Young People's Group

Born of the Spirit

by Mitchell Tan
February 11, 2021

EVIDENCE OF BEING BORN OF THE SPIRIT

How does a person know whether he is born again or not? There will be definite evidence manifested in his life. They can be clearly observed and noted. This was something that the Lord Jesus taught as Nicodemus came to interact with Him. Even though he was a ruler of the Jews, he could not see beyond the physical earthly aspects of things. The Lord Jesus was teaching him to see beyond the visible physical and to the invisible spiritual. In order to see and be part of the Kingdom of God, he must be born again. There must be a spiritual and special experience of being born of the Spirit. What would be the result of this?

1. SPIRITUAL CONVERSION

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
John 3:6

The focus of what Jesus was teaching was not physical. Nicodemus was trying to come to terms with what Jesus had said. He thought that he had to enter once again into his mother’s womb and be reborn (John 3:4). The focus of what Jesus taught was on the spirit of a person. It is the soul that needs to go through the point of being born of the Spirit. It is a spiritual work that the Spirit of God has to do. The soul is meant to be specially regenerated by Him.

2. SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATION

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8

The work of the Spirit of God is compared to the wind blowing in the fields. The wind will go wherever it wants to go and you can hear it when it is blowing. It is invisible and yet you can see its effects. The work of the Spirit in a person’s life after being born again is also unmistakable. Its effects are observable.

REGENERATION AND RENEWING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD

“But according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”
Titus 3:5

Paul expanded on this idea of being born of the Spirit.

1. WASHING OF REGENERATION OF THE SPIRIT

The Spirit will bring about the washing and cleansing of sin. As we seek the Lord for forgiveness, there will be the sanctification and regeneration by the Spirit. This is the new birth in Christ.

2. RENEWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The word “renewing” has the idea of making something totally new. There will come newness of life that the Spirit of God gives. There will come faith and love in the Lord Jesus. There will be change in our lives from deep inside. The Holy Spirit will bring about a new nature and a new spirit within us. The Lord will bring about this evidence in our lives through His Spirit. Let’s seek the Lord and pray for the Spirit to be in us and to start working within us. Let’s seek Him till we are fully assured that we are born of the Spirit.

Back to Article Listing