# 10 Born Again

Johh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

I wrote last time of the connection between verse 12 and the coupling of baptism and faith for salvation. The connection continues in verse 13 as the matter of rebirth is brought up, or the necessity of being “born again.”  Verse 13 could be cross-referenced in your Bible with the discourse that Jesus had with Nicodemus in the third chapter of John where Jesus bluntly told Nicodemus that one must be “born again” in order to enter the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus, is clearly puzzled by this assertion from Jesus as he replies:

 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

Jesus replies by saying, “I am not talking about a physical birth Nicodemus, but rather a rebirth that takes place through water and the Spirit of God.”

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The mention of “water and Spirit” ought to take us to baptism. This water and Spirit were very evident at the baptism of Jesus as recorded in all four gospels! In  Mr 1:9,10 we read, “It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

A further connection is made for us with Peter’s first sermon in the Book of Acts: Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism , water and Spirit, is a “God thing.” In it He does something for us! It is a pure form of grace. We cannot be born into His kingdom through our bloodline or the coattails of our parents. (Born not of blood) We cannot claim anything done for Him in our flesh, (works) and we cannot claim our reasoning,  or decision. (the will of man) This rebirth is all God’s doing and HE does it through baptism and sustaining God-granted faith.

It is as Luther states in his explanation of the third article of the Apostles Creed: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

Yes, we are called by the Gospel, which when rightly preached always includes the necessity of baptism and faith!

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.