“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (1Peter 1:23)
“Being born again” is a term that seems to be taken as the goal of our journey as a three-part person. We are as humans three parts. We are spirits. Those who have not been born again are the real “walking dead.” Their spirits are darkened. They have no knowledge of spiritual things. Their lives are ruled by their flesh and earthly desires. “In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time, you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.” (Ephesians 2:1-2) We are spirits who live in an earthly body. This body is what is holding us to this planet. Once the body dies, our spirits are free of this world, and we will be judged immediately. “Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God.” (Hebrews 9:27) We will hear the words, “Well done faithful servant,” or “cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness (obscurity).”
Jesus emphasized the importance of being born again to Nicodemus. “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 3:3) To be born again is essential to being in the kingdom of God. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, He saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of His own mercy that He saved us, through the Holy Spirit, Who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.” (Titus 3:4-5)
We are spirits who live in a body and have a soul (mind, will and emotions.) Our soul is influenced by our spirit. If our spirit is in communication with the Holy Spirit, it’s being influenced by godly thoughts and emotions and the person is making godly decisions. If the spirit is in darkness, the mind is filled with ungodly thoughts, crazy emotions and the person is making wrong decisions.
Being born again is the beginning of a journey of transformation. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect.” (Romans 12:2) The flesh will constantly be fighting the spirit part of us. Our mind and memories of earthly thoughts will have to captured. “we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.” (2Corinthians 10:5)
It is unacceptable for children of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to sin. “Those who are children of God do not continue to sin, for God's very nature is in them; and because God is their Father, they cannot continue to sin.” (1John 3:9) We are born again not of seed that will perish with this world, but of God’s Word which is eternal and will never die. Yet we do “fall” into sin. If we were truly born again, sin is loathsome to our spirit. Our spirit will react, and we will feel it and not like it because our spirit is holy and pure. So, when our flesh or our soul sins, we will not like it. “We know that no children of God keep on sinning, for the Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot harm them.” (1John 5:18) But if we make a habit of sinning, eventually we will not hear the protests of our spirits. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) God knows our hearts. He knows His children. He knows we are learning. And He is merciful when we repent. He forgives us.
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