REBORN

By: Deji Yesufu

Chris Arnzen is the host of a two-hour radio program called “Iron Sharpens Iron Radio Show” in the United States of America. He is a “reformed” Christian and he brings Christian ministers to share various view points on the Christian life with his listeners. I was drawn to Chris’ program by my friend Joe Reilly in Ireland, who has a penchant for publishing links of Chris’ shows on his Facebook page. You can listen to Chris Arzen on www.ironshapensironradio.com. If you are reformed in thinking like I am, you would enjoy listening to those programs. These days, when I have any free hour – either driving through town or doing some chores – I just listen to a recorded show off that website.

One aspect of Chris’ show that I thoroughly enjoy listening to is hearing people discuss how they came to living faith in Jesus Christ. When Chris has someone appearing on his show for the first time, he usually would ask them to recount their conversion experience. Listening to many of these testimonies has totally redefined my concept of how a person is saved. Someday I would share how I came to know the Lord Jesus myself but this essay would look at how men can be spiritually reborn. I had always, erroneously, held the notion that every person who comes to know Jesus can tell the exact moment their transformation occurred. But listening to Chris’ shows has helped me to redefine that.

Without planning it, about three or four testimonies that I listened to so far on Chris’ show spoke of people who were raised in religious homes and who could not pin point at what time they may have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Today, they are certain of their eternal salvation; their testimony of Christ is sound and the work they do for him is clearly a fruit of a life converted by Christ. Yet these people cannot state when they were converted.

It got me thinking and I realized that if I would be charitable with people, I must not equate my own “Damascus road” sort of conversion with other people. Many people raised in sound religious homes would not have these sort of conversion experiences. Because of these, I am beginning to rethink the whole process of how a man can be saved and I hope to share some of it here.

Please note that Reformed Theology, like any sound biblical thinking should be, is concerned mainly with two things in every preaching. A reformed minister wants to see people who are not converted to Christ come to know him through his preaching. We believe in a Sovereign God who saves people through the preached word. Secondly, a reformed minister wants to see those who are already saved continue steadfast in the faith. These are our primary concerns. We are not concerned about people getting healed in services. If they do get healed, we are thankful to God but those are not our pursuits. Reformed theology does not teach that Christians should seek an experience that leads to speaking in tongues. We are not concerned about people becoming healthy and wealthy, like the Word of Faith cults do. We are simply focused at revealing Christ to all men and trusting that the Lord would reach each man at his spiritual point of need.

The individual who is saved or born again is one who has listened to the Word of God, either once or through a period of time, and has come to understand what the cross of Jesus Christ means personally to him. This individually would have understood the message of the cross as Christ dying for him personally in a substitutionary manner. He would have understood that his sins were placed upon Christ and when Christ died and rose again, Jesus obtained justification for him. And at the moment, he would see Christ as his only Savior before God. Of course, the testimony would vary and the manner of understanding would be different. But the fruit would be the same. The person would know Jesus Christ for himself. He would have an affirmation of the Holy Spirit in his heart that he is a child of God. Hopefully he would have peace of mind. And all of these would yield a fruit of life that would range from loving God and loving his people the church, having a commitment to not displease his Savior, re-arranging his priorities and pursuits in life in such a manner as would glorify God at the end, and having a hope that is steadfast – such as would include looking up to heaven for our eternal salvation.

One must say these things because of the prevalence of too many false testimony of Christianity all around. In the Charismatic Christian tradition that I came from, people would usually put a date and time to when they were converted. And usually it is difficult to fault these claims because these people would, from that moment, join a church and become very religious. Yet, at close observation, one can notice fruits of their lives that are not exactly Christian. There are these vain pursuit for the things of this world, just like any unconverted person wants. There is a palpable fear of death and very low desire to see Christ, even now. The long and short is that these people profess to know God but their thoughts, words and actions tend to deny him. Yet, here am I listening to people in reformed circles who cannot put a date and time to their conversion, but who are living as true pilgrims of Christ in this earth.

Having listened to Chris Arzen long enough, I have come to re-evaluate my pursuits in preaching. I still look forward to seeing people come to Christ. I would still be very glad to hear people tell me of a “Damascus road” sort of conversion. But I think I would be increasingly patient with others who do not have such experiences. I believe now that anywhere the gospel of Christ is preached faithfully and the people under these preaching have come to a settled understanding of the gospel; particularly in regards to what Jesus has done for them personally and they are living out the gospel in practical terms, one could trust that such people are saved.

