Am I born again?

Hello To All:

As you contemplate the question, posed by the title to this essay; please consider the question in the context of the following quote from the King's Book, found at 2 Corinthians 5:17:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Let us begin our labors to answer the question: "Am I born again?" - with a recounting of something, that happened shortly after my conversion to Jesus Christ.  I was in a room, as a listener, where Christians were gathered.  Two of them made a statement that was very confusing to me.  They identified themselves as being John chapter three Christians.  Suddenly I was confronted, with the thought, that there was more then one type of believer.  This was confusing.

I was very familiar with John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  In my mind, this text makes it very clear that there are two classes of people - not two classes of Christians.  There are those who believe in Jesus and have life and there are those who do not believe in Jesus and have death.  But, at the time of the discussion, that I was listening too, the two making the statement, were not referring to the John 3:16 text; rather, they were referring to the earlier part of the chapter, where Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be: "born again."

This idea of being "born again," was something new to me.  The church, that I was a member of, did not use this type of language, to describe what it meant to be converted to Jesus Christ.  This challenged me - so I took a look at the King's Book; and through the years I have taken many looks; and spent much time studying this conversation between our Lord Jesus Christ and Nicodemus.

Whenever the opportunity would present itself (typically when this text was the subject matter for some teaching), I would ask a question, of the teacher, regarding the justification for using the phrase "born again," to describe the moment of our conversion to Jesus Christ. Various opinions were offered; but, to date, no one has been able to give me an answer, based on the text, to justify the position taken by those who like to speak of themselves as being: "born again."  I also found that to be very confusing.  Why would someone take a position, regarding their Christian identity; and then, not be able to defend that position, on the basis of the King's Book?

With the help and empowering presence of my Lord Jesus Christ, working through His Holy Spirit, I will endeavor to give a defense, regarding my answer, to the question posed by this essay.  But first, let us take a look at a portion of the text.

It is written, at John 3:1-5:
1.  "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:"
2.  "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
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 God."
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."

It is time for me to answer that question: "Am I born again?"  On the basis of the above text, I am compelled to say: No - I am not born again!  Having answered the question, I am also compelled to give a defense for that answer, for it is written at 1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

A proper defense of my answer, is going to take some time; and some additional essays.  The number of essays necessary, to give an adequate answer, is known only by God.  We will start by looking at two important realities: 1. What is the identity of the audience?  2. What is the meaning of the phrase: "kingdom of God?"  We will also, as we have often done, be looking at the relationship between the natural realms and the spiritual realms. If we are going to have a right understanding, of what it means to be born again, we must be able to comprehend and apprehend the relationship between the spiritual realms and the physical realms.

This relationship between the physical realms and the spiritual realms, is one of the reasons why this discussion is taking place, at this point in the progress of this blog.  We are in the midst of comparing the physical temple of  the nation of Israel and the spiritual temple of the church of Jesus Christ. The relationship between the two temples, is one of the keys to comprehending the truth and meaning of the conversation between Nicodemus and our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The defense of my answer, shall be taken up, when we next meet.

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus