We will be trying to understand the great question “HOW CAN A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?” This is an extremely important question, and will affect many in their walk with the Father and His Son. The goal is to understand the commitment we agreed to as well as equip us to teach to others the necessary understanding prior to being baptized. We will first touch on How Father made Mankind in order to understand what happened to Mankind’s condition. When Father and His Son made man, they intended to make mankind in His likeness and image. Adam was created to be a Son of God and have children to be Sons of God.
Luk 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
We were to reflect our Father in glory, and Character. We see this when we are told by Father how he will make man.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
He made man in His NATURE and because of this, Father gave His charge over everything else Father made. He trusted Man with ownership of the earth and everything in it. Logically we would trust people to watch our belongings only if we know they will treat it the way we would. We see Father taking what is His and giving it to Man to be a caretaker to it.
Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
We see from the very beginning, that the breaking of Fathers commandments naturally causes death. But Mankind was made with the same mind as their Father. The Messiah was also in the image of His Father as well.
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Messiah was in the image of His Father. This was not in reference to His physical appearance.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Though He was in the physical likeness of sinful flesh, He was still reflecting the glory and Character or image of His Father. So we see Mankind being made in the same image of His Son. Unfortunately Mankind lost their original image and likeness and was transformed into another. Let’s see what happened with this image but first let’s look at a universal principle our Father teaches us in scripture.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We see that by false views and ideas, we are transformed into those views. John 17 verse 17 says we are made set apart by Truth. So the mind can be transformed by lies as well as by Truth. We have our 2nd principle which is what ever we submit ourselves to we become that things servant. Whether we submit to Fathers words or Satan’s lies. It reveals whether we are servants of the Father or the enemy. Lets take a look at what happened to man.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
We see the woman’s first train of thinking was that the tree was NOT good to eat nor touch. Because the woman received the word of the serpent OVER the word of the Father her mind was transformed. The woman now went from thinking not to touch or eat but now thought it was good for food. We also saw that she desired to be like God. We know Father made man in His image and likeness but the serpent gave her lies to doubt that reality.
The enemy is constantly causing Fathers people to doubt His promises. His word is a promise and He will accomplish His word. Many do not take His word as a reality which makes it easy to take the enemies lies and make that our desire instead.
When Man and woman ate the fruits and disobeyed Father, they obeyed and submitted their minds to the enemies words and desires. The thoughts and desires of the enemy became that of the woman and the man. At the submission and obedience to the enemy they adopted the image and likeness of the enemy the devil. The word devil means the accuser, so lets see if the enemies attributes manifest in Man and woman after their submission.
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
When Father poses the question, The man and woman began to accuse others beside themselves. The woman accused the serpent, and man accused the Father. He emphasized on the fact that Father gave him the woman and implied blame on the Father. Both man and woman were responsible for their own actions. They both knew and understood the word of Father and chose to disregard His word and in turn they received a curse. This curse affected the earth Man had dominion over as well.
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Isa 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Isa 24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
This is the reason mankind and all earthly creation is in the condition that it is in. It is because of sin and the growth of sinfulness being lived on this earth. Now because Adam and Eve chose to submit to the enemies’ image, all that comes through Adam and Eve has inherited their nature as well.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
So we are born in a sinful and selfish state spiritually. Let’s look at the condition of the mind as well as the heart.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
The heart and mind is damaged at birth and only if we recognize this condition will it allow us to appeal to Father to help us repent and be transformed from that state. This is a bondage that Messiahs spirit makes us free from. We are held captive until we are made free.
Joh_8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Joh_8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Does scripture tell us what we need freedom from?
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members(body), warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
We are in bondage to sin and death. This is the condition passed down to ALL humanity by the first Man and woman.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
We need saving from this condition because we cannot get out of this condition ourselves. Father has given the world a tool. This tool reveals the nature and character of Heaven and is used to show us the difference between us and Father as it reveals our condition. Many do not recognize their condition because they compare their sins with another sinful being. We ought to use The Fathers Nature and character and compare ourselves to that. This wonderful helpful tool is the Law/Torah of the Father.
The Torah not only reveals our sin, and the Nature of Father it also brings us to the Messiah.
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
We see in scripture that the law is for the entire world to recognize their guilt. The law is the knowledge of God but also the guide and teacher of those in need of knowledge.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster (tutor) to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
If the world does not know they are in need they will never ask for help.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
The law is good and holy and it reveals how bad sin actually is. It is spiritual. Remember our carnal minds cannot submit to the law of Father but the spiritual mind can. We are spiritually in a dead state and need restoration.
