The Born Again Experience

I. The Three Types Of Births

In the Bible, there are three types of births mentioned: birth by creation, birth by conception (begotten), and birth by the Spirit.

A) Birth By Creation

The first birth was a physical birth by creation, not conception. There was not a man and a woman in existence. God created both the man and the woman. So, God was the physical father of Adam and Eve by creation, not conception.

Genesis 1:26 (KJV) ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Luke 3:37 (KJV) Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,

Luke 3:38 (KJV) Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Adam was the son of God by creation but not by a physical (begotten) birth.

B) Birth By Conception (Begotten)

The Hebrew word “yâlad” defines a physical birth from a woman. Adam and Eve did not have this kind of birth. They had a created birth. They were not born from a woman, they were created by God.

יָלַד yâlad, yaw-lad’, (H3205): a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage:—bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).

This Hebrew word “yâlad” is translated as “bring forth”, “bare”, “born”, “begat”, and “begotten” in the Bible.

Genesis 3:16 (KJV) ¶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth יָלַד children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Genesis 4:1 (KJV) ¶ And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare יָלַד Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

Genesis 4:2 (KJV) And she again bare יָלַד his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:26 (KJV) And to Seth, to him also there was born יָלַד a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 5:1 (KJV) ¶ This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Genesis 5:2 (KJV) Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Genesis 5:3 (KJV) And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat יָלַד a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Genesis 5:4 (KJV) And the days of Adam after he had begotten יָלַד Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat יָלַד sons and daughters:

Genesis 5:5 (KJV) And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Judges 8:30 (KJV) And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten יָלַד: for he had many wives.

Adam and Eve were not begotten “יָלַד“, they were created. But the children that they produced were begotten “יָלַד“, they came out of Eve’s womb. She physically gave birth to them.

So, when God creates a life and that living being has no parents it is a birth by creation. All other physical births came about after God created a male and a female and they produced a child (begotten). You were physically begotten by your parents.

So, all of mankind is a PHYSICAL child of God because all of us are a descendant of Adam and Eve who were God’s created children.

Malachi 2:10 (KJV) ¶ Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

C) Birth By The Spirit

Although all of mankind may correctly claim to be a PHYSICAL child of God, not all of mankind can correctly claim to be a SPIRITUAL child of God.

1) A Spiritual Birth

Not only is there a PHYSICAL birth,there is also a SPIRITUAL birth. It is only a birth that God can produce. You cannot produce it and it can only happen after you have had a physical birth. If you have not experienced this spiritual birth then you are not God’s SPIRITUAL child.

When Jesus discussed the kingdom of God with Nicodemus he never brought up works as a criteria to enter. Jesus brought up a spiritual birth as a criteria to enter… “born again”, “born of water and of the spirit”, “born of the Spirit”…

a) Born Again

John 3:1 (KJV) ¶ There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

John 3:2 (KJV) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 3:3 (KJV) 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.

John 3:4 (KJV) 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?

b) Born Of Water AND Of The Spirit

John 3:5 (KJV) 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.

c) Born Of The Spirit

John 3:6 (KJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

d) Born Again

John 3:7 (KJV) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

e) Born Of The Spirit

John 3:8 (KJV) 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.

2) A Spiritual Life

John 3:9 (KJV) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

John 3:10 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

John 3:11 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

John 3:12 (KJV) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

John 3:13 (KJV) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 3:14 (KJV) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Think about this, Nicodemus was a religious leader but he didn’t even know how to get to heaven himself. In his mind he thought that his good deeds had a part in his salvation.

a) Eternal Life

The word “born” indicates a parent/child relationship. This parent/child relationship is such that there is nothing that can be done to undo it. No matter how good or bad I am the man and woman that PHYSICALLY brought me into existence will always be my parents.

John 3:15 (KJV) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

This parent/child relationship is an eternal, everlasting relationship. The fellowship that a child has with his parents can be broken but that parent/child relationship will never cease to exist.

b) Everlasting Life

When God produces in us a Spiritual birth it creates an eternal parent/child relationship that cannot be broken. It is called “everlasting” and “eternal” life.

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3) The SPIRITUAL Sons Of God

When a person is “born again” he becomes God’s spiritual son.

a) Born… Of God

John 1:11 (KJV) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1:12 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 (KJV) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

b) Sons Of God

1 John 3:1 (KJV) ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1 John 3:2 (KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

c) Babes In Christ

1 Corinthians 3:1 (KJV) ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

d) A New Creature

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6:15 (KJV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

e) Created In Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:9 (KJV) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

II. The Three Types Of Sons

A) Physical Sons

1) Adam

Humanly speaking, God created Adam, therefore, God was Adams father and Adam was the son of God. Adam was created in God’s image but Adam was not created to be god or a god. Adam is not (and never was) god and mankind never was and never will be a god or gods.

Genesis 1:26 (KJV) ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Luke 3:37 (KJV) Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,

Luke 3:38 (KJV) Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

2) Mankind

We are all the “sons of God” in a physical sense because we are all descendants from Adam who was created by God.

Malachi 2:10 (KJV) ¶ Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

B) Spiritual Sons

Spiritually, we become God’s son when we receive Jesus Christ as our God. There are many people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and they are not God’s spiritual sons. They are, however, God’s physical sons.

John 1:12 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:14 (KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Philippians 2:15 (KJV) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

1 John 3:1 (KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1 John 3:2 (KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

C) God’s Only “Begotten” Son

Adam was a physically created son of God. All of Adam’s and Eve’s descendents are considered to be physical son’s of God by descent from Adam. When a person is “born again” he is considered a spiritual son of God.

So we see that God has many sons, both physical and spiritual.

1) Jesus Is God’s only “begotten” Son

However, God has only one “begotten” son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was physically conceived through Mary. Jesus is God’s only begotten son.

μονογενής monogenḗs, mon-og-en-ace’, (3439): from G3441 and G1096; only-born, i.e. sole:—only (begotten, child).

John 1:18 (KJV) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 3:14 (KJV) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 3:15 (KJV) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 (KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:18 (KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20 (KJV) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

John 3:21 (KJV) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

1 John 4:9 (KJV) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

2) Jesus Is God

a) The Holy Ghost Shall Come Upon Thee

Luke 1:34 (KJV) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Luke 1:35 (KJV) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

b) God Was Manifest In The Flesh

1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

c) God… Jesus Christ

Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

d) Jesus Christ. This Is The True God

1 John 5:20 (KJV) And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

III. How To Be Born Again

So, how can a person be born again?

A) Believe That Jesus Is The Christ (God)

1 John 5:1 (KJV) ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

B) Receive Jesus As God

John 1:1 (KJV) ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2 (KJV) The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:3 (KJV) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:4 (KJV) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5 (KJV) ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:6 (KJV) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John 1:7 (KJV) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

John 1:8 (KJV) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

John 1:9 (KJV) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 1:10 (KJV) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 1:11 (KJV) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1:12 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 (KJV) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

C) Confess / Believe

Romans 10:9 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 (KJV) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:11 (KJV) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:12 (KJV) ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Romans 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

IV. What Happens When You Are Born Again?

A) You Become A Spiritual Son Of God