The Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth

Biblical Truth in John 3:1-8

August 25th, 2013

Welcome, ye seekers of biblical truth! May the True and Living God bless us as we have gathered in His name, and sought to know Him in Spirit and in Truth. Let’s pray.

Discussion on Spiritual Rebirth

Okay, let’s get back into Part two of John 3:1-8. And let’s read our text from verse 3-8:

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future..
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Now we noted last week that while these passages are frequently used to support the doctrine of baptismal regeneration – They have nothing to do with water baptism. How can we say this?

First, they say nothing about water baptism. As a result a person would have to read INTO the text and believe that born of water MEANS water baptism. Secondly, we noted that Jesus makes the comparison between spirit and flesh here.

He does this because after telling Nicodemus that a man must be born from above to even see the Kingdom of heaven (let alone enter it) He must be “born from above.” Nicodemus responds to this by asking, “How is this possible, can a man enter his mother’s womb again?”

In reply, Jesus then says (relative to being born from the womb) unless a man is born of water (from the womb) AND of the Spirit (from above) he cannot see or enter the Kingdom of heaven. He reiterates the point in the next verse, saying:

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh (again, referring to the first birth from our mothers womb); and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (again, “born from above.”)

And then speaking of the entire event of spiritual rebirth (or being born from above) Jesus says with complete clarity and skipping the elements of the first “water” birth all together:

8 The wind bloweth where it wants, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Last week we gave a number of passages that confirm the fact the God does seek to give “new life” from above and that the idea of being born from above is referenced all through the Word.

Nicodemus and Rebirth

We might wonder why Nicodemus responded with such a question when he asked Jesus how a man was to be born again – was he to go back to the womb.

The reason for this is the Jews were well aware of the concept of rebirth – but here’s the deal – Because they were of the House of Israel, sons of Abraham, they never would even consider that it would be applicable to them. Who would it be applicable to? Gentiles who converted to Judaism. And how were they “born-again?”

Water baptism? As converts from paganism and heathenism to Judaism. In other words they became proselytes through water baptism. But for a Jew this would never have been needed – they were BORN God’s children. (Or so they thought)

So when Jesus pulled from this Old Testament imagery, saying that it was an imperative that a man be born-again AND saying it to a Jew of Jews, Nicodemus responded to this absurdity with another, asking: “How can this be? Does a man enter into his mother womb?”

Jesus was teaching him a fundamental truth relative to eternal life – ALL men – even Jewish men, who had access to all the Law and the Prophets, HAD to be “born from above.” And no, there was no going back to the mother’s womb. That which is born of flesh is flesh, Nicodemus,” Jesus seems to say, “but that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.”

Baptism and Spiritual Rebirth

Gathering disciples, and he administered “a baptism unto repentance” (not a baptism unto conversion, like the gentiles would submit to in becoming a Jew) he said to the questioning religious leaders surrounding him:

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
Matthew 3:11

When Peter was visiting the house of Cornelius in Joppa (Cornelius was a non-Jew believer in God) and Peter spoke with them we read in Acts 11:15-16:

“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

In other words, Jesus came to make the baptism of the Holy Spirit, being born from above, possible. And for those who have been saved, water baptism is a natural expression and symbol of their new identity in Christ. The water baptism does not CAUSE spiritual rebirth nor is spiritual rebirth incomplete without it. But Christians submit to water baptism as an indication of their inward heart and faith, and as a symbol of being buried with Christ to new life.

Water Baptism and Salvation

If water baptism was tied to the salvation of man, I don’t believe Paul would have ever said in 1st Corinthians 1:14:

“I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;” and he adds a few verses later:

(1st Corinthians 1:17) “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”

Now, while Jesus certainly makes it plain that in order to see or enter the Kingdom of heaven a person must be born “from above.” But what he does NOT tell us is what allows or causes the Holy Spirit to fall and fill some people and leave others as natural men and women. In fact, what he says in verse eight makes it seem that spiritual rebirth, which is accomplished in and through the Holy Spirit entering the heart of a man, is sort of a “random” event, kind of like the spirit roams about like the wind: we can hear it but we can’t tell where it comes from (we don’t see its source) nor can we tell where it is going (we do not see its end or the place it stops). I mean, listen to what He says:

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Again, at first glance, it seems like Jesus is saying “this is how the Holy Spirit works – it’s like the wind – blowing here and there, but we can’t tell where it came from or where it’s headed. But this is NOT the case (even if I intimated that it was in the past – forgive me.)

