The Born Again Experience
and
What It Doesn't Mean...

Born again? You and I have heard this many times. What really takes place in this spiritual experience?

Who Are We - really?

So much of the Bible message can now be understood through this amazing information...

Let's start at Genesis 2:7 where the concept of "who we are" is introduced -

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.”

See the words, "breath of life?"

The question is – What is the breath of life?

It is the divine “power-pak” that allows

• the body
• the soul
• the spirit to function as they should – without our help – subconsciously...

When was the last time you had control of your eyelids blinking? You can't... Or your breathing?

The “breath of life” is that invisible control center that energizes and regulates all inward parts.

You could call it "invisible electricity"

The breath of life is NOT the spirit.

The breath of life is NOT the soul

GOD made man a "living soul"

Paul, the apostle confirms this information: “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul.” 1 Corinthians 15:45

This is a vital truth for all of us to understand...

• Man was NOT made a living spirit.
• Man HAS a spirit...

Job 32:8 “But there is a spirit IN man...” Man is NOT a spirit

Man has a rib cage That does not make man "a rib cage," does it?

Man is a tri-une being

• Man is a SOUL
• Living in a BODY
• Man has a SPIRIT

GOD IS A SPIRIT...

Some might say, “What's the difference?”

Paul addresses this issue in Hebrews 4:12  “For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than ANY two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of SOUL and SPIRIT.”

What does “asunder” mean?

It means “to explode apart into different directions” - to separate. To be as wide apart as “right is from wrong” - Not close. Apart. (Source:Webster's Dictionary)

If the SOUL and the Spirit are different – and they are completely different in function and purpose – then why have we thought they were the same?

Here is the deception...

This single truth will change your thinking and change the direction of your life...

When most people think of the biblical “salvation message” - they really reflect the teaching that most evangelicals agree to -

Here are the great truths that are taught...

We hear the Word, or we read the Word of God... and become aware of certain facts:

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

We learn that salvation is available

We also accept the truth of Romans 3:23 “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Add to that - Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”

Ephesians 2:8,9 “For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things become new.”

And there you have the outline to the “salvation” message... you must be “born again.”

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.”

God by the Holy Spirit, softens my heart...

Job 23:16 “For God makes my heart soft...”

Acts 16:14 speaks of Lydia - “whose heart the Lord opened...”

We respond. It's wonderful!  A commitment to "Jesus Christ as Lord" is made.

We are spiritually “born again”...

But the question that must be asked is this...
What part of you gets "born again" or saved?

Before we jump to the usual conclusions - let's be reminded of this: Man was made a “living soul” Man has a spirit Man lives in a body

What “part” gets saved? The evangelical answer usually is, “My SOUL was saved.”

As wonderful as that sounds -

It simply is not true. That statement is mis-information.

Before you label me as a fanatic – consider this carefully...

You and I were made a “living soul.” That is what we are. Period.

Your “soul” is NOT your “spirit.” Your soul may CONTAIN your spirit. Your spirit may be resident in your soul

Just as an engine is part of a car A car is, however, a car. A car has an engine, but a car is NOT an engine.

Here is what happens when we are "born again" of the Holy Spirit of GOD

Our spirit inside of us was dead. "Dead" simply means we are unable to have "ACCESS" to GOD

Before Adam sinned – Adam was able to communicate directly with God the Father.

Do you know that Adam named all the animals...all of the creation's birds, animals, fish, etc.

How could Adam do that?

Adam's “spirit” was the CONTAINER for the God-essence that gave Adam access and fellowship with God the Father

This was great!  Until...

When Adam and Eve sinned...

When Adam and Eve sinned... The “access” they enjoyed with GOD the Father was revoked, cut off, denied.

Angels with flaming swords guarded the “tree of Life.” Adam and Eve were no longer allowed to go near the tree of Life. Access to God the Father was “cut off!” Man was no longer able to communicate directly with God the Father...

This is the physical manifestation, or “word-picture” of what also happened “spiritually” within man.

Ever since, man has no access directly with God the Father.

That's why God communicated through certain men and women on the “behalf” of the people, until the day when we would be allowed to be born again of the Holy Spirit of GOD.

Moses... Moses went up into the mountain. God spoke to Moses through the “burning bush”

God gave instructions for the people Moses was only allowed LIMITED “access”...

That's why God's Divine Government set up the Old Testament Priesthood, the tabernacle.

These were only “temporary” institutions.
These were to allow man to have a temporary access to the Father UNTIL Jesus Christ made “permanent” access possible.

Through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord – being born again of the Holy Spirit of GOD, we are allowed the joy and distinct PRIVILEGE of coming directly into the presence of God the Father – just as the first Adam did... without being struck dead!

Understand this well. Without Jesus Christ we have no hope.

No salvation. Nothing.

When the Holy Spirit of God moved upon our heart – the miracle of “ACCESS” to the Father occurred...

To put this truth into another “word-picture”...

You are standing at a telephone booth - you want to make a call. You wish to speak with someone through the telephone system... No coin? What is the result?...NO ACCESS. When you find the dime or quarter - pop it into the slot. What happens? You get “access” to the dial tone

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AT CALVARY...

We have “access” to God the Father and all the benefits offered through the Word of God. Jesus Christ was the coin... giving all of us pure, wonderful access to the Father.

Some other things happened too...

1. All past sin forgiven

2. The Holy Spirit gains access to my spirit.

3. The rights of Satan to my life have been forfeited

4. The transfer of my spirit from death to life has taken place

5. I become "eligible" for inheriting all of the promises and blessings of the Word of GOD - the tree of life - IF I choose.

To sum it up...

I have a born again spirit that is NOW “alive” unto God the Father. The Covenant Blood has been applied to my PAST sin and failure. I now have ACCESS into His Holy Presence

How could anyone turn away from such a wonderful opportunity to be born again of the Holy Spirit of GOD?