We all know the scripture John 3:16:  …For God so loved the world….but here is a trivia question:  Who was the speaker, and who was the audience?

Answer:  Christ and Nicodemus

 What was the famous question Nicodemus Asked?

 (about being born again—can a man re-enter his mother’s womb?)

 

(tell story from Lousianna control room, when asked  “…you’re not one of those Born Again Christians, are you???”  me response “…that’s the only kind to be….” )

 Understanding what question started the conversation will help understand why Jesus share this in his explanation.  (he was summarily saying that because God loved us so much and was willing to die for us,  it is incumbent upon us, this knowing, to change our hearts from sin to righteousness, or perish).  1 Peter 1:22-23 equates purifying our souls with being born again. 

 John 3
Intro The new birth of water and spirit -- Love of God declared -- John baptizeth -- Christ baptizeth.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
2 The same 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 which thou doest, except God be with him.
3 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.
4 Nicodemus said 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?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 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 who is born of the Spirit.

 What does the phrase mean to be born again?

 Is it really just talking about being baptized?

 What do the scriptures say?

 q      Genesis 6:62 Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory.

q      John 3:3 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.

q      John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

q      I Peter 1:23  22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

 

Herein lies the real definition of being born again, from Alma, as he awakes from a ‘spiritual coma’, realizing he has been ‘born again’.  Did he become baptized during this two day outage?  No (chances are he already had made his baptismal covenant).

So what was he really saying it meant to be born again?  That to be ‘born again’ means to have spiritually chosen to turn away from the sin of the flesh and choose the righteous works required by God’s Spirit.  It means to turn away from wicked thoughts and works spiritually—it means to have a change of heart.  Unless this happens, we are not truly fit for God’s Kingdom.

q      Mosiah 11:187 And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;

q      Mosiah 11:188 Yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God.

q      Alma 3:86 Yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you, the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again;

q      Mosiah 3:3 And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

q      Mosiah 3:9 For behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him, and have become his sons and his daughters.

Some instances of being ‘Born Again’—not baptismal services per se, but times when the hearts of people changed for Jesus Christ.

q      Alma 3:11 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awaked them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.

q      Alma 3:23 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart.

q      Alma 3:25 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God.

 

Passage: Alma 3:24 - Alma 3:34

24 Behold I say unto you, that this is all true.
25 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God.
26 And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.
27 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, Have ye spiritually been born of God?
28 Have ye received his image in your countenances?
29 Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
30 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?
31 Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God, to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
32 I say unto you, Can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day, Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
33 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say, Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth, and that he will save you?
34 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God, with your souls filled with guilt and remorse; having a remembrance of all your guilt;

In the above passage, why when discussing being born again, are works discussed?  Because if the heart is changed (i.e. our thoughts and desires), then the works will be evident and manifest to the degree our hearts have truly been changed.

q      Alma 3:46 And now behold, I say unto you my brethren, If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, Can ye feel so now?

q      Alma 12:176 And they did all declare unto the people the self-same thing; that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.

Here is the ultimate response:  in coming to Christ through the gate through faith and repentance, these two working together can and should bring a change of heart within the believer:

q      Helaman 5:96 Yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them;

And the challenge to us:

Alma 3:29 Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?