The subject of the new birth or being born again across the vast domain of Christendom is well taught and well believed. The ranks of "born again Christians" have swollen into what could be called a "massive tidal wave of humanity." Today, it is a normal practice for politicians running for public office to court the good favors of "born again Christians." It works both ways in the end and parties on both sides of the issue came out as winners. The politicians get voted into office, and the born again supporters gain a voice in Congress with the hope of shaping issues such as abortion, gay marriage and putting judges on the bench who will protect and support certain issues dear and sacred to these born again believers.

As far as this goes, we would not be far gone off base if we take a closer look at the understanding that multitudes have regarding the process and final result that are the integral parts of the born-again process. Jesus Christ, in his dialogue with Nicodemus raised the issue of being born again. Christ made it so plain that this ruler of the Jews wondered how he, a grown man, could reenter into his mother’s womb and be born again. In spite of his misunderstanding of the subject and the process, Jesus answered him saying: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." The understanding (or the lack of it) of this Jewish leader did not factor into the equation. One of my main observation in my walk with God down through the years, is that God speaks his word, and sets his standards then bids us walk with him in obedience. For the most part, we seldom understand all that God speaks to our heart, but Jesus ruled out "understanding" where Nicodemus was concerned. Here is Christ’s observation of the matter. "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Jesus did not say that Nicodemus did not understand the things he told him. Jesus knew very well that this man had no clue of the things he spoke. But he was not required to understand them—he was required to believe them. In our personal life and walk with God, we often believe and obey things we don’t understand. I have heard it said many times, even in sermons: "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it." My version of the same concept is simply this: "God said it and that settles it." My belief has no bearing or relevance to the subject whatsoever. I feel that I must emphasize the realities that we are faced with, since we walk by faith and not by sight. But what about Nicodemus standing in the presence of Jesus Christ?

Since him being a ruler of the Jews, we can assume that he was a man with above average understanding and intelligence. His background compelled him to try and dissect the words spoken by Jesus. As a man living in the realm he lived and functioned among the Jews, he could not help asking how a man as grown as he his can be born again. He was very explicit in his question: "Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? John 3:4. The exercise in this study, is for us to study methodically every word that Jesus spoke to this man. This particular exercise is necessary because in all of the sermons, bible studies, workshops, seminars, and lessons being taught in bible schools, that in the process managed to produce seminarians of very high caliber. Unfortunately, each bible school produces graduates with the same mindset that is formulated and woven into the very fiber of the school’s fundamental doctrines.

What do we expect to learn as we relive the words of Jesus Christ, in all that he shared with Nicodemus? At this juncture, we can fast forward to the concept of being born again, as we learned it from our days in Sunday school, and even began preaching and teaching those same tenets of truth that brought us forward into the ministry. No matter how long, or how often we hear and listen to the doctrine of the new birth, one verse spoken by Christ has become the center post and the main building block to the lesson. This single verse has become the bedrock of the entire concept upon which Christendom has built its faith. Here is the single verse that has been made into the absolute platform upon which the entire concept of the new birth stands. Jesus said: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7. I would seem feasible for multitudes of believers to believe that having received Christ as Savior, followed by the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, one is at that point "born of the Spirit." But looking just a short distance down in the chapter, we will notice the function and by-product of those who have actually been born of the Spirit.

Let us determine for truth sake what being born of the Spirit actually means. Let us accept the fact that having been baptized in water and having received the gift of the Holy Spirit is not an indication that one has been "born of the Spirit." In other words, being able to heal the sick, cleanse the leper, cast of devils, and even to raise the dead, does not mean that one has been "born of the Spirit." And how can we be so sure of this truth? Because Jesus made it quite clear to Nicodemus (and to us) what the by-product of that birth is in reality. Unfortunately, the church all the way down through the ages has neglected to openly teach what being begotten of the Spirit really entails. We have been allowed to master and exploit the concept of being born again by water and by the Spirit, but not being "born of the Spirit."

Let us look at the multitudes of examples we have around us today that even make it into headlines on national prime-time television. Spirit filled ministers of both sexes have been shown to the public in the misdeeds they were caught in. Time would fail for us to list the numbers and the misdeeds perpetrated by "people of God" who, for years professed to be Spirit filled vessels of God. Being spirit filled YES! But not necessarily having been "born of the Spirit." We can say this in full assurance of the scripture, spoken by Jesus Christ himself.

Jesus based his remark upon what the fruit of a spiritual birth produces. I my years of being a travelling evangelist and staying with pastors who welcome me to their church and into their homes, I was able to see their real life outside of the pulpit. When ministering at a certain church in Southern California, I went with the pastor’s wife to the supermarket. With us being together alone for a while she opened up her heart and shared with me many details of her personal life. My heart began to hurt as this fine lady shed tears before my eyes. At that moment I wished I could have spoken a single word or somehow lifted here pain. One day, she suggested that I speak with her husband who happed to be a bishop. She said: weak to him Elder; he respects you and will listen to you. This was the cry of a wounded woman. Some time later in his office, I began to speak to the bishop as his wife had asked. As soon as the conversation began to turn into a personal matter, the pastor got angry and said to me: You cannot talk to me! I am a bishop and you are an elder! End of story! I have said all of the above to certify that being filled with the Holy Spirit is no proof of us being "born of the Spirit." I must repeat, for good measure, that being filled with the Holy Spirit and working in the ministry for umpteen years, does not prove that we were—or, are begotten of the Spirit.