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened,who were dead in trespasses and sins; Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
So what are we to do to be saved from this condition?
Chapter 2 – The Death that leads to life
So the question posed was, “what are we to do to be saved from this condition?” Let’s see what Peter says when they ask Him the same question.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this,they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Repentance is extremely important to understand. It is the first lesson in the gospel also taught by John the Baptist and Messiah Himself.
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
So what does it mean to repent?
The Greek word here means to think differently and change your course of thinking. We cannot change our minds by our own strength it is only done by the spirit but you can acknowledge your need and ask for help from your condition. We were already told that our minds were sinful and could not submit to Fathers law. The Faith we have comes from accepting the word of God as it is being presented to you.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Who plants this faith in us as we receive and accept the Truth?
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Messiah is the Author or beginning of Faith. He will give you the faith if you desire it and accept Him as your Lord and savior. He will transform your mind as it is told to us in Romans 12 verse 2.
Now we by the Messiah can think differently and receive the gift of the spirit. The Word of God and the spirit are connected. We are to receive power and the spirit as we believe in the word of God.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,they are spirit, and they are life.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Now we are being offered life and power as we accept His word and spirit in our life.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Do we remember the question Paul gave us in understanding Mans condition?
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
We must be saved and we know that Father can save us by His Messiah.
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Now His mind is made new but what happened to the old mind?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The power of the spirit and the accepting of His word and law cause us to die and kill the old nature. The old mind and desire is killed and put in submission to the spirit and scripture. Now we are partakers of His promises, and the death we experience is the death the carnal sinful and self-seeking man. We no longer serve satan and his evil inclinations and impulses but we serve the living God.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Chapter 3 – Our Resurrection and New Birth
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Now we die with Messiah by the power of His spirit and His word. Afterwards we partake in the Resurrected life of our Messiah. The messiah was raised in glory and power and now by His spirit, in this mortal body we can reflect the glory and power of messiah in our daily life. Let’s look at some verses in Philippians.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
We are to know and experience the new glorious resurrected life of messiah in our lives today. We were dead and now resurrected spiritually by the receiving of His spirit.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened(Made you alive) together with him(Messiah), having forgiven you all trespasses;
We were in a state in which we were the children of the enemy and now we have become a brand new creation in Messiah.
2Co 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.
We received power to become the children of Father and experience a revitalized life in Messiah.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
If everyone are children of God, then why would power be needed to become one? The children of God are those who receive Messiah and are led by Him in spirit.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This glorious gift, to be restored to the family of Father and His son and no longer a servant and child of the devil, is an amazing opportunity. Those who recognize their sinful state, the state of their heart and mind, being controlled and captive by sin, will rejoice at this opportunity. We must be free from the sins our flesh promotes.
Now that we are resurrected with Messiah, and are made new, what things do we receive being born again?
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
A new heart and mind is given to us as well as the presence of our Father and His Messiah. We now are no longer sinful or have a carnal mind. The mind we have is in the likeness and image of the messiah.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
In this new relationship with Father we have entered into a covenant and He has established His nature in our minds and hearts. The schoolmaster which brought us to Messiah and taught us of sin and the nature of Father is placed in our hearts and minds by Fathers spirit. We now reflect and reveal the glory and nature of God once given to man at creation.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
All the law is written in our hearts by His spirit as we receive the understanding of the truth.
2Co 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
This is how Father causes us to walk and do His statutes and judgments. His law is now in us reflecting Fathers love through us to the world. His glory shines from in us as we demonstrate the transforming power we received as we accepted Messiah in our minds.
Isa_51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. Father’s people have the Law/Torah in their hearts and live it in their lives.
Gal_3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Eze_20:11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
Our resurrection is based on our receiving of Messiah in our hearts. His glory and life is manifested in the children of the Father. This is an opportunity that no man should ignore. This life is rewarding and strengthening. To know our Father and His son is always with us to help us and empower us and share all that is theirs with us including their nature is overwhelming and a blessing. Let us believe His word in our hearts and ask Father to place His law in our hearts so His glory can be revealed in the earth.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Praise Father and His son for their work to restore us back to perfection and sharing their divine nature us. May Father bless you and Keep you in your walk and study of scripture. Blessings
