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[[File:bornagain.jpg|right|thumb|Being born again is being born of the Spirit where we begin to see things with spiritual eyes and spiritual ears given us by the comforting of the [[Holy Spirit]]. It is the antitheses of eating from the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil. [[John 3]] gives us a caveat if we imagine we are born again. <Br>The Bible should be read in the context of the scriptures. Certainly John should be read in the context of John. You are only [[born again]] if you loveth the light and if you do evil [[Nicolaitan|deeds that God hateth]] then you also must in fact hateth the light.<Br>[http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/20211211john3.mp3 Download]<Br> '''John 3 part 1 '''<Br> or press play <Br><html><audio controls src="http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/20211211john3.mp3"></audio></html><Br>[http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/20211211john3born.mp3 Download]<Br> '''John 3 part 2 '''<Br> or press play <Br><html><audio controls src="http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/20211211john3born.mp3"></audio></html>]]

== Born again ==

'''What does it mean to be “[[born again]]?”''' 

Are you born again? 

Does the scripture give you a way to check if you are truly [[born again]] or if you are just under a [[strong delusion]]?

<blockquote>
[[John 3]]:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be '''born again''', he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be '''born again'''. 8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
</blockquote>

Jesus said, “Except a man be born of '''''water''''' and of the '''''Spirit''''', he cannot see the [[kingdom of God]].” 

In addition, Jesus made a clear distinction between being born of the flesh and born of the Spirit.

The ''Spirit of Life'' is the breath of God and is the element of man's nature which is of God that makes man, man.<Ref>[[Genesis 2]]: v7. 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 </Ref>


'''So, how do you know if you’re born of the Spirit?''' 

God said that if we ate of the [[Dendritic tree|tree of the knowledge of good and evil]] we would surely die.<Ref>[[Genesis 2]]:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.</Ref>

They did not die in the flesh instantly but they died in Spirit. Or in others words, you would die to the '''Spirit of Life''' and be born to the flesh alone. 

Adam's and Eve's eyes were opened to the fact that they did not have the ''authority'' or ''power'' to establish what was ''good and evil'' by their own imagination or thinking. That lack of ''authority'' has been equated with being "[[naked]]".

The English word ''power'' is often translated from the Greek word ''[[exousia]]''<Ref>{{1849}}</Ref> which means the ''power to choose''. 

God granted man the power or liberty to choose many things but not the power to choose or decide what is "good and what is evil". The answer to that question is already established in creation by the creator and man has no power to alter that determination. This does not mean that man cannot see what is good and what is evil. With the light of the Holy Spirit he may see the truth but that light also reveals the truth about man himself. If we are not wiling to see the whole truth we will hate the light and love the darkness.

We may in that darkness try to alter what is good and call it evil or alter what is evil and call it good. But man cannot not alter  the truth or evade the consequences that comes from his choices to reject that truth.

Lacking authority, as we have stated, was synonymous to being [[naked]]. We walked with God in the beginning when he breathed the [[Holy Spirit]] into us and we humbly ate of the [[tree of life]] rather than in our vanity ate of the [[tree of knowledge]] of good and evil. 

Because we chose to turn our back on God we were cut off from the [[Holy Spirit]] that offers [[eternal life]]. Men still are eating of the tree of knowledge and in their [[sophistry]] they unmoore the precepts of [[righteousness]] and [[whore]] after their own imagination in [[false religion]], often lined with the tapestry of emotion.

== The words born again ==

The term [[born again]] in [[John 3]] is from the Greek ''gennao''<Ref>{{1080}}</Ref> meaning ''born'' and ''anothen''<Ref>{{509}}</Ref> meaning ''from above'' or ''a higher place''. In [[1 Peter 1]] we see a different Greek term used ''anagennao''<Ref>{{313}}</Ref> which can be understood as a metaphor ''to have one’s mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God''.

<blockquote>
Being '''born again''', not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [[1 Peter 1]]:23  
</blockquote>

Born of water, flesh or corruptible seed are all describing natural human birth. Peter also writes of another birth.<Ref> [[1 Peter 1]]:3 ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath '''begotten us again''' unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,</Ref>

The phrase "born again" mentioned in John 3:7 is a metaphor of that state where God is writing on your heart and mind by the Holy Spirit. It is simply being born of Spirit as it goes on to state in verse 8. 

It is when you are walking in the spirit with God as we did before we chose to decide for ourselves what is good and evil by vainly eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Many say they are born again Christians but are they truly born of the Holy Spirit and is there a way they can tell?

Are they even Christians?

'''How do we do know if anyone is actually [[born again]] of the true [[Holy Spirit]] of [[Christ]]?'''

How do we know we are not under a [[strong delusion]] or worse yet could we be [[Workers of Iniquity]]?

Before there can be rebirth their must be [[repentance]].

It is clear God has granted man the power of some choices or there would be no need for instructions. If we are to return to God we must choose to [[repent]].

<blockquote>"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" [[Acts 17]]:30.</blockquote> 

[[Repentance]] by its nature is a choice which usually involves letting go of wrong ideas that are not in conformity to the teachings of Christ.

Man must first choose to repent which is a changing of what or the way he is thinking then he can be born again which is why we are told:

<blockquote>
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" [[Acts 3]]: 19. 
</blockquote>

How do you know if you repented?

== Not truly born again ==

Again, how do you know you are truly born again?

