The New Man. “Ye must be born again”
Bible reading John Ch3 v1-15
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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. 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. 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?
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. 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.
Man's religion
Nicodemus Came to Jesus by night. His words to Jesus was "We know"
Man's religion will always be based on his own knowledge or concept, this concept is based upon his own perception, has to what is morally right.
The necessity of the new birth grows out of the incapacity of the natural man to see or enter the kingdom of God, However gifted, moral, or refined he may be the natural man is absolutely blind to spiritual truth and incapable of entering the kingdom Jesus goes beyond mans concept and comes to the very heart of man's problem, the need for spiritual transformation or regeneration produced by the Holy Spirit
Ye must be "Born again
The new birth is not a reformation of the old nature but a creative act of the Holy Spirit. Jesus replied to Nicodemus in verse 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. read also. 2 Cor. 5 v17 & Rom. 6 v6
The expression "old man" has its meaning in all that man was in Adam, both morally and judicially, i.e. the corrupt human nature, the inborn tendency to evil in all men
Romans exhorts to make good in experience, reckoning that our old nature has now no hold on us, it has been crucified at Calvary, the crucifixion with Christ has intervened to free the sinner from his double bondage to sin
Rom.6.v5 says For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death , we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. . v7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Planted together means, “causing us to grow together as a graft”, so that life and nature merge into one. “The old man” i.e the body of sin is made inoperative. We have been delivered from dominion of sin and enabled to live a holy life in resurrection power.
We have been united to the risen Christ who won a judicial victory for us over sin in the flesh. it is to be renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him
Read Col. 3 v10 & Eph 4.24
The new man has become a partaker of the divine nature and life. It is Christ formed in the Christian. Read Gal 2.20 Gal 4.19 Col 1.2 1John 4.12
The new birth is of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the believer
Read. 2Cor 5.17, Titus 3.5, 1Peter 1.3, 1John 2.29, 3.9 , 4.7 ,5.1-17
John 1 v 12-13 But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
This verse not only indicates that "born again" but also carries with it the idea "to become the children of God" through trust in the name of the incarnate Word.
Sonship and Adoption
The scriptures give clear indication that not only have we been made partakers of the Divine nature but we have been adopted in the Divine. In regeneration the Christian receives the nature of a child of God; and in adoption he receives the position of a son of God.
Eph 1.5 Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will
The word "children" is from the Gr. Teknon meaning "one born" When a baby is born into a family it takes on the family name, likewise when the believer is born spiritually, he or she is born into the family of God.
The spiritually renewed child of God is characterised by a renewed mind in contrast to the blind ignorance of the old nature as characterised by the "old man" He is created in the likeness God in true holiness and righteousness.
The new man has been delivered from the works of sin, falsehood, anger, grudges, theft, laziness and impure speech (see Eph 4 v22-31)
The characteristics of the new man in contrast are, kind hearted to one another, forgiving one another, walking in love.
In creation man was made in the image of God, by sin and disobedience the image of God in man was defaced. All mankind bears the image of the earthly. See (1Cor 15.49)
In the incarnation Jesus Christ came as the image of the invisible God See (2Cor 4.4 & Col 1.15)
God's purpose is that the believer should be conformed to the image of His Son. See. (Rom 8.29)
Paul in Ephesians reminds to. Be ye, therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
Conclusion
Not only did Jesus Christ rise from the dead and ascend into heaven, but also he is seated at the right-hand of God interceding on our behalf.
The effects of our fallen nature and the attacks of the evil one are only too evident in our daily lives to remind us of our failures, and yet in these loving verses the love of the Father to his children is evident to forgive our short comings.
Our true image of the Father will not be complete until at Christ's return when the saints will bear the image of the heavenly. (See 1 Cor 15.49 and Phil 3.21)
what image are we proclaiming to the outside world.?
Is the World seeing the Divine Image of Christ in us.?
