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John 1:12-13 reads:
This video is going to focus on both why and how someone is born of God.
First of all let us define what it is to be born of God.
First in the book of John it says:
I am making the assumption that being 'born form above' is the same as being 'born of God'.
If this is true than being born of God is being able to see the kingdom of God.
Next in 1st John we are told:
Here being born of God includes abstaining from a life of sin.
And lastly:
Here being born of God is overcoming the world through our faith.
So we see being born of God is clearly spiritual, not natural.
So first of all why are people born of God?
Verse 12 says "all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name".
This shows that receiving and believing are used interchangeably.
Now to receive something you first have to be presented with it.
Jesus is being presented to all.
Verse 12 mentions those who received God's grace, but hear verse 11:
These men resisted God's grace by failing to receive Christ.
God has given people the ability to choose if they will serve him or not:
Genuinely choosing to receive Christ is not able to create the spiritual.
The power behind being spiritually born of God is only from God.
This is how we are born of God.
Verse 13 shows us that the spiritual birth is not accomplished through our flesh and blood, or because of our decision to receive Christ.
John is teaching that being born of God is a genuine act of God, and not something manufactured by man.
Though not to confuse people into thinking they have no part in their salvation, he makes it clear that Christ is someone they must receive in order to be born of God.
I will close with another verse of John: