BORN AGAIN By the BIBLE and TRADITION OF MEN. What is it to be “born again”? It depends in what religion the term is used. Surprisingly it is not only used in Christianity; but also in Buddism and Hinduism. In those it is known as “Arhat or 'arhant',” the Buddhist conception which succeeds the earlier Dvija concept in the Dharmic tradition. “Dvija,” the concept of being "twice-born" prominent in Hinduism since classical times. In Christianity it refers to spiritual rebirth and salvation. In this study I will only focus on the Christian usage and whether it is accurate. The term comes from three verses in the New Testament. Mainly the first. Joh 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. Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 1Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. However, like most of today’s Christian understanding or misunderstanding of bible verses, this one comes from its origins traced to 1738, with various theological streams contributing to its foundation. Here I will only mention John Wesley and other early Methodists were at the root of sparking this new movement during the First Great Awakening. Today, evangelicals are found across many Protestant branches, as well as in various denominations not subsumed to a specific branch. Hence the widespread belief in and adoption of the term. The movement has long had a presence in the Anglosphere before spreading further afield in the 19th, 20th and early 21st centuries. The movement gained great momentum during the 18th and 19th centuries with the Great Awakenings in Great Britain and the United States. Simply, today’s denominations i.e. of Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal etc were all cut from the same cloth and, though may hold variations of some other doctrines, all subscribe to the “born again” interpretation of a change in heart or intentions. Generally the change of heart is not from the world towards God’s bible commandments; but their denominations theology. Is not a permanent change of heart where “1John3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” is satisfied; but one of which a believer can “backslide”, and be “born again” more than once. Even getting re-baptised. Remember verses relating to from a good tree comes good fruit and a bad or corrupt tree comes bad fruits? (Mat 3:10, Mat 7:17, Mat 7:18, Mat 7:19, Mat 12:33, Luk 3:9, Luk 6:43). Such does not conform to John’s “born again” not of corruptible seed; but of uncorruptible. Born of God means cannot sin, cannot backslide etc. They do not have the choice as humans. The devil and a third of the angels sinned by disobeying God. They were not born of God; but created “Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made”.

God’s Biblical Marriage. Many are against polygamy yet approve of men marrying divorced women. Many women have children, yet claim they are not married. These can be biblically contradictory. A wrongly put away woman is still married so either the man is committing adultery (as the bible calls it) or polygamy as the world should call it. We shall also study what makes a mother married. For Bible believers and seekers of YHWH God we ought to separate things of Him from things of the world. Whether of governments or religious traditions. The latter two have frequently imposed their way on societies to the extent most Bible believers and seekers of YHWH put ways of the world above those of God and think some ways of the world originated from God. Departure from God’s ways have led societies into problems that could have been avoid and that can be cured by return to God’s ways. This article is a Bible study of one such way, marriage. What constitutes it and how it is accomplished according to God’s way? By “2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” We may avoid accusations of Prov 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. See also Mat 15:3, Matt 15:6, Mark 7:13. I think this is a delicate topic to present; not because of it is difficult to deliver; but difficult to receive because of the western world modern practices and opinions embedded in such minds. A mindset and practice that does not or may not exist in some other cultures or mindsets. For example I know of a woman who converted from Islam to Christianity. Her Muslim father had four wives. He them and their children saw no problem in their culture. I also heard a radio presenter talking of an experience visiting an African country. He observed several children and women in a house court yard and could not guess which children belonged to which woman because they all got along. Only in the evening, being invited to dinner by the husband and father he was told they were all his wives and children. I shall therefore tackle the topic from three view points. God’s as per His instructions, Paul’s as per his advice and if time allows, which I doubt, my comments taking in some of the practices and thoughts of society and maybe some of you. Firstly the instructions of God: These are on various situations. I think all situations and if a situation is not mentioned, it is because it was not meant to arise i.e. same sex marriages.

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The New Testament has two original Hebrew words translated as ―shadow‖. One, ―skia‖(G4639) used seven times in the bible, meaning something permanent (or also used to mean a shade as in cooling place out of the heat of the sun) and the other ―aposkiasma‖(G644), a derivative of G4639 used only once in the bible in James 1:17, meaning shading off or gradual reduction (Strong‘s Hebrew / Greek dictionary). However, James only uses it to state God has not variableness, shading off or gradual reduction. Whether the Sabbath or the feast days, some people think they are not to be kept, have passed away, because were a ―shadow of things to come‖. This phrase is mentioned twice in the bible, Colossians 2:17 and Hebrews 10:1; dealt with in a moment. When told they ought to, they reply ―so are we still to kill animals as sacrifices then?‖ They confuse the old animal blood sacrifices of Aaron and the priests with everything pertaining to, all the various laws or even law and commandments (distinction already given earlier). If you have been told to state that as a justification, you are wrong. The answer is no; Christians are not to kill the former animal sacrifice of old. In line with God‘sprediction, He destroyed the temple in which these sacrifices were to be made and scattered the people because they constantly polluted His house with Baal worshipping (i.e. 2 Kings 21:3-5). Even the Jews of today no longer do the annual or daily animal sacrifices for lack of the temple (daily sacrifice mentioned in Exodus 29:36). God replaced the animal for the annual sacrifice with His own pure sacrifice similar to what He did with Abraham and his son. As for the ―red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish and upon which never came yoke‖ mentioned in Numbers 19:2, none can be found today. So apart from the animal sacrifices, everything else stands.

