What does the Bible mean by “we must be born again?” part 1

Hello everyone. There was a question posed and I will provide a response. The question comes from the book of Psalms which states: 17 The dead (in spirit filled with trespasses and sins) do not praise the LORD, nor do any (person) who go down (bodily into the grave and down, whose spirit goes down) into silence (Hades or the place of torment; this is not hell) Psalms 115:17 - words in brackets are mine to add clarity.

He's speaking of unbelievers, who are dead in trespasses and sins.

1 And you He made alive (why was it necessary for God to MAKE us alive, well read on) who were dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1

5 even WHEN WE WERE DEAD in trespasses (When were we all dead in trespasses? At conception!), MADE (are you hearing what God has said again, that believers are MADE, CREATED INTO, BORN AGAIN) us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved, (NO JOINS THE FAMILY OF GOD, either you are born into the family, or you are not a family member), Ephesians 2:5

Here's the biblical reference for those of you who are still struggling with the fact of being conceived in sin. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
Psalms 51:5

Okay folks, let me take you through the Bible concerning the new birth and why it is necessary.

1.      God is a Spirit. This mean that He is invisible and cannot be seen unless He reveals Himself. God has chosen to reveal Himself to His creation through His Son, Jesus Christ, which means that Jesus is the only visible part of God any of His creation will ever see. Christians do not worship three Gods as some say. The Bible declares that there is one God who co-equally exist in three distinct persons. Father-Son-Holy Spirit, with the Son being the only person of the Godhead to ever be and ever will be seen.

 15 He (Jesus) IS THE IMAGE (outward projection) OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, the firstborn (sovereign ruler) over all creation. Colossians 1:15              

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who (Jesus), being in the form of God (Jesus is God), did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, Philippians 2:5-6

It is not possible for anything that is created to be equal with the one who created it therefore Jesus must be God from eternity past through eternity future to be equal with God. 

23 But the hour is coming (after the resurrection), and now is (while Jesus is on earth), when the true worshipers (do you know that there are “false” worshipers of God? No, not the murderer, drunkard, rapist, and drug addict. I’m speaking of the religious people who think they are worshiping God but are still dead in trespasses and sins, just like the murderer, drunkard, rapist, and drug addict.) will worship the Father (How does the true worshipers, worship God? That’s a very important question. Let’s find out what the Bible says.) IN SPIRIT and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 GOD IS SPIRIT, and those who worship Him MUST (it is not optional. It doesn’t matter what we think or believe. God alone determines how mankind can truly worship Him and He says they MUST) worship (ME – GOD) in (their human) spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

16 Nevertheless when one (One’s what? One’s spirit) turns to the Lord, the veil (What veil? Jews would clearly understand this to be the veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and Temple) is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face (the Temple veil was torn when Christ was crucified), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam (Jesus Christ) became a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45

2.      The real you live inside of your body. That is how God created every person beginning with Adam. Listen to how God described it.

26 Then God said, “Let Us (Father-Son-Holy Spirit) make man in Our image (God is a Spirit therefore the first thing God created about man is a human spirit), according to Our likeness (the second being our Soul which the angels do not have. I will explain the soul later); let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth (this included the wind, rain, waters, sun, moon, etc. You say, how in the world do you know that? Well, the devil told me. No worries, I’ll explain that later too.) and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27

Whoa, whoa, whoa, where’s our bodies. Oh, sorry about that, I almost forgot, that came a little later in the day. Here it is, please pay close attention to what the Lord says. This is the proper way to interpret the Bible. You build scriptures upon scriptures to form biblical doctrine.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” Isaiah 28:10

Listen carefully to this: 7 And the LORD God FORMED MAN (man’s body, out) of the dust of the ground (Is the body alive at this time, alive in any way, form, or fashion? No, it is not and never will by itself. It is not until God took man’s spirit and soul), and breathed (God exhaled, the Greek word is nâp̱aḥ) into his nostrils the breath of life (What is this? It is the spirit and soul of man); and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

26 For as THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD (without life as life is only found in the human spirit which is made in the image of God), so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

Listen to the Apostle Paul: 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Here’s a few more references:

1 The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and FORMS THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM (within him? Yes, his body) Zechariah 12:1

22 Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?” Numbers 16:22

Notice that there are “spirits” in the flesh of all men.

9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? Hebrews 12:9

Peter declared that we are spending our time here upon the earth in our fleshly body. ​1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2

Do you now understand that mankind is a three-part being? Spirit first, then soul, then body.

Because of the great importance of this topic, it’s a matter of our eternal destination. I will stop here and allow you to read this post for a few days then continue. If you have questions about anything that I say, please feel free to message me or visit my website an email me from the contact me page. I will respond. It may not be right away because I do have a day job, but you will receive a proper respond. No question or comment is too simple or too hard, you will receive only what the Bible says void of my opinion. Please sign up for the newsletter if you visit to find out the latest books being written and teachings I have been conducting internationally.

Website: kevinjmadison.com

Until next time, take care.