I am increasingly having to accept this because I realize that the conversion of my own children is likely to take this format. From an early age, I have taken these children to church and taught them the Catechism. They are likely to grow up as well nurtured moral children whose conversion I would not be able to monitor. But if these children can affirm the faith publicly and can state how it applies to them personally, while I see that their priorities in life line up in a manner to pleases the Lord Jesus Christ, I can trust God that they are saved. I have often affirmed that my number one goal in life is to bring my whole family to saving faith in Jesus Christ. It would be a great accomplishment for me if the Lord Jesus Christ grants this desire of my heart.

I thank Chris Arnzen for the great work he is doing with Iron Sharpens Iron Radio and I again urge you to go to that website and listen to the podcasts he has published there for his online listeners.

Deji Yesufu is the author of the books Victor Banjo and Half a Millennium. He can be reached on newdejix@gmail.com

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/reborn/

Picture inset: Chris Arnzen

VBCampaign:
REBORN

By: Deji Yesufu

Chris Arnzen is the host of a two-hour radio program called “Iron Sharpens Iron Radio Show” in the United States of America. He is a “reformed” Christian and he brings Christian ministers to share various view points on the Christian life with his listeners. I was drawn to Chris’ program by my friend Joe Reilly in Ireland, who has a penchant for publishing links of Chris’ shows on his Facebook page. You can listen to Chris Arzen on www.ironshapensironradio.com. If you are reformed in thinking like I am, you would enjoy listening to those programs. These days, when I have any free hour – either driving through town or doing some chores – I just listen to a recorded show off that website.

One aspect of Chris’ show that I thoroughly enjoy listening to is hearing people discuss how they came to living faith in Jesus Christ. When Chris has someone appearing on his show for the first time, he usually would ask them to recount their conversion experience. Listening to many of these testimonies has totally redefined my concept of how a person is saved. Someday I would share how I came to know the Lord Jesus myself but this essay would look at how men can be spiritually reborn. I had always, erroneously, held the notion that every person who comes to know Jesus can tell the exact moment their transformation occurred. But listening to Chris’ shows has helped me to redefine that.

Without planning it, about three or four testimonies that I listened to so far on Chris’ show spoke of people who were raised in religious homes and who could not pin point at what time they may have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Today, they are certain of their eternal salvation; their testimony of Christ is sound and the work they do for him is clearly a fruit of a life converted by Christ. Yet these people cannot state when they were converted.

It got me thinking and I realized that if I would be charitable with people, I must not equate my own “Damascus road” sort of conversion with other people. Many people raised in sound religious homes would not have these sort of conversion experiences. Because of these, I am beginning to rethink the whole process of how a man can be saved and I hope to share some of it here.

Please note that Reformed Theology, like any sound biblical thinking should be, is concerned mainly with two things in every preaching. A reformed minister wants to see people who are not converted to Christ come to know him through his preaching. We believe in a Sovereign God who saves people through the preached word. Secondly, a reformed minister wants to see those who are already saved continue steadfast in the faith. These are our primary concerns. We are not concerned about people getting healed in services. If they do get healed, we are thankful to God but those are not our pursuits. Reformed theology does not teach that Christians should seek an experience that leads to speaking in tongues. We are not concerned about people becoming healthy and wealthy, like the Word of Faith cults do. We are simply focused at revealing Christ to all men and trusting that the Lord would reach each man at his spiritual point of need.

The individual who is saved or born again is one who has listened to the Word of God, either once or through a period of time, and has come to understand what the cross of Jesus Christ means personally to him. This individually would have understood the message of the cross as Christ dying for him personally in a substitutionary manner. He would have understood that his sins were placed upon Christ and when Christ died and rose again, Jesus obtained justification for him. And at the moment, he would see Christ as his only Savior before God. Of course, the testimony would vary and the manner of understanding would be different. But the fruit would be the same. The person would know Jesus Christ for himself. He would have an affirmation of the Holy Spirit in his heart that he is a child of God. Hopefully he would have peace of mind. And all of these would yield a fruit of life that would range from loving God and loving his people the church, having a commitment to not displease his Savior, re-arranging his priorities and pursuits in life in such a manner as would glorify God at the end, and having a hope that is steadfast – such as would include looking up to heaven for our eternal salvation.