In Luke chapter 24:49 Jesus, prior to being carried up into heaven, said to His disciples;

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be “endued” with power from on high.”

(The Greek word for endued is “endoo-o” and it means, in the most literal and best sense, “to clothe someone.”

Now the Masons took the word and literally “clothed themselves in special temple garments” as a means to typify the power of man to progress to higher and higher states of advancement” and Joseph Smith, borrowing this concept directly from them, got the LDS to go into his temple and get processionally “clothed” through what he called the “endowment” ceremony.

In a physical sense, his application of the word endowed (endoo-o) is correct – it means to clothe – and so when Mormons go through their “endowment session” they are physically endowed (clothed) in temple garb – which they believe, “empowers them.” But notice Jesus tells His disciples to go and wait in Jerusalem until they have been endoo-o’d (clothed) “with power from on high.” This is (and was)

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1 tells us about it, saying:

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Greek word for “filled” (as in “and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost”) is “play-tho” and it means they were – INTERNALLY – were internally immersed, all of their internal organs – their minds, their hearts, their will, emotions – were, baptized, buried, clothed with the Holy Spirit from on high. This is what Jesus told them to wait to happen – to be empowered internally from on high by the holy Spirit which came “like a mighty wind.”

Understanding the Holy Spirit

Verse eight of chapter three is not talking about the Holy Spirit and how it works – though he appears to be. But notice in verse eight that Jesus does not say “The wind bloweth where it prefers, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: “this how the Holy Spirit moves on every one that is born of the Spirit.” Instead He says: “The wind bloweth where it prefers, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

In other words, Jesus is describing those who have been born-again, NOT the way the Holy Spirit operates – despite all the biblical references that like the Spirit to the wind or breath of God. In His example of the wind He tells us that the effects are seen, the sound is heard, inferring that visual changes were produced by it – trees and clouds are moved but we can’t see the wind nor do we know where it originates (LISTEN REALLY CLOSELY) THIS IS HOW JESUS IS DESCRIBING TO NICODEMUS WHAT BEING “BORN FROM ABOVE” IS LIKE FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED IT.

Regeneration and Rebirth

We know we are moving or acting as the Lord prefers, and that we are changing and seeing and responding to the unseen promptings of the Holy Spirit – but we cannot say why. We can’t say where it all came from nor can we say where we will end up – this is no longer in our hands. It’s in the hands of the Holy Spirit by which we now operate, living, as it were, “like the wind.” The importance of reading verse eight correctly and understanding it correctly cannot be overstated. Let me give you a few reasons why.

First, Nicodemus came from a religious heritage that was established in the visual and the material. Almost everything the Nation of Israel did was established in material manifestations or was materially “pictured” in and through their history. But what Jesus wanted to convey to him was a regeneration or rebirth (from above) worked from the inside out.

“That which is flesh is flesh,” He said to the man, “but that which is Spirit is Spirit. Marvel NOT that I say ye must be born-again.”

Besides the obvious import, we can see that from the definition Jesus gives, we will NOT see how or where rebirth originates or goes, but we will witness its effects. Water baptism, which we see, does NOT fit this description. When the Holy Spirit fell like the wind on the day of Pentecost, the application of Jesus words was in the fact that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in foreign tongues. Tying this to Jesus description of all who are born from above, I would bet that those who were “filled” on that day KNEW or REALIZED that the Holy Spirit was doing as “He preferred,” and they could hear the sound coming out of their mouths, but they could NOT “tell where it come from or where it was taking them:” which is why Jesus said: “so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

From this we learn a number of very insightful biblical themes. First, those who are or have been regenerated KNOW it. Certainly, we walk by faith (which is NOT knowing) but we can know that we have experienced.

Understanding Rebirth

Rebirth. How can I say this, scripture tells us so. I am touching on this because so many people have written to us over the years and have not understood how this can be, how it works, or what to look for once we have given. One way we know is our new lives fit the description Jesus gives here in verse 8. We are being moved by the Holy Spirit, and see His effect upon our lives, and we are forever wondering what radical miracles and wonders and works He is going to produce in and through our person. “So it is with everyone who has been born “from above.” To the outside world, this zealous emphasis is foolishness and fanatical. But to the bearer of the Holy Spirit, there is no other explanation.

