In the book of John 3:5-7, Jesus said to a man named Nicodemus that it would be necessary for him to be born again. Not understanding what type of birth Jesus was referring to, Nicodemus asked: "How can a man be born when he is old?" (John 3:4). We see that this same doubt persists to this day in the minds of many.
This study aims to clarify what it truly is to be born again and what are the characteristics of someone who is converted and has Jesus as Father, because it is NECESSARY FOR US TO BE BORN AGAIN!
Legitimate children have the characteristics of their parents.
Science states that legitimate children inherit and carry within themselves the characteristics of their parents, transmitted through DNA. However, we know that the environment can also interfere with these characteristics.
Children have the father's personality, both in behavioral and physical aspects. However, some changes can occur throughout life, and many external factors can influence these changes, because the environment in which children are raised interferes with their conduct. Behavior, therefore, refers to the attitudes and reactions of the individual, determined by genetic factors (that is, inherited from the father) and also by environmental factors.
Given these statements, we can conclude that being a child is inheriting behavioral and physical characteristics. However, it is important to remember that "these characteristics can be altered by external factors", so it is wise to warn so that we do not distance ourselves from the Father, because otherwise, we will not resemble Him.
The text states that a legitimate child inherits his father's characteristics. Based on these statements, we can conclude that, if we are truly children of God, we need to have within us characteristics that are of God, such as: love for our fellow man, a life of holiness, acting with justice, compassion for others and helping people. We can observe that these characteristics derive from an exclusive characteristic of God, because the Bible states that man loves, but God is love. That is, if we are truly children of God, we need to have love in our essence, because through it, all other things will be possible.
Nowadays, approximately 35% of the world's population calls itself Christian. However, we see that it is difficult to perceive the characteristics of God in so many people who claim to be Christians. We can say that it is easy to say, but difficult to do. Many make this claim because they do not know what is truly necessary to be a true Christian. Many go to churches looking for solutions to their problems, but do not want serious commitment with the problem solver, do not subject themselves to the true God, worthy of all honor and glory. Many want God's blessings, but do not commit to the God of blessings. Therefore, they are not born again and consequently do not carry the characteristics of God.
Some even make an act of faith, establishing a commitment at the beginning, but over time, they drift away and allow external factors and environments to change their personality and behavior, to the point of not resembling God at all, who is the Father of those who received Him. As it is written in John 1:12: "But to as many as received Him, He gave them power to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name;" and also in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up. Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."
God's wonderful project in allowing us to be born
When God allows us to be born, it means that He is granting us an extraordinary opportunity to write our own story, and obviously, a story of achievements, prosperity, joy, victories and miracles. But above all, a story of exclusive dedication to Him, because far from God, things simply do not happen. It is human nature to transfer the blame for their defeats and frustrations to others, but we know that it is up to each of us to decide how our brief passage through Earth will be. It is difficult to read or even listen to this statement, but the situation we are in, whether good or bad, is the fruit of our choices, because at some point, we decided to take the path that brought us to where we are.
We must not forget that many people are attacked every day by agents of the devil: rapists, murderers, thieves and many others. Even so, people affected by these attacks can choose whether they will live imprisoned by the evils caused, or whether, on the contrary, they will take a different direction for their story. Every day, we hear about the damage done by the devil, which, in most cases, leaves marks that are very difficult to forget. However, in contrast, for those who want and listen, the arms of Our Lord and Savior Jesus are open to heal any wound and wipe every tear from our eyes. Given these statements, we see that there is hope, because being born or being reborn is the only chance we have to write a story alongside THE ONLY GOD AND LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
Necessary for you to be born again
John 3:1-21: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 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? Jesus 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'..."
There is no way to be reborn if you don't want to die
John 12:24-26: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. And if anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."
Whoever is reborn renounces himself
Matthew 10:38: "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 16:25-26: "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Difficulties and rewards for following Christ
Matthew 19:16-30: "Now behold, one came and said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? So He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to Him, Which ones? Jesus said, 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The young man said to Him, All these things I have kept from my youth; what do I still lack?'"
New covenant, which removes us from sin
Matthew 26:27-28: "Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Being born again implies changing your life
1 Peter 1:1-25: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,..."; "As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct; because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'..." 1 Peter 2:1-12: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby; if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious; ..."; "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy..."
Change happens from the inside out
1 Peter 3:1-22: "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel;..."
Living a new life, guided by the Holy Spirit
1 Peter 4:1-12: "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God...."
Free from the slavery of sin
Galatians 5:1-26: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."; "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law..."
Essence vs. Appearance
The essence of a person who is born again is often not possible to see with the naked eye, because only God can see completely, as they are invisible characteristics. However, the fruit of this essence is possible to be seen through attitudes. We can, in a simple way, exemplify this. We can assure that God is love because His attitudes demonstrate this invisible characteristic that is part of His essence. And the fruits of this essence we see every day when we wake up and see the beauty of the sun's brightness, we feel the wind blowing on us, or we see the trees swaying, when we marvel at the vastness of the universe, etc. But the greatest expression of love was when humanity found itself lost in sin and God left the splendor of His glory, becoming flesh to deliver Himself on the cross for all who had been lost.
We must be imitators of Jesus Christ
1 John 2:1-6: "And by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
Need to formalize the commitment to Jesus Christ through baptism, receiving His name to have the right to the inheritance, which is eternal life
Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit;" Mark 16:15-16: "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
Acts 2:38-39: "Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 19:1-7: "And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit..."
John 1:1-18: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
If you liked it, share it!!!
May God greatly bless your life.