we need to be born again! by C.J. Koster
Among true worshippers
there is uncertainty about this all-important teaching. As with any other
Scriptural teaching, the only way to get certainty on this issue is to diligently
search all Scriptures, to scrutinise all relevant
texts and to take all of them into consideration under the guidance of the
Spirit of Truth. Only then can we come to a conclusion on what the Scriptural
teaching or truth on this matter is. This is the only way we can come to a
unity in the Faith. We need to get unanimity on every vital Scriptural teaching
if we are to be "One, truly 'One'".
The Greek word is "genn_o" and means to be born or begotten. The KJV
renders it as "born" in Yoch. 3:3,
5, 7; 1 Yoch. 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1a,
5:4, 5:18a. However, the same word is rendered in the KJV as "begotten"
in 1 Yoch. 5:1c and 1 Yoch.
5:18b. This inconsistency in the KJV has caused some
people to distinguish between a present "begotten again" and a future
"born again". But this is not true. In the RSV, NASB and Rotherham versions, this error has been corrected and they
render "born" in all the above texts. This misunderstanding
would have been avoided if the KJV had been as consistent as the RSV, NASB, Rotherham Version, NIV or RAV (New King James).
Dr Bullinger, in his Companion Bible (Mt.
1:2), points out to us that, strictly speaking, a father 'begets' a
child. So, a child is 'begotten'
by a father, but is 'born' by a mother, strictly speaking. It might have
been a good idea to speak only of us as 'begotten' to indicate the
Father's role as "One bringing us forth", as His children.
However, we need to be consistent. Whether we speak of 'born' or whether
we speak of 'begotten', it is only one idea, it is only one
experience and it is for now - it is not two time-separated experiences.
We need to point out at
this stage that Scriptural prophecies speak of yet another birth, the birth of
a new nation, prophesied for the end-time and that is the birth of the New Covenant
Israel, of which we read in Ps. 22:31, Ps. 102:18, Yesh.
66:7-9, Micah 4:9-10, Mt 24:8 and Mk 13:8. However, this birth is not to be
confused with the present 'born again' experience.
Yoch. 3:3, "In reply
(Yahushua) declared, I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he
cannot see the Kingdom of (Elohim)." Verse 5: "(Yahushua)
answered, I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the Kingdom of (Elohim)." Verse 7: "You should
not be surprised at my saying 'You must be born again'." (NIV)
In Yoch. 3:3, 5 and 7 the adverb "an_then" accompanies the simple verb "genn_o" and this "an_then"
more correctly means "from above". These verses should read "born
from above" rather than "born again". Thus rendered
it puts a stronger emphasis on the fact that the rebirth is actually done from
Above. And this we all firmly believe. However, in 1 Kepha
(Peter) 1:3, 23 the prefix is "ana"
which means "again" (v3 "... in his great mercy he has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of (Yahushua
Messiah) from the dead." 3Verse 23, "For
you have been born again, not of the perishable seed, but of imperishable,
through the living and enduring word of (Elohim)" (NIV).
This apparent distinction
between "born again" and "begotten again"
which was caused by an inconsistency in the KJV has led some believers to
believe that the "born again" experience is still to come in
the future, at our resurrection. Let me say from the outset that this teaching
is dangerous for it can lead to setting our minds at ease,
that we can continue in sin until the Saviour
comes! This false assurance is contrary to the clear truth of the Messianic
scriptures that Yahushua came to deliver His people from sin (Mt. 1:21) to
redeem us from all lawlessness and purify unto Himself a peculiar people,
zealous unto good works (Titus 2:14). The Messiah clearly commanded:
"Go and sin no more" (Yoch. 8:11 and Yoch. 5:14). In Mt. 5:48 He commands, "Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
The fact of the present "born
again" experience is repeatedly confirmed by many other Scriptures
stressing the fact that:
1)
we need to become new creatures now, e.g. 2 Cor
5:17: "Therefore if any man is in (Messiah), he is a new creature; the old
things have passed away: behold new things have come." (NASV);
2)
the necessity of letting Yahushua renew every converted sinner now
into a new wineskin bag which is able to retain the wine - Mt 9:17:
"Nor do men put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst
... but they put new wine into fresh wineskins and both are preserved."
(NASV) (see also Lk 5:37-38);
3)
the fact of Yahushua making a new man of us now as the old man is
put to death, for instance, Romans chapters 6 -8. NOTE ESPECIALLY:
Rom. 6:2, 6, 7, 11, 18, 19, 22 and Rom. 8:10; Eph 4:22-24; Col.
3:9-10.
If we read the following
texts we can clearly see that being born from above (or born again) is in the
present or past tense and not in the future tense:
1 Kepha
1:3 Blessed be the (Elohim) ... who ... has caused
us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of (Yahushua
Messiah) from the dead. (NASB)
How plain - past tense!
1 Kepha
1:23 For you have been born again ... through the
living and abiding Word of (Yahuweh). (NASB)
If you had any doubts, this
is conclusive evidence of "born again" in the past tense!
1 Yoch. 3:9 Whoever has been
born of (Yahuweh) does not sin, for his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin,
because he has been of (Yahuweh). (RAV)
Of course we will not sin
in the next life; this text is not sinning in this present life. We cannot sin
because we love Yahuweh too much. If you love your wife very much you cannot commit
adultery and be untrue to her.
1 Yoch. 5:18 We know that
whoever is born of (Yahuweh) does not sin, but he who has been born of
(Yahuweh) keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (RAV)
How simple: if you have
been born of Yahuweh (past tense) you keep yourself from evil because you now
love Yahuweh and you do not want to show Him anything but love. We read in 1 Yoch. 5:3: "For this is the love of (Yahuweh), that
we keep His commandments and His commandments are not grievous".
