BORN AGAIN - 3 times in the Bible

John 3:3-7 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.”

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?”

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.

6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

1 PET 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (NKJ)

1 Pet 1:18-23 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, (NKJ)

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Rom 10:9-10 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

REDEMPTION

JESUS’ BLOOD FREES US FROM THE GUILT AND PENALTY OF SIN

HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER FREES US FROM THE DOMINION OF SIN

Deliverance by payment of a price. In the New Testament, redemption refers to salvation from sin, death, and the wrath of God by Christ’s sacrifice.

The New Testament emphasizes the tremendous cost of redemption: “the precious blood of Christ” <1 Pet. 1:19; Eph. 1:7>, which is also called an atoning sacrifice, “a propitiation by His blood” <Rom. 3:25>. Believers are exhorted to remember the “price” of their redemption as a motivation to personal holiness <1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Pet. 1:13-19>. The Bible also emphasizes the result of redemption: freedom from sin and freedom to serve God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NEW BIRTH

Inner spiritual renewal as a result of the power of God in a person’s life. The phrase new birth comes from <John 3:3,7>, where Jesus told Nichodemus, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus meant that all people are so sinful in God’s eyes that they need to be regenerated—recreated and renewed—by the sovereign activity of God’s Spirit <John 3:5-8>.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things

have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

(NKJ)

2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is

perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

(NKJ)

REGENERATION

The spiritual change brought about in a person’s life by an act of God. In regeneration a person’s sinful nature is changed, and he is enabled to respond to God in faith.

The word regeneration occurs only in the New Testament <Matt. 19:28;

Titus 3:5>, but the concept or idea is common throughout the Bible. The literal meaning of regeneration is “born again.” There is a first birth and a second birth. The first, as Jesus said to Nicodemus <John 3:1-12> is “of the flesh”; the second birth is “of the Spirit.” Being born of the Spirit is essential before a person can enter the kingdom of God. Every biblical command to man to undergo a radical change of character from selfcenteredness to God-centeredness is, in effect, an appeal to be “born again” <Ps. 51:5-11;

Jer. 31:33; Zech. 13:1>.

The need for regeneration grows out of humanity’s sinfulness. It is brought about through God’s initiative. God works in the human heart, and the person responds to God through faith. Thus, regeneration is an act of God through the Holy Spirit, resulting in resurrection from sin to a new life in Jesus Christ <2 Cor. 5:17>.

CONVERSION

The initial change of attitude and will that brings a person into right relationship with God. The word conversion appears as a noun only once in the New Testament, referring to the conversion of the Gentiles <Acts 15:3>. But the Bible is filled with examples of persons who experienced conversion.

The fullest description of conversion occurs in the words spoken to Saul of Tarsus at his own conversion: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me” <Acts 26:18>.

Conversion involves turning away from evil deeds and false worship and turning toward serving and worshiping the Lord. Conversion marks a person’s entrance into a new relationship with God, forgiveness of sins, and his new life as a part of the fellowship of the people of God.

Closely related to conversion are; repentance and faith.

Repentance is turning from sin.

Faith is turning to God.