Now, whether the Holy Spirit moves in radically (like the day of Pentecost) or gradually, as He is known to do for many people, the transformative power of His presence is what tells the possessor that He has made His residence in them. What I mean by “transformative power” is what Jesus described as a person not being able to see the wind or know its origins or destination, but we are able to see “the effects” of His presence in us.

The Effects of Spiritual Transformation

What effects? There are a number of them and I would suggest they are either universally applicable or nearly so. One of the first “effects” regenerated believers experience in some degree or another is a new way of “seeing” the world. This new vision is typically quite gradual. In one of His miraculous healings (which I adamantly suggest were pictures for the spiritual healing He does in the lives of those who believe on Him today) we read an interesting account in Mark chapter 8.

This is what it says:

Mark 8:22 “And He (Jesus) cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought Him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, “I see men as trees, walking.” 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

Why do we read about this specific healing that happened in this specific way? We know Jesus was capable of giving the man sight completely at His word alone. Why the mud? Why the ability to see better and better, and then Jesus needing to actually touch the man’s eyes Himself to bring complete clarity?

Anyone and everyone who has been healed (and what I mean by this is saved by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) sees gradually. For the blind man, to see at all was a miracle – even if his vision was obscured at first – and so is the new vision we are given when the Holy Spirit moves in. For some, the spiritual healing produces an immediate ability to see clearly – for others, perfect vision requires another touch from the master’s hand. Each of us is unique in how God works through us.

New Vision and Appreciation

So those born “from above” beginning to “see” the world differently is one of the most revelatory experiences the Holy Spirit brings. As a natural man I had no – I mean zero – appreciation for nature . . . honest to goodness, I saw no wonder in nature whatsoever – a complete dullard. I had a very capitalistic world view and believed all material things around us were to be dominated and consumed. This is one of the first areas where I knew God had “moved” in my life – I actually looked at nature awestruck. From the smallest leaves to the star-filled skies, I found myself worshipping the Creator in the presence of His creations – without trying or working on it. It was new vision.

Additionally, where I was a mocker of the cross, embracing the LDS attitude that it was a non-event, I saw it and its import clearly for the first time in my life. Finally, as I mentioned last week (I think) I read and interpreted the Word of God through an entirely different set of eyes. It became and continues to be “the living word” unfolding itself over and over again. Are these things, this ability to “see the world in new ways” reserved only for those who are born from above? I don’t

The Presence of Love

I think many regenerative experiences are capable of producing an ability to "see" the world through new eyes, so I'm not convinced this is the best way to determine regeneration. I would also suggest that the presence of the Holy Spirit immersing our inward parts and soul somehow takes our natural God-given abilities and talents and begins to use them for His good – and in a much more concentrated and profound manner. This is another evidence that a person has been born from above – we go from possessing skills and talents which we arrogantly claim WE possess through OUR hard work and OUR tenacity – and begin to give all glory to Him who created us – God.

Reprioritization of Life

Hand in hand with this humble redirection, we also experience a profound "reprioritization" of our life's desires and goals. We don't "see" the things of the world in the same light. Again, this typically takes time – especially to actually act upon. Prior to being born from above, I LOVED the things of this world – and all that comes with such adoration. Again, the way and manner the Holy Spirit works on us from the inside out is totally subjective, so what may be of no interest to you might remain an interest to me. We have tremendous liberty in Christ. The point is not that we have a set of do’s and don’ts; the point is the Holy Spirit is working on each of us from the inside to bring us to the point God wants.

But the coup de gras – the deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. blow – to our former selves and the absolutely undeniable evidence that God has made at least some kind of home in our heart, which proves His presence from within and tells us He is there, is… LOVE… (LISTEN) and it is LOVE that was NOT present there before.

