Spirit of God in us will allow us to awake in the resurrection.
What Paul told the Corinthians about how they would be changed at the resurrection is the same as what he told the Romans about how their physical bodies would be “quickened” by God’s Spirit, in them from conversion.
One final related point must be addressed. It has a direct bearing on when one is born again. Human babies can no longer abort after delivery. This possibility is only a danger, whether by accident, deliberate killing of the fetus or other reasons, prior to birth.
Spiritual Fetuses Can ABORT!
Get this straight! Only those with the Spirit of God have the potential for eternal life: “And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life” (I John 5:11-12).
If one has God’s Spirit, and then through neglect or willful sin, loses it—he can ABORT!
In a most true sense, let me say again, a Christian (like a human fetus) can “miscarry,” if he does not continue in the right path—if he does not “endure to the end” (Matt. 24:13; 10:22). In this way, the parallel between physical and spiritual development in the womb—gestation—expands.
Notice: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).
This is most serious for those who ignore the warning of this verse. Those who think themselves already “born again” are either ignorant of or refuse to accept the grave caution explained by Paul in these verses.
Now continue. Physical embryos are a type of spirit embryos, but the two are not identical. There are some obvious differences between physical and spirit embryos. These are developing toward a higher plane of life than physical embryos—life that includes being made of invisible spirit, ability to travel through air, inability to sin, eternal life, and other spiritual capabilities.
We Take On God’s Likeness When Born Again
Recall that God made human beings in His “image” and “likeness.” But this process of growing and developing in the womb will not be complete until the resurrection—when we are no longer composed of “flesh and blood.” Those who are members of the Church are flesh-and-blood children of God, not yet spirit-composed children.
But understand this vital point. God created you to become “like” Him in every way. Through His Spirit entering the mind of newly converted children, a new spirit life begins. A tiny, spirit-begotten embryo comes into existence. But it does not stop there. In the same way that little children grow to look like their physical parents, so also do God’s children gradually take on the spiritual likeness of God (also their Parent), in nature and character, as much as in image and form (II Pet. 1:4). But this development process is completely separate from when they appear, in spirit, from the womb—when born again.
Both the Old and New Testaments make this process absolutely plain! While many have a vague idea that Christians are “sons of God,” none consider: “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of god…Beloved, now are we the sons of god, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:1-2).
This is an extremely important verse for another reason. While we are called sons “now,” notice that it does “not yet appear what we shall be.”
Then John adds, “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (vs. 9). We will one day have the very likeness of Christ. At that time, we will be born of God. Remember, Romans 8:16 states that we are “children” of God and “heirs with Christ.”
These verses in I John 3 are staggering in overall importance. Did you notice that John said, “now are we the sons of God.” Just as parents speak of a child not yet born as their son or daughter, God speaks of His begotten children as sons of god now!
David understood this very point of taking on God’s likeness: “As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness” (Psa. 17:15).
David and John understood that they would “awake” at the resurrection and look exactly like God in image, form, character—and spirit composition—born again!
Let me also repeat this—God is reproducing Himself in human beings who have received His Holy Spirit. He is creating children that will look and be just like Him!
Paul amplifies what John and David meant: “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from where [He is coming here] also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).
This is awesome knowledge! Nothing compares to it! But let’s make it even clearer.
The following is a direct description of Jesus Christ, as He now exists in full glory, after being born again. Meditate on it, realizing that you can be like Him: “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shines in his strength” (Rev. 1:14-16).
What this astounding description reveals about your future is not my personal opinion. It is what your Bible reveals! This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (I Cor. 15:49).
While we are physically formed and shaped like God now, we shall later become Spirit, taking on the “image of the heavenly.”
The Church, as Mother, Feeds Her Children
Jesus promised, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18). The New Testament describes God’s Church as the “body of Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Paul taught, “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13).
The Church is described as “Jerusalem above,” and directly referred to as “the mother of us all” (Gal. 4:26). Hebrews 12:22-23 makes this clearer: “But you are come unto…the heavenly Jerusalem…the…church…which are written in heaven.” It does not say that the Church is in heaven, but rather that those of the Church are “written in heaven.” This is because the dead in Christ are now awaiting the first resurrection!
Like any good mother, the Church nurtures and feeds her unborn children so that they may grow within her “womb.” She has been doing it for 2,000 years. Peter instructed the ministry to “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight…willingly” (I Pet. 5:2).
Paul amplified the Church’s role as Mother: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto…the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).
The context continues with two additional verses demonstrating that God’s “children,” like any other children, are supposed to “grow up.” Notice that the Church is also responsible for protecting God’s flock from false doctrine: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ” (vs. 14-15).
The ministry’s duty is to teach the Church the truth and to warn of the dangers of being deceived by false doctrine. (Take time to carefully read our booklet Where is God’s TRUE CHURCH? to learn how to identify Christ’s Church.)
To review Part I:, click here. To review Part II:, click this link. Now, the conclusion to our series on "What Does Born Again Mean?"
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