One must say these things because of the prevalence of too many false testimony of Christianity all around. In the Charismatic Christian tradition that I came from, people would usually put a date and time to when they were converted. And usually it is difficult to fault these claims because these people would, from that moment, join a church and become very religious. Yet, at close observation, one can notice fruits of their lives that are not exactly Christian. There are these vain pursuit for the things of this world, just like any unconverted person wants. There is a palpable fear of death and very low desire to see Christ, even now. The long and short is that these people profess to know God but their thoughts, words and actions tend to deny him. Yet, here am I listening to people in reformed circles who cannot put a date and time to their conversion, but who are living as true pilgrims of Christ in this earth.

Having listened to Chris Arzen long enough, I have come to re-evaluate my pursuits in preaching. I still look forward to seeing people come to Christ. I would still be very glad to hear people tell me of a “Damascus road” sort of conversion. But I think I would be increasingly patient with others who do not have such experiences. I believe now that anywhere the gospel of Christ is preached faithfully and the people under these preaching have come to a settled understanding of the gospel; particularly in regards to what Jesus has done for them personally and they are living out the gospel in practical terms, one could trust that such people are saved.

I am increasingly having to accept this because I realize that the conversion of my own children is likely to take this format. From an early age, I have taken these children to church and taught them the Catechism. They are likely to grow up as well nurtured moral children whose conversion I would not be able to monitor. But if these children can affirm the faith publicly and can state how it applies to them personally, while I see that their priorities in life line up in a manner to pleases the Lord Jesus Christ, I can trust God that they are saved. I have often affirmed that my number one goal in life is to bring my whole family to saving faith in Jesus Christ. It would be a great accomplishment for me if the Lord Jesus Christ grants this desire of my heart.

I thank Chris Arnzen for the great work he is doing with Iron Sharpens Iron Radio and I again urge you to go to that website and listen to the podcasts he has published there for his online listeners.

Deji Yesufu is the author of the books Victor Banjo and Half a Millennium. He can be reached on newdejix@gmail.com

VBCampaign, you know me, itootok, as I always will speak my mind, you see we try to make the issue of born again too complicated than it really is

Remember, if not for that Nicodemus clandestine meeting with Jesus, the issue of born again would have never been brought up, hmm?

VBCampaign, not many are aware that born again precedes and/or preceded salvation and that fact is, in order to receive and get the gift of salvation, you'll first, have to be born again, be regenerated, as in, be born from above, as Born Again, is similar to that David Psalm 51:10 prayer about "renew a right spirit in me" because that is exactly what has happened, you've had a renewal of the spirit. It is born again and/or a reawakening of the dead spirit man by God from above. Without that, if one isnt born again, then such one, will rubbish, ridicule, make fun of, poke fun at, make jokes about, scoff at, be sarcastic about the kingdom of God and demonstrations of the power of God.

Let roll back, what was Nicodemus opening remark at John 3:2 and what was Jesus' immediate reply back to Nicodemus opening remark?
Tell now, repeat Nicodemus' question at John 3:2 to Jesus now, hmm?

The arresting point that got Nicodemus captivated, was the mention of regeneration in Jesus' immediate reply to Nicodemus' John 3:2 opening remark.

Jesus said in reply to Nicodemus, that it takes one having a spirit renewal or spirit re-birth, to see and recognise the kingdom of God. Jesus said, except born from above, one cant accept the truth of nor admit the existence of the kingdom of God. It's, because of being born from above, that one is be able to SEE, confess and acknowledge the demonstrations & power of the kingdom of God. Whereas from being born of water and born from above, is the order for ENTERING into the kingdom of God. Ability to see doesnt equate nor mean auto entry

Here is an illustration, to explain "see the kingdom of God" and "enter into the kingdom of God"
When you're on a plane from France to Ghana, with a connecting flight at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you land in Holland.
You dont go outside or beyond Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you see Amsterdam city and/or Holland from inside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol,
Except you have the correct travelling documents etcetera, you cant go into town, cannot physically enter into Amsterdam city and/or Holland.
You will just see Holland and the city from whilst inside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (i.e. the main international airport of the Netherlands)
but will not enter the city

"After dark one evening, Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus.
"Rabbi," he said,
"we all know that God has sent you to teach us.
Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.""
- John 3:2

Now lets rewind and back up to John 3:2 for a good perspective. Going back to John 3:2 above. We notice that, Nicodemus in John 3:2 managed to have seen somethings, he admitted and confirmed the origin of what hes being seeing. John 2:23 is testament to this but Jesus switched gear on Nicodemus, Jesus changed from talking about "see the Kingdom'' to talking of "enter the Kingdom''
All this happened as a result of Nicodemus trying to make sense of Born Again and entering mother's womb
- VBCampaign, it is a fact, it is possible, we can see things of thing without entering the thing

People jumble two separate things together here VBCampaign. Just because you cant enter into something, doesnt mean or imply you can't see the something now.

