Born, And Born-again
The birth of a baby is a wonderful thing! Doctors, nurses and parents regularly speak of the miracle of the birth of a child. News of a child’s birth is often reported by newspaper and radio, especially in rural areas.
Exciting as it is, however, no natural birth of a child can compare to the awesome supernatural birth of a child of God. Though the birth of Jesus Christ was announced by an angel of the Lord and though people were amazed at what the shepherds told them about Jesus, only a few gave glory to God as the angels did. In the same way today, few note the birth of a new child of God. It will probably not be announced in the newspaper or on the radio and sadly few even in the church will rejoice over this miracle of God. Nevertheless, Jesus said, “I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
Being born-again is a necessity. Jesus clearly told Nicodemus (a religious leader of that day), “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) Jesus’ statement applies to everyone, “You must be born again.” (John 3:7) A minister saying nice things, or having hymns sung at your funeral, or the paper announcing that you were a member of such and such church will not gain you entrance into heaven.
In the Greek, born “again” means born “from above.” Many Scriptures describe what God will do in the life of a person who, through true repentance, accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. Ezekiel 36: 26, 27 is one of the clearest, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.”
A heart of stone is inflexible, unyielding and insensitive. It is not apt to receive from or have any devoted affection toward its Creator. A man with a heart of stone has no fellowship with the Lord. He does not do the will of God. He does only what seems right in his own eyes which will lead to his destruction.
Until you are born-again, you are spiritually dead. You may even be a church attender, using church language and hanging out with professing Christians. But unless you are born-again it is like dressing a corpse in clean, fresh clothing. God alone can give physical life when your are born, and God alone can give spiritual life to you in what Jesus calls being born-again.
When God supernaturally gives you a heart of flesh and puts His Spirit in you, you become sensitive and alive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Only then are you able to determine and do the will of God. Thus knowing the joy that comes from obedience to the Word of God. Once the Holy Spirit of God has entered your heart to implant the life of Christ within you, you will never be the same! Guaranteed!
Finally, this essential point must be crystal clear. Until you are born-again, you are unsaved, unpardoned, without God and without true hope. In order to have spiritual life and be able to enter heaven, Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:7)