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Rev. Robert M. Celeste
Sunday, August 1, 2010 Did God really say “You must be Born Again”? John and Luke 23
Did God actually say that You must be Born Again? And if so, just what is Born Again?
Those are the two questions we are going to look at, but not from commentary or exploratory writings, but from the Bible and only the Bible.
In John 10:30 Jesus said: "I and My Father are One." That was in answer to this question asked by the Jewish religious scholars of the day, in John 10:24 " How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly."
In John 4:25&26 we read: The woman saith unto Jesus, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, "I that speak unto thee am He."
So Yes, Jesus is the Christ, but is He also God? Did He ever claim to be one with God the Father? Yes He did.
“And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Thomas saith unto Him, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; so how can we know the way?”
Jesus saith unto him, “I Am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.”
Philip saith unto Him, “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus saith unto him, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” John 14:4-9a
So, did God really say “You must be Born Again”? Yes He did, for in John Chapter three we read of the conversation between Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Jesus, who is the Christ, Jesus who is God.
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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:1-6 ACP/KJV
So, yes, God said that no one can even see heaven unless they are Born Again. But, why all the confusion about Born Again? Just what did Jesus mean by “Born Again”?
Jesus answered that very question, moments before He died on the cross, three days before He rose from the dead triumphant over and conquering the grave and death.
In Luke 23: 32 to 43 we read: And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Jesus to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Jesus, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be The Christ, the chosen of God.” And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, saying, “If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself.”
And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.” But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss.” And he said unto Jesus, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom.”
And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:32 to 43
Jesus in John 3:3 said “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” There are no blind people in heaven, therefore, since there is only Heaven and the eternal lake of fire, Jesus has clearly said that unless you are Born Again, you will spend eternity in the lake of fire. In Luke 23:39 Jesus very clearly tells the man hanging on the cross to His right “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” So it is easy to draw the conclusion that what ever that man did while hanging on that cross to the Lord’s right, got him Born Again. What did he do?
First, he said to the other criminal hanging on the cross to the Lord’s left and to all that were there, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?” He made the public statement that Jesus is God.
Second: He said: “seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds” he publicly admitted that he was a pond scum sinner deserving of pain and suffering, while publicly professing that God lived a sinless life.
And finally he said “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom.” That phrase “remember me” , at the time this was translated into English, meant Please forgive me, if you will I will give my life to you, I will serve you and obey you, I will willingly and freely give myself to you.”
So, in conclusion, What must you do to be “Born Again”?
First you must go directly to Jesus and address Him as Lord, as God, acknowledging that He is God.
Second, you must admit that you are a sinner and that you know it and understand that you really do deserve to go to hell.
Third, you must simply ask Him to forgive you and to take over your life.
If you do those three things, honestly do them, then you will immediately be Born again and will no longer belong to satan, but will instead be part of the family of God, an adopted brother or sister of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you should seek out a solid Bible preaching church where you can both fellowship with other Christians and grow in the word of God, and then as soon as possible, be baptized.
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