“BORN AGAIN”

9 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”

1 John 3:9

What does it mean to be born again? Am I born again because I occasionally go to church? Is it because I tithe? Or is there something more to this term?

The Apostle John seems to refute a misconception about sin. It appears that the false teachers have been confusing John’s readers, teaching that since all matter is evil, it is normal for any person, Christian or not, to sin without having to face any consequences. According to John, this belief is false as it contradicts the calling and behavior of a born-again Christian.

To begin with, we are unregenerate individuals and dead in our trespasses. Since we are sinful to the core, there is nothing we can do to please God. We are hopeless, hell-bound transgressors in desperate need of a Savior.

But because of our merciful God, He breathes spiritual life into us through the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins, we are “born” (Greek “gennao,” a metaphor, used of God making men his sons through faith in Christ's work) into God’s family. Therefore, God becomes our Father. As His children, we possess God’s qualities, i.e., the habitual character of righteousness created by the Holy Spirit. As a result, we do not practice sinning because it is incompatible with our new nature.

John calls this new nature “God’s seed” (Greek “sperma,” which speaks of the Holy Spirit’s divine energy operating within the soul by which we are regenerated). This new nature abides (Greek “meno,” “to remain, not to depart”) in us, which means it is permanent, irreversible, and everlasting.

This is what I think describes the essence of being a born-again Christian. We become children of God because He showed us grace and we responded to that grace by believing in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit then makes us a new creation, which is a state contrary to our old self. This is not a process, but an instantaneous transformation of our nature.

Therefore, we begin to hate evil because our Father hates it. We do not make a practice of sinning because it hurts our Savior. Instead, we yield to the Spirit’s leading and possess a new character that demonstrates acts of righteousness.

I’m not saying we have completely lost the ability to sin. My point is, that we are no longer identified by our past life as the Holy Spirit begins to transform us and makes us more like Christ each day.

17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Are you a truly born-again Christian?

Pursue the Savior today!

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