We know we are saved by [[grace]] through [[faith]].

How do you even know you have real faith or if you are just fooling yourself?

The same John who tells you about being [[born again]] also tells you how you will know that you are not born again. 

The phrase "born again" mentioned in John 3:7 is a metaphor of that state where God is writing on your heart and mind by the Holy Spirit. It is simply being born of the Spirit which is ''from above'' as it goes on to states in verse 8. It is when you are walking in the spirit with God as we did before we chose to decide for ourselves what is good and evil by vainly eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

<blockquote>
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."  [[John 3]]: 8. 
</blockquote>

Many people today are still eating of the tree of their own vain knowledge instead of simply conforming to Christ. They pay false prophets to tickle their ears and their emotions so that they can imagine that they are saved.

Being born of the spirit is a gift.

<blockquote>
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" [[Luke 11]]:13.
</blockquote>

To "Ask" is a choice just like repentance. While repentance is choosing to change the mind it is required that the [[Holy Spirit]] must direct that change.

How do you know someone is born of the [[Holy Spirit]]? 

Is it by what they do or do not do?

What does [[John 3]] say if we continue to read the whole chapter?

Verses should never be held up as creating doctrine especially out of the context of the rest of the things that Jesus says. Yes, in verse 15 we see the claim, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have [[eternal life]]." And verses 16 & 17 tells us that Christ was sent that we "might be saved". It is not automatic by what we ''say'' nor just by what we may think in our minds.

By verse 18 we can see that those "that believeth on him" are not condemned and those who  "believeth not" are "condemned already". But again how do you know that you really believe?

The previous verses must always be read in the context of the rest of Verses 20 and 21.


<blockquote>[[John 3]]:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the [[world]], and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
</blockquote>

So, it is clear that "every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

Those dark deeds would include, but are not limited to, [[covetous practices|coveting your neighbor's goods]] through desiring [[benefits]] like the [[wages of unrighteousness]] from "men ruling in government ''who call themselves [[benefactors]] but [[exercise authority]] one over the other."''


Those ''evil deeds'' would include [[sloth]] in caring for the needy through a [[daily ministration]] by [[charity]] alone which is the practice of [[pure Religion]]which the [[early Church]] was fully engaged but the [[modern Church]] severely neglects.

In verse 19 we are informed if we love him we will love the light of the truth He shared, [[Doctrines of Jesus|His doctrines]]. Those that do not want to know the whole truth and provide for it by [[seek]]ing the [[kingdom of God]] and His [[righteousness]] evidently prefer the darkness.  

How do we know if we love the light and not the darkness?

Do we [[love]] the truth, even about ourselves, our [[wantonness]], [[sloth]], [[covet]]ousness and un[[forgive]]ness? are we [[workers of iniquity]].

If we will not [[forgive]] and therefore will not be [[forgive]]n.

Can we accept the truth about our [[entanglement]] with the [[elements]] of the [[world]]?

We will know if we love the light because our deed are evil or not evil.

Do we like and even insist upon receiving the [[wages of unrighteousness]]?

Do we [[bite]] on another to get all the free [[benefits]] of those men who call themselves [[benefactors]] or the [[Fathers]] of the earth?

We you [[covet]] your neighbor's good through men who [[exercise authority]] one over the other?


Like the deeds of the [[Nicolaitan]] which God "hates" He will hate our deeds.

The deeds of the [[Nicolaitan]] and the error of [[Balaam]] includes the [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] that made the word of God to none effect.

The word for "evil" is poneros which is defined as "evil, bad, wicked, malicious, [[sloth]]ful."

Today the young neglect the care of their parents so that their parents have to depend on systems like the [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] which was the [[Social Security]] of that day which still makes the word of God to none effect and often causes the young to do no more ought for their parents.

The list goes on... There are many [[warnings]] in the testaments, by Paul and the [[apostles]] an by Jesus himself that many will say and do things in His [[name]] but will be [[workers of iniquity]]. 

They have no inheritance in the kingdom, we should turn away because they know him not. 

Yes, it is clear we are saved by [[grace]] but if we are not [[keep the commandments|keeping His commandments]] our imagination will not save us.<Br>
V21 should make it clear that many [[modern Church]]es are not doing the truth nor coming to the light, nor does their deeds make manifest the wisdom nor will of God.


<blockquote>
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." [[Titus 1]]. 16.
</blockquote>


== The real Jesus ==

The question we may need to ask is '''"Do we Believe in the [[Real Jesus]]?"'''

If you know the real Jesus and not some imagined Jesus through your personal or conjured up intellectual epistemology you [[keep the commandments]] that he gave us.<Ref>John 14:15  If ye love me, [[keep my commandments]].
: John 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
: 1 John 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
: 1 John 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
: 1 John 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
: 1 John 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.</Ref>

Do you believe in the real Jesus or an image of Jesus constructed in your mind by the vanity of the mind?

Is it not what you do that reveals if faith is alive in you or is dead?

<blockquote>"[[Repent]] therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." [[Acts 8]]: 22. 
</blockquote>

Repentance should produce works that are not works of [[iniquity]].

<blockquote>"But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." [[Acts 26]]: 20. 
</blockquote>

We know the apostles say that covetous practices is contrary to righteoysness and faith.
We are warned to, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." [[Revelation 2]]. 5.


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== Footnotes ==

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