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The Way into the Kingdom of God - Part 2 of 3

by Paul George  
3/21/2008 / Bible Studies

John 3:3

In the moment we are saved through the grace of God, through the redemption that is in Jesus, we are also born of the Spirit.

Three questions:
1. Why must we be born again?
2. How are we born again?
3. What is the nature of the new birth?
4. The necessity of the new birth

Why must we be born again?

In the beginning, "God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them" (WEB). The image of God that man was created includes the natural image, political image, and the moral image. The natural image includes a spiritual being with understanding, freedom of will, and various affections. The political image includes the right to govern the world with dominion over it and its creatures. The moral image according to the Apostle Paul is true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). At the time of his creation the man, Adam, was full of love the sole principle of all his emotions, thoughts, words, and actions; justice, mercy, and truth, and he was sinless and filled with righteousness and holiness.

Created in the image of God Adam was able to obey or disobey God. God warned Adam if he ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die. Even after God warned Adam he would die if he ate the forbidden fruit Adam ate the forbidden fruit. When he ate the forbidden fruit he willfully disobeyed and rebelled against God. He openly declared he would govern himself; he would not be subjected to the will of God, and would seek his happiness in the world and the things of the world.

Note the phrase, warning "you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:17).

There are those who claim the warning "you shall surely die" refers only to the body. If the warning refers to only the body God lied, because Adam did not die immediately after eating the forbidden fruit. According to Genesis chapter five and verses three and four Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and became the father of a son in his own likeness according to his image and named him Seth. According to verse four the days of Adam after the birth of Seth were eight hundred years, during this time he had other sons and daughters.

There is something very important in verses three and four that are often ignored. Note, in verse three it is written Adam became the father of a son in his own likeness according to his image. What was lacking in Adam when this son was born, the moral image of God. In verse four it is written Adam lived eight hundred years after the birth of Seth and had other sons and daughters. If Seth was born in the likeness and image of Adam the other sons and daughters of Adam were born in the likeness and image of Adam. If Seth and the other sons and daughters of Adam were born in the likeness and image of Adam, every descendant of Adam is born in the likeness and image of Adam.

What happened when Adam disobeyed and rebelled against God? First, immediately following his disobedience and rebellion there was a spiritual change, the love of God was extinguished in his soul, his soul was filled with fear, and he was alienated from God. Adam's fear was so great he tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:8). Second, when Adam disobeyed and rebelled against God he lost both the knowledge and love of God and at the same time lost the moral image of God. He sank into pride and self-will the image of Satan. He sank into sensual appetites and desires. Therefore the warning, "you shall surely die" is not a reference to the body it is a reference to the spirit. It refers to the loss of the moral image of God.

The consequence of Adam's disobedience and rebellion is that every descendant of Adam comes into the spiritual dead; they come into the world with the same mind and heart of Adam. They come into the world lacking the moral image of God, His righteousness and holiness that was originally in Adam. They come into the world baring the image of Satan, pride and self-will.

Adam's sin resulted in the corruption of the human nature. Therefore we are born in a state of sin and separation from God. Everyone who is born of a woman must be born anew of the Holy Spirit. The old nature must be uprooted and replaced by the godly nature that was uprooted when Adam disobeyed and rebelled against God. This is why we must be born anew.

Since we must be born anew we need to know how we are born again.

The new birth is not by human powers or wisdom. How it begins and ends no man knows.

Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel did not understand what Jesus was referring to when He said, "unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God" even though Jesus was borrowing an expression commonly used when an adult Gentile was converted to the Jewish religion. He was baptized and circumcised. When he was baptized it was said he was born again. Jesus was using the expression in a stronger sense. Those who will see the kingdom of God must be born again from above. They must be born of the Spirit, born of God in a manner similar to the natural birth.

Before a child is born he has imperfect use of his senses, no knowledge of the world or the things of the world. When he is born he begins to live in a different manner from what he did in his mother's womb.

In his natural state a man has imperfect use of his spiritual senses, no knowledge of God or the things of the kingdom of God. When he is born of the Spirit he begins living in a different manner from what he had before. His spiritual eyes are opened, he sees the light of the glory of God, and the love of God fills his heart. He is able to hear the inward voice of God. He hears what the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to him. He is conscious of a peace that passes all understanding and the joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

The nature of the new birth

The nature of the new birth is a change that God works in the heart when he raises the soul from death to life. When the soul is created anew and renewed after the image of God. The love of the world is changed into the love of God. Pride is changed into humility. Hatred, envy, and malice are replaced by unselfish love. The sensual mind is turned into the mind that was in Jesus.

The necessity of the new birth

The new birth is necessary to regain the righteousness and holiness lost in Adam's act of disobedience and rebellion. Righteousness defines our relationship with God and with other people. It promotes peace and well-being in our relationships. If Adam and Eve would have acted righteously in their relationship with God we would not be living in an evil and wicked age. Holiness is not a list of dos and do not, it is the image of God stamped upon the heart. It implies a continual thankful love to Him who gave His only begotten Son to bear the sins of the world. Holiness fills the heart with mercy, kindness, and long-suffering. It permits us to offer our souls and bodies as a living sacrifice to God. However this holiness has no existence in the heart of men and women until the image of the mind is renewed; until a change is wrought in the soul. This does not happen until the Spirit of God overshadows us and we are brought of darkness into light. Then we are delivered from the power and influence of Satan and come under the power of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit.; this occurs when we are born again, which is why the new birth is necessary.

Without holiness no man shall enter the kingdom of God. Without holiness no man shall see God.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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