There’s no shame in not knowing what “born again” means. Among Christians today, it is a very misused word. But one thing most Christians will agree with -- a person must be “born again” to enter into the kingdom of God. Since this is something that must take place to enter God’s kingdom, it is not something that we should take lightly nor ignore.
The subject came up in the Word of God when a pharisee named Nicodemus (a ruler of the Jews) came to Jesus at night. He started talking to Jesus and said to Him that he knew that Jesus was from God because of His miracles and great acts. Jesus answered him by totally changing the subject. He got down to business immediately. He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
This must have been perplexing to Nicodemus because one, Jesus had totally changed the subject; and two, what Jesus said seemed to Nicodemus completely nonsensical. He replied “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 thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit 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 thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:5-7).
Jesus was telling Nicodemus that there was a distinction between being born of flesh, which we all go through, and being born of God’s Spirit, which is a free-will decision that some choose to receive. Before Jesus changed the subject, he gave one more hint about being born again, he said: “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 that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
Jesus compared being born again to the wind blowing. You hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where it came from nor where it goes. “So is every one who is born of the Spirit.”
This vital message was not neglected on the first day of the Church. As mentioned in Chapter 6, Peter was given the keys into the kingdom of God. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). On the opening day of the Church, when the people asked Peter what they needed to do to be saved, Peter included this very important step; he pulled out all the keys needed to be saved.
On that first day of Church, Peter told people the three things that they needed for salvation. One, they first needed to repent of their sins. Secondly, they needed to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. And thirdly, if they did the other two steps, they would receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And this promise was to them, their children and to all that were afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39). “Born again,” the “Gift of the Holy Ghost,” “Receiving the Holy Ghost,” “Baptism of the Holy Ghost” are all the one and the same experience.
How does a Christian know he or she has received the Gift of the Holy Ghost or been born again? Again, remember Jesus’ hint: “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 that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). What was Jesus talking about? He was talking about the same thing that he was talking about in John 7:37-39: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’ (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified).”
What happened in the first Church when people received God’s Spirit? On the Day of Pentecost, there were approximately 120 disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting for this “promise of the Father”(Acts 1:4). Rather they knew what was going to happen to them or not is debatable. But these people had been waiting in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14) since Jesus had ascended into heaven. When suddenly, there was a sound from heaven that sounded like a mighty wind and it filled the house where they all were sitting (Acts 2:1). There appeared cloven tongues like fire and rested upon each of them (Acts 2:2). “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
This was the first time that anyone had been born again or born of the Spirit. It is the only time that cloven tongues like fire appeared over heads and it is the only time that a mighty rushing wind sound was heard -- according to the Word of God. But it isn’t the only time that people spoke with tongues as part of the evidence that they had received God’s Spirit.
The next time that we read in the Word of God of people receiving God’s Spirit is in Acts, chapter 8. This was when Philip the evangelist went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. There were many miracles performed by Philip and the people listened to him (Acts 8:6-7). In verse 8, it says that there was great joy in that city. [By the way, great joy is not the evidence of being born again nor of being saved because these people were neither considered saved nor born again by the first Church.] Although these people were happy, Philip didn’t consider them saved. But he carried through with that original doctrine that was established on the Day of Pentecost, he baptized those who believed, both men and women (Acts 8:12).
“Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)” -- Acts 8:14-16. Why was it so important that these people receive the Holy Ghost? They had been baptized. Wasn’t that enough? Evidently not. It was so important that they receive the Holy Ghost, that Peter and John came down from Jerusalem to make sure that it happened. How did the believers know that the Samaritans hadn’t received God’s Spirit? What kind of proof were they looking for?
So, when they [Peter and John] laid their hands on them, the people received the Holy Ghost. But it doesn’t say in the Word of God exactly what happened. How did they know that the people had received it or not? Something must have happened that verified to the Apostles that these people had received God’s Spirit. It was something that hadn’t previously happened to the Samaritans that told Philip, Peter and John that these people had finally been born of the Spirit.
Well, there was this guy named Simon, and he was a sorcerer in Samaria. He had been following Philip around watching all the miracles that he performed. Simon was so convinced that someone with greater power than his sorceries was in town that he even got baptized, himself. But nothing seemed to impress Simon as much as seeing new believers receiving the Holy Ghost when Peter and John laid hands on them. He was so impressed that he offered them money so he could have that power (Acts 8:8-24). What could Simon have seen that impressed him so much as to offer money for that particular power? He had seen the miracles of Philip -- unclean spirits being cast out of people possessed; palsies healed; lame people healed (Acts 8:13). But that hadn’t impressed him like people receiving the Spirit of God. When people are born again, it’s a powerful experience. There won’t be any second guessing rather they’ve received the Spirit or not. There is evidence. The Apostles were not satisfied in Samaria until they had seen the evidence. These are the only hints given in the Word of God concerning the Samaritans being born again. What actually happened when they received God’s Spirit isn’t spelled out in the Bible.
So, let’s look at the next case of people receiving God’s Spirit in the Word of God. The next case is at the household of Cornelius. Now Cornelius was a very special case. First, because he was a Gentile. (Up until this point, only the Jews had received salvation through Jesus Christ.) Another difference is that Cornelius and his household received the Holy Ghost before they were baptized. But there was a reason for this, let’s look at what God’s Word says.
This whole story is full of interesting revelations of God’s salvation. In chapter 10 of Acts, we are told that Cornelius was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway (Acts 10:2-3). How many of us can lay claim to that kind of devoted life? But was Cornelius saved? No. This testimony in the Word of God is the prime example that a person’s own goodness will not get him or her into the Kingdom of God. If all we needed to do were be good people, Cornelius would have been saved. But our goodness is as filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). [Anyone who is honest with himself or herself knows that they have done something that they wish that they hadn’t. We have all sinned before God, and that is why God, Himself, was the sacrifice for our sins.] But back to Cornelius -- he still needed something; and that is why the angel appeared unto him and told him to send for Peter, who would tell him what to do to be saved. So Cornelius sent some of his men to fetch Peter. As the men journeyed to find Peter, Peter had a vision from God which he didn’t totally understand until he met with Cornelius. He then realized that God really meant what he had said: to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15) ... not just the Jews.
When Peter got to Cornelius’ home, he started to preach Jesus Christ unto Cornelius and all gathered there. Then, something happened that had not happened in the Church previously. While Peter was still preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on all them who heard the Word of God (Acts 10:44). And how did Peter know that the Gentiles had received the gift of the Holy Ghost? “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:43). Peter immediately commanded that Cornelius, and all who were gathered, be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Up until that point, Peter may have been worried about baptizing Gentiles, that is until God confirmed their salvation with His Spirit. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, we will see why he had had a good reason to be worried about baptizing Gentiles. The Church was in an uproar that he had eaten with the uncircumcised -- let alone baptize them! So, he told them all about it. He concluded his story by saying, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning [the Day of Pentecost, the beginning of the Church]. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, ‘John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.’ Forasmuch then as God gave the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I that I could withstand God?” Acts 11:15-17.
With that, it says “they held their peace.” Church meeting adjourned. If a person believes and obeys the doctrine of salvation, God will witness that he or she is saved with the baptism of His Spirit. Luke wrote of it, “We [the Apostles] are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them who obey him” (Acts 5:32). If people obey God and believe on Jesus Christ, repent of their sins and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, God will give them the witness of the baptism of His Holy Ghost, being born of His Spirit.
Finally, the last description of believers receiving the Holy Ghost in the Word of God is in Chapter 19 of Acts. Paul ran across some disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus. Seems that they were chatting, and as mentioned before, something didn’t seem quite right with these disciples to Paul. So he said, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” (Acts 19:2). They answered, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” [There are many believers out there today who are in the same shape as these that Paul met. No one is even telling them that they must be born again. No one is telling them as Peter told all that they must "repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and then they will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."] When Paul found out that they not only hadn’t received God’s Spirit, but hadn’t been baptized correctly, he rebaptized them immediately and when he laid hands on them, they received the Holy Ghost. How did he know that they had received the Holy Ghost? “They spake with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).
Speaking in tongues was the only evidence that was accepted by the Apostles. Will you accept for yourself any other evidence? The keys of the Kingdom of Heaven have not changed since that first day of the Church, but what believers now cleave to for doctrine and practice has changed. Everything that went on in the first Church is available for today’s Church, it’s just that we have neglected the ways of the Apostles and have developed teachings and customs that the Apostles never performed nor taught.
A few more things about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you repent of your sins and are baptized in Jesus’ name, you have God’s Word that you shall receive God’s Spirit. There are many churches out there that do believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to scripture. But some of the things that they do, in an effort to see people receive the Holy Ghost, are totally unscriptural.
I have seen church members stick their fingers in a repentant person’s mouth. I’ve seen church members move the person’s jaws; I’ve seen people shaken by church members until they looked as though they might have a nervous breakdown. I’ve seen people take other people’s arms and raise them above their heads. People are shouted at, coaxed and rubbed in the hopes that they might receive the Holy Ghost. This is un-Biblical behavior. God needs no help in giving people the baptism of the Holy Ghost. He told us to go out and preach the gospel, baptize and to pray; He didn’t tell us to help Him baptized people with His Holy Spirit. I can promise you that it wasn’t necessary for the Apostles to go down and lay hands on the Samaritans. Because those people had a promise from God, Himself, that they would receive the Holy Ghost. But, like all of us, the first Church was anxious to see the Samaritans receive God’s Spirit. They made mistakes like we do, as scripture points out. If people repent and are baptized in Jesus’ name, they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38, 39). But people do have to wait. Because God will do it in His time. We are given no exact answer as to when a person will receive the Spirit after they have believed and obeyed God’s plan. Cornelius and his family and friends received the Spirit of God before they were baptized because they were Gentiles. It was God’s witness to the first Church that Gentiles were “eligible.”
