[an error occurred while processing this directive] TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 5)
Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 5)
by Jody L. Apple
The Steps Of The New Birth -Part 'A'

When we began this series of articles, we examined the discussion that Jesus had with Nicodemus in John 3. In that discussion Jesus spoke of being "born again" and being "born of water and of the Spirit." We have discussed, at length, many different aspects of the meaning of this new birth.

We have observed that this birth allows us to enter the kingdom of God, that it includes immersion in water, and have spent the most time (in the second article, and thus far into the third and fourth articles) in showing how being "born of the Spirit" includes obedience to the word of God. We shall now turn to the specifics that are required for us to obey. And for that we will present two charts, one to be considered as part of this article (entitled - The Great Commission), and another in the next issue (entitled - Obeying The Great Commission), which should help us explain the Bible's teaching about salvation and the new birth in summary fashion.

The first chart, presented here (see links info below), is an overview of the commands given by Jesus known as "the great commission." In this chart the texts of Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 2: 44-49 and Acts 1:1-8 are compared with Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

By studying this chart we note that Jesus, who received all authority in heaven and earth following his resurrlus on (Matthew 28:18), gave specific commands to his apostles. These instructions included what, to whom, where, when, how and why the apostles were to preach. When you explore these passages (they are included in full, with the exception of Acts 2, at the bottom of the chart), you can easily see that Peter's message in Acts 2 was faithful to the commands of Christ as he instructed the apostles.

The second chart, Obeying The Great Commission, begins where the first one ends. It starts with the conversion of the Jews on the day of Pentecost and continues to investigate other cases of conversion in the book of Acts, as well as the conversions of the Romans, Galatians, Colossians and the Christians of the dispersion. By studying these two charts you can, at a glance, see what Jesus commanded the apostles (and ultimately all Christians) to teach, what the apostles did teach, and what people in the New Testament era obeyed in order to become Christians and inherit eternal life.

Please take the time to study the passages that are cited in each chart. Because of the general nature of the charts, as well as due to a lack of space on the charts themselves, it was impossible to mention every conceivable passage and cross reference that pertains to the great commission and our obedience to it.

Furthermore, these charts are not explained in fullest detail here, but they are in another article in this series. Thus, two charts will be used. Then, additional articles will be presented to explain what the charts mean and how they represent the Bible's teaching about the new birth. In order to get the most out of these lessons, please be sure to keep/file all of the articles in this series to study. You may want to go back and re-read all of the articles at once so that you can see how everything fits together.

Related links:

Chart: The Great Commission
http://www.TheBible.net/articles/chart-greatcomm.pdf

Chart: Obeying The Great Commission
http://www.TheBible.net/articles/chart-obeygreatcomm.pdf

See also:

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 1)

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 2)

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 3)

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 4)

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 5)

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 6)

TheBible.net: Born Again: What Does It Mean? (Part 7)


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