Born Again or From Above?

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Born Again or From Above?

There’s quite a controversy when you say to someone, I don’t quite go along with this “born again” theory. If you want labeled a heretic, lost, and on your way to hell, this statement is guaranteed to put you in this category with Christians of every denomination. So let’s take a look at that viewpoint. We know there’s “something” that takes place down here in the earthly realm involving your Spirit man. Could it be that you chose to follow Yeshua “before you were born, in eternity past”, that you are here working out your salvation with fear and trembling? Notice the Bible doesn’t say you’re here “looking” for your salvation with fear and trembling, but you already have it, just working it out. (Phil.2:12) Could someone explain when John the Baptist said a John 3:16 to be “born again?”

In Luke 1:41, it says that he leaped in Elizabeth’s womb when the mother of Yeshua came near and he heard her voice. It also says that he and his mother were filled with the Spirit (the Ruach Hakodesh). But wait, how can that be, Yeshua had not died yet and there was no Holy Spirit in people as of yet, right? Something has not been taught correctly in our backgrounds….hmmm In John 3:3, Yeshua is speaking with Nicodemus and he tells him; verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now, if you look up in Strongs Concordance that “born again” phrase, you’ll see it is really “born from above.” Some translations correctly put born from above in that verse. If you take a look at John 1:13 it says; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. If you look up that first, “not of blood”, it means not from any special generation bloodline of mankind. Here it is speaking of the sons of God, who become sons not by bloodlines, nor the desire of the flesh, nor because some other person wanted them to, but because of God’s will. But according to “tradition” I thought if we missed witnessing to someone when we should have, that person will go to hell and be lost forever.

It.seems to me, to think Elohim would trust something as important as the eternal destiny of someone’s soul to any one particular man, is a bit of arrogance on our part. Something has not been taught correctly from our pulpits here…hmmm Can we back this up in the Tanak? Let’s take a look at Jeremiah 1:5.; “BEFORE” I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and “BEFORE” thou camest forth out of the womb I SANCTIFIED thee, and I ORDAINED THEE A PROPHET unto the nations. When did Jeremiah say a John 3:16 to be “born again?” Now let’s look at Samson in Judges 13:5; For lo, thou shalt conceive and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God FROM THE WOMB. Again, when did Jeremiah say a John 3:16 to be “born again?”

Does it work the same way with the wicked? Psalms 58:3 says the wicked are ESTRANGED FROM THE WOMB. Now by saying this, am I saying that Elohim predestined you to Heaven or hell? No, I’m saying it is my opinion based on scripture, that your “born again” experience or your “choice” as to whether you wanted to belong to Elohim or not, happened “before” you came into this world. Here in this world you are walking out that choice. Does that mean we shouldn’t “go fishing” for souls, no. We never know if we are the one who might be used as an instrument to bring someone to “his time” of understanding Elohim’s will. In Eccl. 3:1, it says there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven. Elohim has an overall plan that encompasses all of mankind. Sometimes, we think it’s all about “us” as an individual. So what say you?

Are we miraculously “born again” for the first time while here on earth, or are we really “born from above” before we ever got here? If you choose the born from above option, you’d better fasten your seat belt and get ready to be labeled a heretic, but then again if you’re Messianic, you’re used to that by now!