Donna Danna (17 Nov 2024)
"REPLY TO MIKE PLUNKETT -- Born Again Discussion Continued"


This is in reply to your 11/10 post Donna Dana: "Born Again" Discussion Continued in regards to whether the Apostle Paul had anything to say about being born again.

You believe that the following verses in John 3:3-8 about being "born again" only apply to Jewish believers and not Gentile believers:

John 3:3-8, "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. 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." 

The above verses indicate that being "born again" is a believer's spirit being born of the Spirit.

Paul in speaking to the Christians in Galatia in Turkey in Galatians 4:28-29 says, "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now."

Different versions of the Bible interpret "born after the Spirit" differently than the KJV according to What does Galatians 4:29 mean? | BibleRef.com Some versions say, "born according to the Spirit," or "born by the power of the Spirit," or "born as a result of the Spirit."  The Greek interlinear Bible also uses the words "born according to the Spirit." A believer is born physically in the flesh and "born again" meaning his spirit is born of the Spirit or according to the Spirit. A believer Jew or Gentile is "born again" by the Holy Spirit and we become a "new creation" in Christ at that time.

A "new creation" in Christ means a "spiritual rebirth" as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

The apostle Paul was also born again. He was a Pharisee according to Acts. 23:9 & 26:5 who was born of the Jewish tribe of Benjamin according to Acts. 22:3.

However, Jesus told all his disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world according to the following verses, and being born again is part of the gospel.

Matt. 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Matt. 26:13, "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her."

Mark 13:10, "And the gospel must first be published among all nations."

Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

In fact, Peter according to Acts 15:7 said that the Gentiles by his mouth (Peter's mouth) should hear the word of the gospel and believe. The gospel includes being born again.

Acts 15:;7, "And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe."

The apostle Paul also had the following to say about the gospel:

Romans 1:1, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"

Romans 1:9, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;"

Romans 1:15-16, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Romans 15:16, "That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."

Romans 15:19, "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."

1 Corin. 1:17 " For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."

1 Corin. 4:15, "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."

2 Corin. 2:12, "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,"

2 Corin. 8:18, "And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;"

Gal. 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospelWhich is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Ephesians 1:13, "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 with that holy Spirit of promise."

Ephesians 3:6, "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:"

Col. 1:23, "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"

1 Thess. 2:2, "But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention."

Altogether the "gospel" can be found 101 times in 95 verses in the New Testament according to KJV Search Results for "gospel" page 1

The same gospel of Christ was preached to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul also said according to Romans 2:28-29, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."