If we love Yahuweh we show Him our love by keeping His commandments in this
present life! Is it still grievous for you to keep His
commandments?
Or do you love Yahuweh with
all your heart, all your mind and all your soul?
Most believers have
different testimonies of how they came to belief in Yahushua. "Many
will say to me on that day, 'Master, Master, did we not prophesy in Your Name,
and in Your Name cast out demons and in Your Name perform
many miracles?' And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; DEPART FROM
ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." (Mt. 7:22-23, NASV) Yes, many will
say to the Master, "We ate and drank in your presence ..." and
He will say "I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM
ME ALL YOU EVILDOERS". (Luke 13:26-27 (NASV)
How then, can we know that
we are truly a child of Yahuweh? Yes, we do find the answer so clearly in the
Scriptures. We are not going to be judged according to an experience. No! We
are going to be judged according to the fruit we bear, according to the good
works that follow after being born again. The necessity for good works is the
plain message of the Messianic Scriptures: Mt. 3:8, Mt. 5:16, Yoch. 5:29, Eph 2:10, Titus 2:14, 1 Kepha 1:17, 1 Kepha 2:12,
Rev 2:5, Rev 2:23, Rev 3:8, Rev 22:12, etc.
The first epistle of Yochanan clearly describes the fruit by which we too can
know the born again believer. No matter what testimony you might have.
THE FOLLOWING SEVEN TEXTS
IN THIS EPISTLE CLEARLY DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO IS BORN AGAIN:
1 Yoch. 5:1 Whosoever
believeth that (Yahushua) is (Messiah) is born of (Yahuweh)".
This is the most vital and
initial step of our faith. Without believing with all your heart that Yahushua
is the Messiah, the Son of Yahuweh the Father, you cannot come into the
spiritual kingdom of Yahuweh. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no
man cometh unto the Father but by me." (Yoch.
14:6) Who reveals to you that Yahushua is the Messiah? Only
the Set-Apart Spirit. And that is where you are born of the Spirit. This
then must be followed by water baptism into the Name of Yahushua, to be born of
water.
1 Yoch. 4:7 Beloved let us love one another, for love
is of (Yahuweh) and everyone that loveth is born of
(Yahuweh), and knoweth (Yahuweh).
The fruit of the Spirit is
love - loving the children of Yahuweh (1 Yoch. 5:2)
and loving Yahuweh by keeping His commandments (1 Yoch.
5:3).
1 Yoch. 3:9 Whosoever is born of (Yahuweh) does not
commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him. And he
cannot sin because he is born of (Yahuweh). (KJV)
The Messiah commanded those
who believed on Him, "Go and sin no more" (Yoch.
5:14 and Yoch. 8:11). Sha'ul
commanded it in 2 Tim 2:19 too and Yochanan
stresses the importance of this command emphatically in his epistle in the
following text:
1 Yoch. 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of
(Yahuweh) sinneth not ..... keepeth himself, and that wicked
one toucheth him not. (KJV)
The father of all lies will
try his utmost to bring us into disobedience! We must keep ourselves from all
evil. We must purify ourselves (1 Yoch. 3:3). We must
resist the devil (Yacov / James 4:7; 1 Kepha 5:8-9).
1 Yoch. 2:29 ... everyone that doeth righteousness is
born of Him. (KJV)
The irrefutable truth is
that the only Scriptural definition of righteousness is to keep the
commandments of Yahuweh (5 Mosh. 6:25 and Ps.
119:172).
5 Mosh.
6:25 And if we are careful to obey all this law (teaching) before (Yahuweh)
our (Elohim), as He has commanded us, that will be our righteousness. (NIV)
1 Yoch. 5:4 For whatsoever is
born of (Yahuweh) overcometh the world ... (KJV)
Satan uses the world and
the things that are in this world as a final subtle onslaught to estrange us
from the Mighty One. "Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father IS NOT IN HIM.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
the world." (1 Yoch. 2:15-16)
Is this not the way Satan
succeeds to choke the third type in the Parable of the Sower?
Luke 8:14 tells us, "they have heard, they go
forth, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and
BRING NO FRUIT TO PERFECTION".
Brothers and Sisters, are
you allowing the worldly pursuits and pleasures of this life to divert your
love for Yahuweh towards the love of the things of the world? If so, repent -
before it is too late!
These seven (the perfect
number) texts in the first Epistle of Yochanan are
the Scriptural characteristics of a born-again believer. If your life bears the
fruit as described in these texts then you are born-again. If not, then you
have to look at them again, repent of your sin and lukewarmness,
and ask Yahushua to forgive you!
You might say to me,
"What about Mt. 19:28?" See it for yourself literally translated in
Young's Literal Translation or in the Rotherham
Version. Correctly and literally translated, the text in Mt.
19:28 emphasises the fact that we need to be
born-again now. It reads, "And (Yahushua) said to them,
'Truly I say to you, that you who did follow me in the rebirth; when the Son of
Man shall sit on His throne of (esteem) you also shall sit on twelve thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel'".
But let us listen to and
accept the final clear witness of Yoch. 1:12-13.
In verse 12 we read of the children of Elohim. In
verse 13 they are described as "they who were born, not of blood, nor
of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man but of (Elohim)". Note
the "were" being past tense.
YET TO ALL
WHO RECEIVED HIM, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO
BECOME CHILDREN OF (ELOHIM). CHILDREN BORN NOT OF NATURAL
DESCENT NOR OF HUMAN DECISION OR A HUSBAND'S WILL BUT BORN OF (ELOHIM). (Yoch.
1:12-13 NIV).