It is interesting to note that the word, "born again" is not just a Christian word. It is synonymous with the term, "born of the spirit". Before there was anything like Christianity, Jesus made use of both terms. They mean the same thing. Christianity has simply embraced it deeply and shouted it from the rooftops, as it were, the loudest.
For example, in his talk with Fortune, who is popularly known as, "The Young Man Who Was Afraid", Jesus, our Master Son said, "This day, my son, you are to be reborn, re-established as a man of faith, courage, and devoted service to man, for God’s sake. And when you become so readjusted to life within yourself, you become likewise readjusted to the universe; you have been born again—born of the spirit—and henceforth will your whole life become one of victorious accomplishment..." - Urantia Book (UB) 130:6.4
Right there, we see that to be born again is to be reborn, born of the spirit.
The indwelling spirit Thought Adjuster, working with other spiritual influences like the Holy Spirit (Mother Spirit), immerses the soul in the spiritual waters of God. Hence, the term, "baptism of the spirit" comes in play: "...The new birth—the baptism of the spirit..." (Urantia Book 148:4.8)
I find it very interesting to note that the new birth experience or born again experience is associated with the Universe Mother Spirit (a.k.a. Holy Spirit) in Urantia Book Paper 34 (34:6.4, 34:6.7, 34:7.7) and in Paper 103 (103:2.1). In these texts, the Revelators said, "born of the Spirit". That's "Spirit" with a capital letter S. However, in the Jesus Papers, that same experience is narrated with a small letter s for spirit - alluding to the spirit fragment of the Universal Father, our Thought Adjusters. As a result, we see Jesus saying, "born of the spirit"; for example, in his talk with Fortune (130:6.4) and with Nicodemus (142:6.7). In his talk with Nicodemus, Jesus introduced a new term for the same experience. He said, "born from above" in 142:6.4 & 142:6.5.
A key takeaway for me is that the spiritual transaction of immersing the soul in the spiritual waters of God, a.k.a. baptism of the spirit, new birth, born again, spirit-born, reborn... ...is chiefly carried out by the Creative Mother Spirit (via the spiritual circuitry of the Holy Spirit) and the Thought Adjuster, the still, small voice within, the Father fragment. This, to me, explains why the UB Revelators referred to the same experience as, "born of the Spirit" and as, "born of the spirit". Interesting! π❤️ππΎπ
Love! Light! Life! ππ❤️
- Brother Karo Akamune
ChristMichaelCenter.org
karo.quora.com
YouTube.com/ChristMichaelCenter
NB:
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
Urantia Book 150:5.1-3
One evening at Shunem, after John’s apostles had returned to Hebron, and after Jesus’ apostles had been sent out two and two, when the Master was engaged in teaching a group of twelve of the younger evangelists who were laboring under the direction of Jacob, together with the twelve women, Rachel asked Jesus this question: “Master, what shall we answer when women ask us, What shall I do to be saved?” When Jesus heard this question, he answered:
“When men and women ask what shall we do to be saved, you shall answer, Believe this gospel of the kingdom; accept divine forgiveness. By faith recognize the indwelling spirit of God, whose acceptance makes you a son of God. Have you not read in the Scriptures where it says, ‘In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.’ Also where the Father says, ‘My righteousness is near; my salvation has gone forth, and my arms shall enfold my people.’ ‘My soul shall be joyful in the love of my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and has covered me with the robe of his righteousness.’ Have you not also read of the Father that his name ‘shall be called the Lord our righteousness.’ ‘Take away the filthy rags of self-righteousness and clothe my son with the robe of divine righteousness and eternal salvation.’ It is forever true, ‘the just shall live by faith.’ Entrance into the Father’s kingdom is wholly free, but progress—growth in grace—is essential to continuance therein.
“Salvation is the gift of the Father and is revealed by his Sons. Acceptance by faith on your part makes you a partaker of the divine nature, a son or a daughter of God. By faith you are justified; by faith are you saved; and by this same faith are you eternally advanced in the way of progressive and divine perfection. By faith was Abraham justified and made aware of salvation by the teachings of Melchizedek. All down through the ages has this same faith saved the sons of men, but now has a Son come forth from the Father to make salvation more real and acceptable.”
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