Eternal Significance of the New Birth experience.
Rev. Peter Tuchyna
John 3:6-7 ; 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.
God declares that he created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them
Genesis 1:27 .
John 4:24 – God is a Spirit (does not have a body, bones, blood).
John 1:18 - No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared
him.
2 Corinthians 4:4 – Jesus is the image of God
Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus is the brightness of His glory and the express image of his person.
1 Corinthians 11:7 - Man is the image and glory of God.
Since God is a Spirit without flesh, bones and blood, and man was created in the image of God it is absolutely clear that
man was not created in the physical image of God.
The Bible is very specific that man is the “crown” creation, and only man consists of the soul, body and spirit.
Genesis 2:7 – God described how he created man. He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; and man become a living soul.
The flesh, body of man consists of many different minerals and particles taken from the dust of the earth. God gave this flesh,
body a certain form, distinctively different from any other creature.
What was formed first from the dust (body) was lifeless form. Only when God breathed the breath of life into his nostrils,
man becomes a living soul. Without God’s given breath of life, the body is lifeless.
1 Corinthians 15:45 , – First Adam, which means earthly (taken out of the earth) was made a living soul, after he received the
breath of life. The second Adam, who is reference to Jesus, was made a quickening Spirit. It is reference to the Spirit, which is
transforming the lifeless form of the flesh into the living spirit.
v.46; Howbeit, that was not first, which is spiritual, but that which is natural (the body was first), and afterward that, which is
spiritual.
v.47; The first man (born of the flesh) descendant of Adam is of the earth (natural), earthly. He is born of the flesh through
reproductive organs. The second man is the Lord (Jesus) from heaven.
v.48; As is the earthly (natural) living in the flesh, such are they also that are earthly (born of the flesh). And as is the heavenly
(spiritual, without the body, not formed from the dust of the earth), such are they also that are heavenly.
v.49; and as we have borne the image of the earthly (natural in the flesh), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly
(in the spirit).
1 Corinthians 15:50 – the flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
Why? Because God said in the beginning in Genesis 3:19 – you shall return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken;
for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return.
Ecclesiastes 8:8 – There is no man that hath the power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of
death.
When Jesus said to Nicodemus, you must be born again, Jesus is saying, you need to receive the Spirit of God, for when the
flesh will die, the Spirit of God will take the eternal soul into the presence and kingdom of God.
If the Spirit of God does not dwell in man, the body shall return back to dust and the soul will go to hell, for she refused to
allow the Spirit of God to take her to heaven.
John 1:12 – but as many as received him (Jesus) to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of a flesh, nor of the will of man but of God.
Our focus is on the subject that man was created in the image of God. Through sin, man lost the image of God in character
and involvement. Through repentance, baptism in Jesus name and infilling of the Holy Ghost, he becomes a son (daughter) of
God not only by God’s right as the Creator, but by the choice and will of God and also by the will of man.
The Holy Ghost is called the spirit of adoption Romans 8:15 . By the Spirit of adoption we become children of God living on
the earth. The eternal Spirit of God made a place of abode ( John 14:23 -dwelling place in a temporary body, which shall
return to dust ).
The eternal Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost dwelling in us) is influencing and changing our character with our approval.
1 Corinthians 15:49 ; we are showing in our character the image ( Genesis 3:22 ) of our Spiritual Father as we allow him to
influence our thoughts, deeds and lifestyle.
We still do not understand all things, for the Spirit of God dwelling in us is limited in its expressions and involvement by the
body (temporal and earthly).
Therefore the Holy Ghost is saying to us in 1 Corinthians 13:12 for now we see through a glass, darkly, but then, face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Then, we shall see face to face. When?
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 ; the Lord will take us into the place where he dwells forever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 ; in the twinkling of an eye the dead shall be raised incorruptible, we shall be changed.
V53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. Death is swallowed up in victory.
Destined for the image of God.
John 1:12-13 , but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God.
1 John 3:1-3; behold, what manner of love the Father bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore
the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; we shall see him as he is.
While we are living on the earth (having the Holy Ghost), we are the sons of God.
This is just the beginning of the transformation back to the image of God. An eternity in the presence with Jesus is absolutely
exiting. While we are in the flesh, there is no indication what we shall be; it doth not yet appear what we shall be.
What does it mean, what we shall be?
We are created in the image of God. This flesh is restricting the image of God. When this flesh will be changed into
incorruptible, the restriction will be removed and we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Psalm 82:6 , I have said: Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.
John 10:34 , Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came,
and the scripture cannot be broken…
Satan knew, what it meant when God said, let us make man in our image. Therefore he tempted Eve saying to take the fruit,
you shall be like gods, Genesis 3:5 .
He wanted to create a conflict between man and God so that God would not carry on his promise.
God intended for you to be like him in eternity. Satan is still whispering into the ears of many, don’t believe it.
What will you believe? You must be born again.
Repentance, water baptism in Jesus’ name and infilling with the Holy Ghost is the New Birth experience.
