This essay continues a sequence. Read the previous one here.
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
— KJV, John 3:3
To be ‘born again’ is not something you call yourself – it is determined by The Word. Christ demanded a complete change: new nature, new conduct. Not a quick event, not a ritual, not membership of a church, and not mere ‘belief’.
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The Ideal Human
“Born again” refers to a transformation in human nature (ref. “Ye Must Be Born Again, Part 1“). We must free ourselves from the chains in which we bound ourselves (ref. “The Unforgiven“), and The Word was gifted to us through Christ for this purpose (ref. “Born Again, Born Anew: Process or Event“).
In “Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Part 2“, we explained how His allusion to those who shall be called the children of God refers to the fact that this is a gradual process.
In the Beatitudes (see the series starting here), He described the elements of human nature that accord with being born anew, behaviours that emanate from Love (ref. “Blessed Are They That Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness“).
A Relationship With Christ
The decision to be born anew is a decision to base one’s life on Love and Truth. We could call this a “personal relationship with Christ” in a restricted sense (ref. “The Word Is Christ, Not Jesus“).
The Nature of Christ is eternal and above human concepts. Therefore this relationship has nothing to do with any church, or even any particular religion.
If this decision is genuine it will lead to an energetic effort to change oneself for the better (ref. “Blessed Are They That Mourn“). Such a person will wish to understand The Word, so that he can change himself through It. He will study It with an open mind and a humble heart (ref. “Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit“).
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To Obey Him, You Must Understand Him
To be born anew is to make one’s will subservient to the Will of God (ref. “Command That These Stones Be Made Bread!“). This presupposes knowledge of The Word, which requires action (ref. “Act To Experience To Know“).
Experience yields the knowledge of the primacy of Love in all things (ref. “The Nature of God’s Laws“), as well as the awareness that what we call love today is not love (ref. “Real Love Is Tough Love“). These experiences gradually lead to genuine and natural behavioural change (e.g. “Law of Attraction: So What?“).
Overcoming our self-will is to develop self control (ref. “Blessed Are The Meek, Part 1“). Genuine love gives the ability to look inwards, which is the foundation of mercifulness (ref. “Blessed Are The Merciful“). Self-control based on Love is a step on the road to egolessness, which allows us to consciously experience God’s Power (ref. “Blessed Are The Pure In Heart“), and provides the strength for new, radical behaviours (ref. “Turn The Other Cheek: Why? How?“).
Spiritual Maturity
Becoming more controlled and peaceful manifests in thoughts, speech, and actions (ref. “Blessed Are The Peacemakers“, “Mind Your Language“). The resulting experiences build faith in The Word (ref. “Faith Is A Halfway House“), and lead us to turn away from materialism (ref. “Fall Down And Worship Me“). This does not mean becoming a hermit or recluse: it means engaging with our surroundings with a pure spiritual mindset, with a strong will to correct wrong thinking and wrongdoing (ref. “Blessed Are They That Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness“).
Those with a pure spiritual mindset are not afraid to suffer for their convictions (ref. “Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted For Righteousness, Part 2“). Neither do they desire praise or recognition (ref. “Giving As Performance: PR or Charity?“).
Christ painted a complete and beautiful picture of what it is to be born anew.
He expected us to work hard on ourselves to achieve this ideal, using The Word as our guide. He did not give It as a “get out of jail free” card. And it is not “by faith alone” – it requires hard work:
Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
— Matt 7:13-14
Today’s Resolution:
- We shall not shy away from the personal changes required to be as Christ demands us to be.
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