You or your Christian friends should find this informative.  You may either agree with it before or after its reading or it may be far from your present thoughts on the Holy Spirit of Acts 1 and 2.  It should also be read with the article “Who gets the Holy Spirit when and why”.  The book of Acts of the APOSTLES speaks of the twelve + Paul.  How, what and to whom they taught the Gospel.  Luke begins identifying a certain group and refers to them as “them” “ye” (you).   Eleven of the original 12 with specifics (given commandment, apostles, chosen saw Jesus after his resurrection).   

1^st group spoken of:

1:2 unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Act 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: [These are the criterias that distinguish those who got the gift].

Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Act 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Act 1:12  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

1^st group interacts with 2^nd group:

We have all seen magic tricks of sawing people in half, walking on water, elevating in to the air, disappearing or making things disappear, etc.  Some people believe them to be real; but others know it is a trick even if do not know how it is done.  Later, someone reveals how some tricks are done.  The devil and his ministers do the same with words.  Psychology uses words to change peoples’ thinking, action, beliefs even hypnotise.  The word “under” and “fulfil” has been used to that magic effect on many seekers of God.  Let us briefly examine and unveil the devil who manipulates God’s word using subtlety as a magician uses their hands to misdirect our minds.  As with Adam and Eve in the garden and Yahshua in the wilderness.  

With Eve he said: Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  

God actually said. Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. So the devil changed a positive action of God into a negative.  What we can and should do into what we cannot.  We should see this is his pattern for the purpose of getting us to disobey God, commit sin and thus serve him.   Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

When that mis-quote did not work with Eve he took away the fear of the punishment that God instituted and replaced it with a feel good one.  God said they will die.  Devil said will not; but be wise.  By his subtlety he led Eve to use her own eyes and understanding when she clearly knew (as we can today read) what God actually said.  Later God warned His people never to use their own eyes and understanding; but stick to His voice (not Paul’s or a prophets), neither to depart from it to the left nor right, add to nor take away (Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  Num 15:39  Deu 12:8).  

In an attempt to tempt Yahshua in the wilderness, he said in Mat 4:6 for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. This was his apparent quote or paraphrase of Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

Many times we accept someone’s paraphrase of a scripture without checking word for the word the original or a good translation as the KJV rather than NIV or other.  Many also try to understand Paul’s teaching rather than go back to the clearer source of his teaching, what God actually said.  Hence Peters rebuke of them 2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

INTRODUCTION: Before we start this afternoon’s study I am curious to take a poll on present belief then see if the information studied made any difference to you. 

To save time, I am going to show that being “saved” is the same as having one’s name in the “Book of Life”.  It is not a study on when or how one is saved, we have studied that before.  This is confined to when is one’s name written in the Book of Life.  Though scripture does say one is saved after enduring to the end Matt 24:13; Mark 13:13.          When one is saved, what are they saved from? Not mortal death as all suffer that Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:.  We are saved from the eternal spiritual death, called the second death.  [Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.  Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire].

The following scriptures support the article titled “THE LAW BY WHICH TO BE SAVED” or  “SabbathS to be Saved”. 

“Called Scriptures”

Mat 9:13  (Mark 2:17; Luk 5:32) But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  

Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Mat 20:16  (22:14) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Unlocking God’s truth.

Making the connection between the Jews, Christianity and Gentiles. The Torah and the Bible. Into one understanding as descendants of Israel, the Church, God’s people. One creator, one Saviour, one way for all.

Genesis 1:1, In our beginning, there was nothing, then the God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void. Then God gave it form and filled its void with a self-sustaining environment of wonderful beauty inclusive of heavenly planets, flying birds, swimming fishes, land roaming animals and wonderful vegetation.

The following are some points I suggest a reader should note when reading Genesis in order to understand it and the rest of the Bible. It is copied from notes made and hopefully, will be re-written when time permits.

The name "Genesis" comes from a Greek word meaning "beginning." This word was the title of the book in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Hebrew name for Genesis was 'b rë shith', "in the beginning." The Hebrews often identified the books of the Old Testament by the first word of the text. In this way when a scroll was unrolled they were able to tell immediately which book it contained.

