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Being Born Again: How Could This Be Possible?

by Daniel T Anderson

Jesus said that a man had to be born again in the spirit. But how could this be possible? Jesus said that inside all people there was still the relationship with God, the grace, perfect intuition, Paradise, the Garden of Eden that there was there in Adam and Eve or the first humans. It lay deep in the unconscious part of Man. Since it is not a physical thing but an ability, a spiritual self, we have to become a believer of the spirit and the nature of spirit. It is natural and easier maybe for Man to believe in only what he can experience with His five physical senses – stone, earth, trees, water, father and mother. Jesus said to be born again you had to start to believe in a spiritual father and mother and not your physical father and mother.

Spiritual VS Flesh

So Jesus made a clear distinction between that which is spiritual (of God) and the flesh (self) - thoughts, emotions and actions that arise from an understanding (knowledge) and relationship with God and those that arise from the flesh or a knowledge and relationship with your parents and community.

being born again

The Kingdom of Heaven Is already in You

You are born with the template or knowledge of a perfect loving relationship with God (and people) already in you, whoever you are. It is not learned like earthly love. This was radically new in that people before felt you had to do lots of things in order to appease a distant Father outside yourself in the heavens, who would punish you harshly if you didn’t. Jesus said you are ‘saved’ if you recognise this kingdom or innate relationship within yourself. Also people believed that your tribal background, education, and family were responsible for who you were and what you knew. The concept of wisdom, courage and strength flowing out of a God within you was extraordinary and difficult to understand. Even today this is difficult to do because the self defends its own power (even if it is illusionary) and so do the institutions of the church, family and society.

Jesus Was Very Uncompromising in His Love of the God Inside Us

He said that we cannot be a servant of both. You cannot love God and self as they will oppose each other. You either love or offer complete allegiance to this God or your earthly gods of self, family, money etc. He said that a man cannot serve two masters at once for he will be torn between the two and will end up hating one and loving the other. If you just serve or love one you will not hate the other one but just treat it as belonging to the other.

The Act of Being Born Again Had to Be Out of Genuine Love and Trust

It was true love. It had to be therefore a truly voluntary act – not done out of fear. It is not love if you fear the consequences of not loving. It is not love if done because you feel you have to, out of sympathy, obligation, blackmail, dependency or need. It is not love if all the cards are in God's favour. It is only love if it occurs out of mutual recognition of an equal relationship. The prodigal son did not return to His father out of fear or that His life had not 'worked', but because He recognised that the real nature of the inheritance His father had given Him. It was 'all that His father had'. He represented His father and so belonged to and loved His father. So Jesus saw being born again as a 'moment of recognition' of our inheritance i.e. all that God has.

Being a Child Again and Loving God with the Same Level of Openness, Trust, Belief and Allegiance

Jesus said you have to be born again because it involves not just the birth of a new person but being as a child again and loving God with the same level of openness, trust, belief and allegiance (complete humility) as you did as a child with your earthly father and mother. When he said child he obviously did not expect people to return to the intellect of a child but was referring to the openness of a child - the act of seeing without prejudice. He said that you must in fact love God with all the power of reason, heart and physical strength.

Love as He Loves You

He said that you have to love God with the same perfect love and trust or faith as He loves you. God trusts us. This spiritual love has to be given with the same lack of discrimination and as unconditionally as God gives. He loves all people as if they were His only son or daughter whether they are law abiding or criminals, believers or atheists and whatever their situation, race, views or circumstance. Spiritual love involves seeing everyone, including your father and mother as your brother and sister. Jesus’ instruction to love your enemy was very new and threatening.

Love God Not Just with Your Heart but with Your Mind and Body as Well

God is a trinity of mind, heart and body too, all speaking with one voice, a perfect whole. Therefore, you must do the same and you will be made whole. You must not suspend reason, emotions or actions any more than God or Nature does. If done perfectly (be perfect even as God is perfect) you will return to a perfect state of self-conscious grace with God in a way that occurred before Man’s fall from conscious grace. You will know God’s ways (intuition) and feel God’s love for humanity and be guided unconsciously in action to do God’s will. You will be restored in mind, heart and body. Christ referred to this state as “doing only what I see God doing” or perfect intuition with His surroundings and feeling “a peace and love that passes all understanding” or a perfect state of love and security.

The Truth or Act of Being Born Again with God

As your parent and spiritual love or the Holy Spirit as your guide will set you free. You will no longer feel detached and alone as you will always feel loved and a part of God. You will never feel confused as the knowledge and purpose of things will be given to you. You will no longer feel insecure and try to fill yourself with things (which maybe are mostly temporary pleasures) to make yourself feel secure. Jesus talks of your life being fed by an eternal spring welling up from inside so that you will thirst no more. More peace and contentment. You will only be asked to offer God’s love to others - to give freely as you have received freely and go your way. This innerspring is permanently flowing inside you. The flow never stops or falters. It never leaves you; you only leave it.

The Kingdom of Heaven Does Not Falter, Only You Do

It involves having hope or a clear vision of God or your goal, faith or a clear intention or commitment to keep going and do whatever is needed to fulfil that goal, and charity or loving God as He is seen in other people, using all your heart, mind and body. Of all those we are told that love or allegiance to God and therefore people is the most important in maintaining your relationship with the kingdom of heaven.

God Communicates with You through Heart, Mind and Body

You will get to know God through intuition in the form of thoughts, dreams and even visions along with feelings and the encouragement to act. We are independent selves so we have to talk or pray to confirm our relationship. Animals are already a part of God so do not. Prayer is the basis of the relationship with God. There does not have to be any fancy rituals or complicated prayers. You can have a short heartfelt talk in private as you would with any friend or father. Imagine a silent relationship with your father if you doubt the importance or relevance of prayer. The nature and timing of God’s response to prayer may be unexpected simply because God is whole. We do not necessarily see the best response, because we do not see the whole.

As part of His mission Jesus performed a number of works or miracles (acts of wonder), showed love and concern for people (emotions) and explained the nature of the kingdom of heaven in parables and stories (gave understanding). It was a natural lifestyle that Jesus invited everyone to repeat, including the miracles. Indeed, He prophesied that people coming after Him would do even greater things than Him. He was only leading the way by example.

About the Author

Daniel T Anderson, a writer at the essay help service. He keeps up with advancing technologies so as to get acquainted with latest technological tendencies. Besides, Daniel is keen on reading modern literature and traveling.


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