Take for example. People see America, people watch America, but to enter into America, to set foot on American soil in America, requires certain criteria being met

Two people looking at the same thing at the same time, both observing the same thing but only one is seeing something,
only one is admitting seeing what's being observed or only one confesses and acknowledges what was played out before them both

You see things when the spirit falls or rests on you
You can't see things unless you are born from above (i.e. you are born again)
You wont confess and acknowledge unless you are born from above (i.e. you are born again)

Please lets study John 3:1-3 by slowing reading and reading it out loud
We will notice how Nicodemus instigated Jesus switching the gear on him.
Jesus in responding to Nicodemus', admitted John 3:2 observances, but then decides to up the ante from ''see the Kingdom'' to ''enter into the Kingdom'' after Nicodemus brought in the issue of re-entering a mother's womb

Nicodemus had no problem with Jesus' first reply
This is confirmed if John 3:3, is re-read like this:
You are right Nicodemus, I say to you, EXCEPT a man be born again, he CANNOT "see" the kingdom of God

Jesus knew what Nicodemus was having a problem with and also knew why Nicodemus asked that question in John 3:4

VBCampaign, you see, Nicodemus was confused about the entering aspect,
He was thinking, is it going to be his present body or would he have to return into his mother's womb for a re-birth?

VBCampaign, re-read Jesus' John 3:5 reply to Nicodemus bewilderment, like this:
"You are right Nicodemus,
I say to you, EXCEPT a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he CANNOT "enter" into the kingdom of God"

Nicodemus was like, OK, I've seen the demonstration and power of the Kingdom, but my question now is, how do I enter the Kingdom. What are the qualifications?
Remember Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and the Pharisees idea of what the Messiah and His Kingdom is or would be is different

Born Again isnt the false doctrine it's being built up to be,
but is a fact, reality and truth that, except a man, is biologically born of human being (i.e. born of water) and spiritually born of God (i.e. born again, as in born from above, born of the Spirit) such you cannot enter the kingdom

You, VBCampaign, is born of water and born again and so a potential candidate to enter

A very good bible useful rule of thumb is that, to remember the bible wasnt originally in chapters and verses and so be careful when reading it

I love John chapter 3 a lot and have noticed that John chapter 3 actually, appropriately should have started from John 2:23
but it sad to see, many, be under a delusion or living in a fool's paradise, cavorting with the "born again" cliché.

Now, here's the beginning of the point, many so-called believers, "believers" and/or christians, misunderstand John chapter 3
and as a result, unnecessarily slip into resorting to using a "born again" cliché

I am unable to understand why some and/or others dont ever wonder why Jesus never publicly gave, not even one "born again" teaching
I guess it's because born from above, also known as, born again, actually isn't a badge of honour, but is a matter of just fact, hence it is unneccessary to publicly teach a known fact.

I am sure you are aware that the mention of "born again" was incidental, that if not for Nicodemus, Jesus didnt even have to mention this one event, dead in the night, mention of born of water and born again.

Jesus was even baffled at Nicodemus that He told him off for being a teacher of Israel and not knowing such a basic and obvious thing like this

I can relate so well with this. Growing up in a core pentecostal Christian home, where prayer and bible study were taken seriously. Even though the phrase "born-again" was a daily thing, I never really believed I was born-again even though my lifestyle was a lot different from those of my folks - at home and at school. I've never really experienced any dramatic supernatural change as I always hear people who newly got born-again usually do.

I discovered later in life that all the while I didn't believe the Holy Spirit lives in me, He has always been there but I thought I had to be perfect(sinless) if I were truly born-again. When I attend some churches on invitation and I am asked to fill the new-comers form, I always see the space for "When did you become born again?", I just reply "I DON'T KNOW"

UceeGod:
I can relate so well with this. Growing up in a core pentecostal Christian home, where prayer and bible study were taken seriously. Even though the phrase "born-again" was a daily thing, I never really believed I was born-again even though my lifestyle was a lot different from those of my folks - at home and at school. I've never really experienced any dramatic supernatural change as I always hear people who newly got born-again usually do.