Exodus is a Greek word which means "departure" and is derived from ek (1537), "out of," and hodós (3598), "road." The Hebrew title (the first words of the Hebr. text) means "and these are the names of."
The Book of Exodus describes the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, their journey to Mount Sinai, and the events that occurred during their sojourn there.

The patriarch Jacob had brought his family to Egypt to avoid starvation (see Gen. 46:1- 27). When the Hyksos invaded Egypt and gained political power, the descendants of Jacob were forced into slavery (Ex. 1:8, 10).

The following are some points I suggest a reader should note when reading Genesis in order to understand it and the rest of the Bible. It is copied from notes made and hopefully, will be re-written when time permits.
The title "Leviticus" is a transliteration of the title in the Septuagint (the ancient Gr. translation of the OT). It is so named because it records the duties of the Levites. The Hebrew name for the book (the first word of the Hebr. text) means "and He called."
This title is representative of the content and purpose of the book, namely the calling of God's people, and in particular the

What is God like? The same question appears in the bible. Psa 89:6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? Psa 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Psa 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Psa 89:9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? Isa 40:19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. Isa 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. Isa 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isa 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isa 46:11 .. I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Some of you may remember a saying when we were younger “what are you like”. Today, the youth use the phrase “it’s like..” a lot. They compare what they are talking about to something else rather than describe the actual thing.

The Book of Numbers is so named because it records several occasions where the people were counted or numbered (chaps. 1, 3, 4, 26). The Hebrew title (the first word in the Hebew text) means "in the wilderness," and appropriately gives the setting for the events in this book.   The Book of Numbers relates the earliest experiences of Israel under the theocracy. When the people were obedient to God, they enjoyed His blessing and protection (Num 21:21 -35), but their disobedience brought His judgment (Num. 21:4 -9).  Despite the wonders that God performed on Israel's behalf, the people were ready to return to Egypt on several occasions (Num. 11:4 -6; 14:2 -4; 20:4, 5; 21:5) because of their unbelief - it was easier to get Israel out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the Israelites!

"Deuteronomy" is a transliteration from a Greek word which means "second law." This title for the book is derived from the incorrect translation of Deuteronomy 17:18 in the Septuagint (the ancient Gr. translation of the OT). The Hebrew text is properly translated in the KJV, "that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book." Deuteronomy is not a 'second Law," but merely a repetition and expansion of the laws contained in the first books of the Pentateuch. The Hebrew title (the first words of the text) means "these are the words."

Lamentations was originally part of the Book of Jeremiah. It was later isolated because it was read publicly at one of the feasts of Israel and included in the Five Megilloth (or scrolls; see introduction to the Book of Ruth). Lamentations is read each year at Tisha B'av, a fast commemorating the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kgs. 25:8, 9) in both 586 B.C. and A.D. 70.  The style and content leave no doubt that Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet," is the author. The book focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem as observed by an eyewitness (cf Jer.37 -39) Jeremiah alternates between horrible accounts of the destruction of the city to the confessions of the people's deep sins, and then to his appeals to God for mercy.

The Gospel According to MATTHEW
Matthew, whose name means "gift of Jehovah," left his occupation of gathering taxes (Matt. 9:9-13) in order to follow Jesus. In Luke 5:27-32, Matthew gave a banquet for Jesus before becoming one of the Twelve Apostles (Matt. 10:3). He was an eyewitness of Jesus' entire ministry.

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) form a unique kind of written document. They present four complementary views of the life of Jesus. Aside from these four Gospels, there are only a few writings in the contemporary historians, Josephus and Tacitus, which the life and activities

The name Mark is actually a surname, his common name being John (Acts 12:12; 13:5; n, 4:11). Since he was related to Barnabas (Col. 4:10), Mark may have been a Levite (4:36) Mark travelled with the Apostle Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 12:25), but he turned back (Acts 13:13). For this reason, Paul refused to consider taking him along on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:36 -39).  Paul and Barnabas had such a strong disagreement about the matter that they decided to go different directions, Paul with Silas and Barnabas with Mark. Later Paul and Mark were reconciled (Col. 4:10; Phile. 1:24), and Paul came to regard Mark as one who was "profitable . . for the ministry" (2 Tim. 4:11).

There is little doubt that the author of this book is Luke, "the beloved physician" (Col. 4:14). He was a Gentile who is thought to have been a native of Antioch. He accompanied Apostle Paul from Troas on his second missionary journey but remained in Philippi until Paul returned there on his last known missionary expedition (Acts 20:6).  They seem to have been close companions up until Paul's death (2 Tim. 4:11). Paul referred to him as "fellow-worker" in Philemon 1:24. The introductory remarks (Luke 1:1-4) indicate that there were other written accounts of the events surrounding Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that existed at the time this book was written. Apparently, as Luke gathered wealth of information from "eyewitnesses" that he had come in contact with while travelling with Paul, the Holy Spirit burdened his heart with the need to compose another narrative.

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