Reference: John 3:3-6
The truth of the new birth has been hiddenfrom the mind of man for many, many years. When this subject is brought up inthe nominal churches of today, it is usually passed by, thinking that no onecan understand the mystery of how it is brought about. This is exactly whatSatan wants you to believe and think, because as long as you are void of thetruth concerning the scriptural truth of the new birth, then you will nevercome to the knowledge of the truth that the gospel reveals. The truth of thematter is that, the gospel holds the mystery of this truth, and you must cometo the knowledge of it, or else you will never be truly born again. In order tounderstand the revelation of the truth of the new birth, you must first realizewhat it means to be born again. The word "born" means that somethinghas been brought into existence. We all have a little knowledge of the naturalbirth of a baby from the womb of a woman. Nicodemus thought that a man had togo back to the womb of his mother and be born all over again, but Jesus was notspeaking about, or referring to the natural birth from the womb of the woman.Nicodemus knew that he was born once from his mother's womb. He thought he hadto make a backward process, and go back to his mother's womb, but then Jesustold him that a man had to be born of the water and of the Spirit. To be bornof the water and the Spirit, means that you must become a child of God by thework that the water and the Spirit accomplishes on you. The water is the"washing of water" by the word of God.
The word will not wash you andmake you clean, unless you first possess the gift of the Holy Spirit in yourlife. The word by itself will have no effect on, or with you whatsoever, if youdo not first receive the Holy Spirit in your heart, so that He can quicken theword of truth to your heart. The receiving of the Holy Spirit is done throughand by faith. "By faith" means to accept the gift of the Spirit asthe word tells you to do. The Bible says for you to repent, and be baptized inthe name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive thegift of the Holy Ghost. Your obedience to what the word says, will give you theassurance that you did receive the Holy Spirit. If you are a believer, then youwill believe that you did receive the Spirit when you obeyed the command ofrepentance and water baptism as Acts 2:38 states. After you obey the command of repentance and waterbaptism, you must then continue on in the word for the truth that will set youfree. The Spirit will reveal to you all the truth that the gospel contains,because the Holy Ghost is given specifically for this very purpose. Yourreceiving of the revealed truth contained in the gospel, is what will createand make a born again individual out of you. Jesus explained the new birthprocess like the mystery of a corn of wheat when it is planted in the ground.When you place a grain of corn on top of the ground, it will not grow andproduce fruit, because it is not given the necessary ingredients that willcause it to decay, and bring forth its fruit. If you place the grain of cornunder the ground, it will grow into a new plant of corn. The grain of corn hasto die in order that it will bring forth fruit. The seed has to be planted inthe earth in order that the ingredients of the soil will nurish the seed, andcause it to grow. We must also die, before we can be resurrected to a new lifein Christ. We must receive the seed of the word of God, that will crucify ourflesh that will create the new man within us. The Spirit reveals the word oftruth to us as we walk in it and obey it. The seed word of God transforms usinto new creations in Christ Jesus. The word of truth is what we are begottenof, as the apostle James tells us in James1:18, and in I Peter 1:22-23.We are born again by the word of truth revealed to us by the Spirit of God. Wecannot enter into the kingdom of God, unless we are born again, as Jesus said.The common belief today is that, to be born again, is an instant work when youbelieve on Christ, taking Him as your personal Saviour. This is not what theBible reveals, because to be born again, is a progressive work, performed bythe Spirit as He reveals the truth to you from the word of the gospel ofChrist. Receiving the truth will renew the mind, and crucify the lusts of theflesh. Not many will hear and obey the truth of the gospel, because the truthwill mortify the deeds of the body. Very few there will be, that will receivethe truth, and walk in it. You must receive the seed word of truth, becauseobedience to truth is what will make a new creature out of you. You must obeythe word and receive it. You must repent of sin and be baptized in the name ofJesus Christ, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that will revealthe truth to your heart and mind. The entire operation is a work of faith bywalking in the light of the word of God as it is revealed to you from the scriptures.The truth revealed by the Spirit,transforms you into the same image of Christ.Christ becomes your life if you receive the word of truth, because the truth isthe Lord Jesus Christ. God's word is creative, making a complete new creationout of the believer that receives it. The denomination churches of today, areone hundred percent void of the truth that the gospel reveals. They failed tocontinue on in the word after they claimed belief on Christ. Just to confessbelief on Christ is dead faith unless you repent of your sins, and begin toseek God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and strength. You must have thedetermination of knowing nothing, but Christ and Him crucified. This can bedone only by receiving the word of truth revealed in the gospel. The truth willnever be made known to you, if you fail to walk in the light of the truth asyou hear it. The Spiritual birth is a progressive work wrought by the Spiritthrough the word of God revealed in the gospel. This is a truth that Satan hasblinded from the minds of man for many years. To be born again, is broughtabout by your obedience to the revealed truth of the gospel, by walking dailyin it. You must come to the knowledge of the truth that the gospel contains.Denominational preachers will not tell you this, because they themselves arenot born again of the water and the Spirit. Christ is coming for a gloriouschurch without spot, wrinkle, or any such blemish. Are you going to be one thatHe comes for, or will you suffer the revenge of His coming on those who fail toobey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? The gift of God is life eternalthrough our Lord Jesus Christ, but the wages of sin is death. Which will youchoose?