I discovered later in life that all the while I didn't believe the Holy Spirit lives in me, He has always been there but I thought I had to be perfect(sinless) if I were truly born-again. When I attend some churches on invitation and I am asked to fill the new-comers form, I always see the space for "When did you become born again?", I just reply "I DON'T KNOW"

Nicodemus too didnt know he was born again

is the OP a CALVINIST?

MuttleyLaff:
Nicodemus too didnt know he was born again

No one, including Nicodemus could have been born-again then. The indwelling of the Spirit wasn't available.

UceeGod:
No one, including Nicodemus could have been born-again then. The indwelling of the Spirit wasn't available.

"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

We are talking of being Born Again aka born from on high as is confirmed by Jesus' statement in John 3:3 above, and you are talking of the indwelling of the Spirit, that happened further down the lane in the upper room. I dont think you've sat down to know the differences between the two

MuttleyLaff:
"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

We are talking of being Born Again aka born from on high as is confirmed by Jesus' statement in John 3:3 above, and you are talking of the indwelling of the Spirit, that happened further down the lane in the upper room. I dont think you've sat down to know the differences between the two

Being born of water and of the Spirit is the preparatory work for His indwelling. These two actions often happen at the same time though mostly not felt immediately. Of what use is His regeneration without His indwelling? What happened in the upper room is for the sign to be seen by everyone and it doesn't happen often that way today.

UceeGod:
Being born of water and of the Spirit is the preparatory work for His indwelling.

You know this much yet you want to blindly argue, hmm?
What was Nicodemus' opening remark in John 3:2 to made Jesus reply back to him with that John 3:3, hmm?

UceeGod:
These two actions often happen at the same time though mostly not felt immediately. Of what use is His regeneration without His indwelling?

What are you arguing about now. Guys like you, just like arguing about things you dont really and fully know about sha. Without regeneration, there is no chance of the indwelling of the Spirit residing in you at the appointed time, like as started with those in the upper room.

Nicodemus, the disciples and others before the Upper Room encounter, already were Born Again but without the indwelling of the Spirit, this is because it couldnt be bestowed or imparted until Jesus left earth to go back to the Father

MuttleyLaff:

Nicodemus, the disciples and others before the Upper Room encounter, already were Born Again but without the indwelling of the Spirit, this is because it couldnt be bestowed or imparted until Jesus left earth to go back to the Father

Yes regeneration has to happen before indwelling. Today, indwelling of the Spirit starts immediately after regeneration - the event in the upper room was a significant one for everyone present at that time and it doesn't often happen that way today.

UceeGod:
Yes regeneration has to happen before indwelling. Today, indwelling of the Spirit starts immediately after regeneration - the event in the upper room was a significant one for everyone present at that time and it doesn't often happen that way today.

Like I earlier said, not many are aware that born again precedes and/or preceded salvation and that fact is, in order to receive and get the gift of salvation, you'll first, have to be born again, be regenerated, as in, be born from above, as Born Again, is similar to that David Psalm 51:10 prayer about "renew a right spirit in me" because that is exactly what has happened, you've had a renewal of the spirit. It is born again and/or a reawakening of the dead spirit man by God from above. Without that, as in, if one isnt born again, then such one, will not see, and so therefore will rubbish, ridicule, make fun of, poke fun at, make jokes about, scoff at, be sarcastic about the kingdom of God and demonstrations of the power of God.

onlyinJESUS:
is the OP a CALVINIST?

Very likely. Since he says he's "reformed"

UceeGod, Born Again has to do with a change of heart, just as I earlier said about David's "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" Psalm 51:10 prayer.

Natural birth will only open our natural senses, our eyesight, hearing, tasting,etcetera to natural things, but born again, the spiritual birth opens our spiritual senses, and gives the seeing eye, the hearing ear, the feeling sense the ability to testify, acknowledge, confirm admit and/or accept spiritual things, like the demonstration power of God and not to back hand rubbish it off, as nothing but hocus pocus and all that

The condition of the spiritual vision which can see this kingdom, is spiritual life, and this spiritual life is dependent on being born again.