However we care to analyze it, or care to rationalize it, Jesus gave to Nicodemus full proof of what the result of being begotten by the Spirit will be like. Let us listen to more of what Jesus said to this ruler of the Jews, and we must understand that it is this portion of truth that has remained missing, vacant and void among God’s people down through the ages of church history. Before we proceed further, let us remind ourselves of this vital and unchangeable truth: That which is born of flesh IS FLESH: and as such, flesh will remain flesh. Yes, flesh will, from time to time do the work and bidding of the Spirit. But even at its best moments, flesh will remain flesh, and as Paul said, "In my flesh there is no good thing." "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Romans 7:18. Paul was not looking for an excuse to pacify his flesh and give ease to a guilty conscience.

He was describing that which is common among men. None of us are immune to such characteristics. In this study, we are going to delve deeply into all that Jesus said to Nicodemus in plain language, even though this man had not even a vague understanding of what the Master was saying.

Before long, we shall see how profound the sayings of Christ ARE, and we say ARE to emphasize the realities that still hold true today. As we differentiate between the realities of FLESH versus Spirit, we quickly learn that both cannot be harmonized into a single unit, or a single parcel of reality. Flesh is flesh and will continue to be such. For the Christian believer in Christ, although having been filled with the Holy Spirit, lives with the glorious thought and promise in scripture, that one day our mortal body will be glorified, and be fashioned like unto the glorious body of the resurrected Christ.

To simplify his lesson to Nicodemus, Jesus turned his attention to simple things such as the wind blowing through the trees. Unfortunately, seemingly down through the many centuries of church history, religion has bypassed or ignored the dominant lesson taught by Christ in the next few words that he uttered. After emphasizing the need of the new birth as pre-requisite to entering into the kingdom of God, J Jesus turned his attention to a simple, visible object with which Nicodemus could identify. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8. How can we (you and I) apply this truth in the same context in which Jesus spoke?

What he just said in plain English, is that everyone that is born of the Sprit moves like the wind as showcased by Christ himself. Look outside in your garden! Sit in your lawn chair in the cool of the day and watch the wind go by. How do you know that the wind is blowing? In the movements of the leaves over your head. We feel refreshed by the blowing winds, but apart from feeling its presence across our face, we see its effect among the leaves of the trees. Let us once more affix the words of Christ "so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." But to put this in perspective and apply it as a part of the Christian doctrine creates a great rift or gulf into the current doctrine of being born again. Yet, in spite of the repercussion or even turmoil that this could cause, we are obligated to preach and teach the WHOLE TRUTH as laid out in scripture. He whole truth is that we are not left hanging in limbo with no where to put our next step.

The Apostle Paul was well aware of what being born of the Spirit is all about, and in his letter to the Romans, he not only offered hope; he also placed before us a timetable to that which will be the greatest even the world has ever seen, read about, or experienced. In fact, the whole of the created universe is on tip toe, waiting to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own which will mean our full appropriation of our sonship in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is quite clear, in the light of what Jesus taught, that being born of the Spirit has a greater meaning. Paul explained it this way:

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. The word adoption in this case does not mean adoption as we usually practice; rather, it means to be placed in the family as a mature son, capable of transacting family business. But what guarantee or assurance do we have as it relates to achieving the redemption of our body? The term to watch and to understand is "which have the first fruits of the Spirit."

How does scripture explain the concept of the first fruits? First of all, we do understand that the "first fruits" do not represent the main crop and can be classified as the "fore runners" that signal the coming forth of something greater and more pronounced. The entire born again experience that begins when we first accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, as a total package can be called the first fruits because it serves merely as a "down payment" or first installment on a bigger deal. Listen to Paul in one of his pastoral letters. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed (marked—branded) unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 3:30. But in truth, these people to whom Paul wrote were already saints of the most High God. Here we are told that the Holy Spirit has sealed them, or earmarked them for the day of redemption. But they already have been redeemed! Do it is quite clear from this verse alone, that although they have been redeemed, there was still a day of redemption awaiting them.

Thus, it is a fact that what they previously received by the Holy Spirit was a sort of "first fruit" indicating that there is yet a greater portion which they will inherit in due time. Although we have mentioned the following thoughts in previous writings, it is worth repeating here, that the impartation of the Holy Spirit as our first steps in a relationship with Christ was only "a down payment, the first installment in a long lasting transaction that will culminate in the salvation of our body. Paul’s narrative explains the details this way. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed (stamped—earmarked) with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13,14.

The fact that our first "believer’s experience" is only a small down payment on that which we shall inherit, cannot be denied in the scriptures outlined above. However, a great percentage of the church world has been made to believe that the first "born again experience" represent all that God has in store for us. But there has to be the "redemption of the purchased possession." And that is what the first out pouring of the Holy Spirit is all about, duly called the "first fruits of the Spirit. It guarantees the further out pouring that is meant to be our total redemption.

Royce O. Kennedy