[Since this book has been published on the Internet, a reader has written to me and said that I was being presumptuous in the statement above, "I can promise you that it wasn't necessary for the Apostles to go down and lay hands on the Samaritans." I wrote that statement because when Peter pulled out the keys on the first day of Church, the day of Pentecost, he said that if you -- 1.) Repent, and, 2.) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, then, 3.) you SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Ghost ..." for this 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" (Acts 2:38, 39). Yet, I believe the reader who wrote to me was right in that I was being presumptuous in my assesment of the Samaritan situation. Obviously God had a reason for the way that He gave the Holy Spirit in Samaria, and who am I to question God's methods. I have known of people who received the Spirit by the laying on of hands, and I have known of those who received the Spirit without the laying on of hands. Since both ways were practiced in the Scriptures, I believe both ways are acceptable today. I was not trying to detract from the doctrine of laying on of hands -- I believe in it. But, it was not mentioned in scripture as being a prerequisite for receiving the promise of the Spirit as was repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus the Christ. Thank you reader for your comment. I pray that we all may be blessed with ALL the Spirit and ALL the Truth (John 4: 23-24) as we seek God's will in Christ Jesus!]
The terms “seek the Holy Ghost” and “yield to the Holy Ghost” are not Biblical terms. I can testify from my own experience, that when you are baptized by God with His Spirit, you won’t be able to do anything but talk in tongues as the Spirit gives evidence (that is, if you want to receive His Spirit -- God won't force you). All the yielding you needed to do to receive God’s Spirit has already been done when you believed, repented and were baptized in Jesus’ name. You kept your part of the deal, God will keep His. Now, to “tarry for the Holy Ghost” is a Biblical term (Jesus told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high, Luke 24:49). You are not ready to function in the Church until you have received God’s Spirit; as a matter of fact, you truly aren’t a part of the Body until you have the Spirit. All you have to do is love God and follow His doctrine and He will give you His Spirit, and He will do it in His time in His way. He doesn’t need any help from His saints in giving anyone the Holy Spirit. Our job is to preach the Truth, God will take care of the Spirit baptizing.
It may seem that I am discrediting “laying on of hands.” I believe in it as it is written in the Word of God. But when the scriptures says “lay” I believe that it means lay -- not shake, massage, drag, pull nor any other rambunctious behavior. This also I know from personal experience, that a person can’t even begin to concentrate on communing with God when surrounded by people trying to pummel the Holy Ghost into him or her.
For those of us who already have knowledge about the baptism of the Holy Ghost, let’s trust God to keep His promise. If anyone is going to lay hands on anyone, let it be the elders of the Church. And let’s always endeavor to exercise our zeal with knowledge, the Bible as our guide. Remember, “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (I Corinthians 14:32). We’re often so consumed with not “quenching the Spirit” (I Thessalonians 5:19) that we sometimes neglect to quench the flesh.
I need to mention one more point, a very important point. Do not get hung up on the speaking with tongues. Receiving the Holy Spirit of God is much more than talking in tongues. When you receive the baptism of God's Spirit, do you realize what is happening? You are being plunged (baptized) into God's Spirit. In my own personal experience, my flesh trembled when God's Spirit came upon me. I quaked deep within my abdomen. God's Spirit is all the great spiritual fruits of love and joy and peace, and when His Spirit came upon me, I was consumed with all those spiritual fruits. I was laughing and crying at the same time, because I had never felt all that spiritual power and goodness flow through my body before. It's not just the speaking in tongues; it's a very powerful experience when you are born of the Spirit of God. (For the kingdom of God is not in word [whatever language], but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20) When a person is born of the flesh, it is a painful experience (rather you remember it or not). When a person is born of the Spirit, it is joy unspeakable and full of glory! The presence of God in the Lord Jesus Christ is coming upon you in the power of the Holy Ghost. It's the most powerful and great experience you will receive in this life until the resurrection. Don't settle for anything less. It's God's promise to you if you obey His word. I am so greatful to God in Christ Jesus for giving me His precious Spirit. I pray that everyone who is seeking the Lord in all sincerity will receive His Spirit. It is a mighty experience and you will have no doubts when it happens; no one will. But, you must have His Spirit when Jesus returns. If you don't, you will not have the power to rise to eternal life with Him. "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." (Romans 8:9-11)
Finally, if you aren't sure if you have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in you, I beg you to put seeking God at the top of your priority list. If you have received God's Holy Spirit, there will be no doubts in your mind; it is a powerful experience; don't accept a counterfeit. He has promised you that He will give you His Holy Spirit if you repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. You can have the most powerful experience in this age; it's a promise from God Almighty in Christ Jesus. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13) Just ask Him; you have to have His Spirit dwelling in you if you want to make it to His Kingdom. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Luke 13:24)