Love as Evidence

In First John, an epistle written by the same author of this Gospel we are studying, the word Love is mentioned twenty-three times – and the book is only five short chapters long. And in many of these references, John ties the presence of Love with the concept of knowing – of knowing we are His – that He is in us and we are in Him. I’ll begin in 1st John 3:11 which says:

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

When it says this, it means love one another as God has loved us – unconditionally, with the agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty. described in 1st Corinthians 13. This is love without fail, love that is longsuffering. It is kind, it does not envy, it does not toot its own horn or promote itself, it behaves well, it does NOT seek its own benefit but the benefit of God and Man, it is NOT easily provoked, it does not think or make evil assumptions, it rejoices in truth and despises iniquity, it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things that are of God… It NEVER EVER EVER fails and… it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to possess, to even come near understanding or experiencing, without having first been "born from above."

It is the presence of this otherworldly love, this “not of our flesh” love, that lets everyone born from above KNOW that they are His. 1st John 3:14 says:

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (or is still spiritually dead).

I have to laugh sometimes when people think well of me – of Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion. – they compliment me in areas of my natural first birth condition. He is NOT a good guy. I don’t just say this. In fact, if we were in church together today and I was not born-again, I would be making some of your lives hell in one way or another. But to the total glory of God, He moved in this reprobate's heart, and I have been equipped (now) to love. And those of you who would have been the recipients of my anger, hatred, lust, or derision are now people I love with all my heart.

Born from Above

Because of Him. Because He let me see how much He first loved me – as the reprobate that I was. 1st John 4:19 makes this point clear, saying:

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

The Nature of Agape Love

loved us.” And we are ONLY able to love others (as He does) when we come to understand and receive the love He extended toward all men. And by this love I KNOW that I have passed from death into life – because of the love He has given me for you . . . and others. This love – genuine God-like agape love – is not just a feeling (however those are there). In the end, the love translates to action because true agape love is best understood as a verb.

1st John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Recall that Jesus, when he came, gave a new commandment: Remember? “To love one another,” right? He said, upon such love “hangs all the law and the prophets.”

The Commandment of Love

In light of this 1st John 2:5 tell us something important. It says: “But whoso keepeth his commandment (which is to love) in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” The surest, clearest indicator that God has taken up residence in our hearts is when His love – agape love – becomes our operating system instead of the systems we have operated by since birth. The important part to remember is this love is defined in such a way that it is IMPOSSIBLE for natural men and women to live by it WITHOUT having been regenerated.

We can try. We think it is in our abilities. We can refine our social graces and OHHHHHHM our way to supposed levels of enlightenment, but without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (sent from on high) it is IMPOSSIBLE and ALL other systems, philosophies, therories, or religions FAIL to bring a fallen human being to heavenly regeneration.

1st John adds some dimension to the ideas. Sometimes we get the idea that we can honor and love and praise God while despising, or hating, or rejecting human beings. John says otherwise – and it is something to seriously consider. Listen to this:

“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” Here the writer says that we trust and have faith in an invisible God – none of us have ever seen Him, but if we love one another this invisible God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Perfecting Love Through Relationships

What we actually find in this passage is God’s way of perfecting His love in us human beings – by working on the love we have and express toward each other! In other words, we don’t grow in our love or improve upon our ability to love as God loves by sitting on a mountain top and staring at the sun. Our agape, God-like love is perfected in our relationships and associations and interactions with each other.

Listen to it again! “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” And true agape love is extended and tested and refined only when it is challenged, not when it is easy to give. So, God has us gather. And we test each other. And we challenge each other. And there are people we just don’t like – or enjoy – or trust. We can come up with every reason in the world not to befriend them, or embrace them, or even forgive them when they prove that they are sinners and untrustworthy, or annoying.

But we discover, working on us from within, the presence of the Holy Spirit which tacitly means spiritual growth (if we let it), and which at best translates to the application of agape love, and by these literal application of agape love we KNOW (as sure as we know the sun is shining) that God is in our heart; that we have “passed from death to life.” And not only will we KNOW that we have passed from death to life, Jesus said: “By this love will men know that we are His disciples – if we have love for each other.” The “I really, really love God but

Love for God and Others

"Cannot stand His children" is a gigantic deception. That is not the order for the believing Christian. In fact, 1st John, once again says:

Love and Brotherhood

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

1st John 4:21 reverses it but proves the love for God and man is symbiotic as it says:

“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

Questions and Discussion

I’m going to stop here for questions. But if you really want to get amazed at the concepts I am more than willing to take some time after questions to open up a chapter of scripture that speaks of this relationship of being a true Christian to love.

We’ll take a vote?

First, any questions?