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What does it mean to be “Born Again”? We all have our own religious and traditional ideas. But what is its scriptural basis? We know that it has to predate Nicodemus, since Yeshua (Jesus)  rebuked Nicodemus for being a teacher of Israel and not understanding this second birth. Nicodemus, who was a later disciple of Yeshua and a Pharisee just like Paul, had great knowledge and understanding concerning the scriptures. So why do we treat him as though he could not understand a, supposedly, simple concept?

Is it possible that the scriptural basis of this new birth has roots in history that even predate YHVH’s instructions given to Moses at Mount Sinai? Is it possible that the journey many people feel they have already completed is a far more complex and life changing than most folks have ever imagined?

Please join me as we develop a solid foundation for our faith in Messiah; and renew our minds to that good, and acceptable and perfect will of YHVH. Only then we can worship our heavenly Father, as Yeshua did, in spirit and in truth.

It was during the Feast of Unleavened bread that Nicodemus came to Yeshua.

The end of John chapter 2 speaks of Yeshua being in Jerusalem at the Passover and “the miracles that he did.”

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast days, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 2:23)

And the beginning of John chapter 3 speaks of the same miracles.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. (John 3:1-2)

So it was during the Feast that Nicodemus came to Yeshua at night. Let’s ask ourselves some questions about this clandestine meeting.

Were Yeshua and Nicodemus alone that night?

Did Nicodemus ask about being “Born Again” or did Yeshua bring it up?

If this is something that everyone must do to enter, or even, see the Kingdom of Heaven. Why did Yeshua entrust this information only to Nicodemus?

Is it possible that Nicodemus might have been one of the very few who knew the scriptures well enough to be entrusted with this precious information?

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:1-10)

It was Yeshua that initiated this discussion and Nicodemus did not understand what he was saying,

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?”(John 3:11)

This is a very serious question, and one that I do not believe has ever been made clear for the world . The reason I say that is because the answer is only able to be heard and understood by a spiritual man. Not the unrepentant man who has lived his entire life in the ways and tradition of men. It is for this reason that Yeshua spoke in parables.

The people he spoke to had both (flesh) eyes and (flesh) ears, but they could not see or hear because they had hard hearts and stiff necks also; and they would not repent and turn to his Father’s ways because they loved their own traditions.

Listen carefully to how Yeshua answers Nicodemus’ question concerning, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Yeshua answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:3-5)

PLEASE! I know so many of our minds absolutely shut down when we talk about living in the spirit; and it is for this reason that I begin this series (when I teach it live) with “LOVING YHVH GOD 101.” In it we learn that the spiritual man is only the man who lives according to the laws/instructions of Moses. While the man of flesh lives according to his lower nature just like the rest of the animals.

The flesh

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom 8:13-14)

 Of people born only of the flesh we read the following.

“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die. (Eze 18:4)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Heb 9:27)

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness [to following YHVH's ways]  like the stars forever and ever. (Dan 12:2-3)

For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the spirit [by following YHVH's ways] shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:8)

When YHVH said that all flesh would perish from the earth, did Noah die?

So YHVH said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” (Gen 6:7)

Noah did not die, he and his family were saved because Noah walked with Elohim.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of YHVH. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. (Gen 6:8-9)

The spirit

Only the man who obeys YHVH’s instructions concerning how all men are to live, are spiritual men; all the others are hypocrites and are deceiving themselves!

Yeshua answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men— the washing of pitchers and cups, [the keeping of Seder,] and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mar 7:6-9)

We are all born, of the flesh, into some Kingdom of men! Each one of us has come through the water of our mothers womb and been born into some kingdom on the earth. For most of the folks who are reading this document, it was the kingdom of the United States!

But Yeshua said, “You must be Born Again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The second birth, is not into any kingdom of men; the second birth is into the Kingdom of Elohim!

If we live out our lives in a temporal (fleshly) kingdom; regardless of the fact that many think we are honoring YHVH by being good citizens in their respective kingdoms by following their ways. We will reap corruption!

If we choose to live by the spirit (following Torah), then we are both in the kingdom of Elohim and also in the Way of Life. It is the Way of Life that will eventually lead to the cross and YHVH’s lamb through Passover. Yeshua continues his dialogue with Nicodemus saying,

Only God’s spirit gives new life. The spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. (John 3:8)

YHVH’s kingdom, for the time being, is like the wind! We can not see the wind itself, but we can see the affects and effects of the wind in the actions of YHVH’s people who follow that invisible kingdom. These actions are the substance and the evidence of our faith.

Now when Yeshua was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)

The Kingdom of God is in you, once you repent from the broad way, start obeying the YHVH’s ways by walking in the narrow way and are baptized into the commonwealth of Israel.

But wait, there is more! Seeing and entering the kingdom is only the start! Yeshua said, “You must be born Again.” Yeshua concludes this talk with Nicodemus, with a rebuke!

Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things be?” Yeshua answered and said to him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? (John 3:9-10)

Notice: Yeshua did not call him a teacher of the “Jews,” he called him a teacher of “Israel”, “True Israel!”

Oh YHVH – If Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, should have understood this second birth, then that means the Born Again experience that Yeshua is talking about is an Old Testament concept, not a New Testament one! This make perfect sense to me! If YHVH does not change and His word endures forever, the second birth or Time of Life has been available to His people from the garden. We have so much to learn. Where in the scriptures does it talk about being born again?

To find out you will have to read part 2 in the Born Again Process. So see ya next time and thanks for reading.