THE CHURCH: BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS!

THE NEW BIRTH

John 1:1, 11-14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - - - He came unto His own (Israel), and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons (the children) of God, even to them that believe on His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

[Note:  There is a false teaching that says the Church (all born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ) was "conceived on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), but will not be born until, what they say is, the Rapture (Revelation 12:1-5)."  This passage uses the past tense in describing those who are born again.  Revelation Chapters 11-13 describe the activities that take place during the middle of the Tribulation; the Church is last mentioned in Chapter 3, with Chapter 4:1 being symbolic of the Rapture (catching away by Christ) of the Church.]

John 3:3-8 -  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  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?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water (physical birth) and of the Spirit (Spiritual birth), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  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 you, You must be born again.  The wind blows where it listeth (where it will), and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell whence (from where) it comes, and whither (where) it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

[Note:  Again, Jesus described people as having already been born again.]

Romans 8:1-11 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of sin and death.  For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

[Note:  Present tense!]

1 Peter 1:18-23 - Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (way of life) received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, Who raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:  being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, Who lives and abides forever.

[Note:  Once again, the believer is said to be born again in Peter's day!]

1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, NOW are we the sons (children) of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

THE CHURCH IS COMPRISED OF BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES, 

WHO HAVE BELIEVED THE GOSPEL, 

AND AS A  RESULT, HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN.

IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU ARE BORN AGAIN!