July 25 2026, Saturday teachings
Born Again — The Recreation of Our Existence
A Consolidated Teaching on New Birth, Grace, the Word, the Holy Spirit, Knowledge, Deliverance, Renewal, and Christlikeness
Introduction: What Does “Recreation” Mean?
To recreate means to rebuild, restore, renew, re-establish, or bring something back into its intended condition.
Therefore, when we speak of “Born Again — the Recreation of Our Existence,” we are not merely talking about becoming a better person or changing our outward behavior.
We are talking about God bringing forth a new existence in Christ.
The problem of man is deeper than his actions. Sin has affected the heart, mind, desires, will, understanding, and relationship with God.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
— Romans 3:23
Therefore, the Gospel does not merely say, “Try harder.”
It says:
The old existence must give way to a new existence in Christ.
1. The Problem: The Old Existence
Before the new birth, man lives under the condition of the fallen existence.
Sin is not merely something a person occasionally does. Sin has affected the inner person.
It affects:
- the heart
- the mind
- the desires
- the will
- the thoughts
- the choices
- the relationship with God
Therefore, the fundamental problem is not simply:
“I did something wrong.”
The deeper problem is:
“Something is wrong within me.”
This is why external instruction alone cannot solve man's deepest problem.
A corrupt heart needs more than information.
It needs recreation.
2. Sin Broke Fellowship With God
God created man for fellowship with Himself.
But sin brought separation, corruption, and spiritual death.
Therefore, man's greatest problem is not merely:
- poverty
- lack of education
- society
- environment
- bad habits
These may be real problems, but beneath them is the deeper problem of sin and separation from God.
That is why God did not merely give humanity another set of rules.
He promised to do something within man.
3. The Promise of the New Covenant
One of the clearest descriptions is found in Ezekiel 36:26–27:
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you…”
And:
“I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes…”
This is the heart of recreation.
God promises:
New heart → New spirit → God's Spirit within → New ability to walk with God
The problem under the old existence was not that God's law was bad.
The problem was that man's heart was unable to faithfully live according to God's will.
Therefore, God promised an inward work.
Hebrews 8:10 says:
“I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.”
Under the New Covenant, God's truth is not merely outside the person as an external command.
God works inside the person.
4. Born Again: The Beginning of the New Existence
Jesus said:
“Ye must be born again.”
— John 3:7
He did not say merely:
“You must improve yourself.”
He said:
You must be born again.
Why?
Because the old existence cannot be transformed into God's intended life merely through human effort.
Paul explains:
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
This is recreation.
The new birth is therefore not simply a change of religion, habits, appearance, or lifestyle.
It is the beginning of new spiritual life in Christ.
5. Regeneration Is the Work of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
— John 3:6
Titus 3:5 describes:
“the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Therefore, the new birth is fundamentally a work of God through the Holy Spirit.
God does not merely repair the old life.
He gives new life.
The recreated life begins with God.
6. Grace Is the Environment of Transformation
Grace is not simply a period in which God overlooks everything we do.
Grace saves us, but grace also trains us.
Titus 2:11–12 teaches that God's grace trains us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly.
Therefore:
Grace does not give us permission to remain unchanged. Grace gives us the opportunity and power to be transformed.
We can say:
Salvation begins the journey.
Grace sustains the journey.
Transformation demonstrates the work of grace.
7. Born Again Is the Beginning, Not the End
Being born again is the beginning of the Christian journey.
Paul says:
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
— Philippians 2:12
This does not mean that we earn salvation by our works.
The very next verse gives the balance:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13
Therefore:
God works in us → we respond to His work → His salvation becomes increasingly visible in our lives.
The journey is:
New birth → growth → renewal → holiness → maturity → faithful perseverance
8. The Fulfillment of Ezekiel 36: A New Heart and a New Spirit
Ezekiel 36:26–27 gives us a beautiful picture of what God intends to accomplish.
Ezekiel 36:26
“A new heart also will I give you.”
The old heart is described as a stony heart.
God promises to remove the stony heart and give a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:27
“I will put my spirit within you.”
And notice the purpose:
“and cause you to walk in my statutes…”
This is important.
God does not merely give a new heart so that we can say, “I am saved.”
He gives a new heart and His Spirit so that we can increasingly walk according to His ways.
The promise is:
New heart → New spirit → God's Spirit within → God's ways become our way of life
9. The Holy Spirit Becomes Our Teacher
The recreated life requires tutorship under the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said:
“He shall teach you all things.”
— John 14:26
And:
“He will guide you into all truth.”
— John 16:13
Therefore, the Holy Spirit is not merely someone we receive as an experience.
He is the divine Teacher who teaches us how to live the new life.
He teaches us:
- how to think
- how to speak
- how to respond
- how to forgive
- how to resist temptation
- how to walk in holiness
- how to make decisions
- how to relate to people
- how to live under Christ's lordship
The Holy Spirit teaches us not only in a Bible study, but also in the circumstances of everyday life.
10. The Word and the Spirit Work Together
The Holy Spirit never needs to be separated from God's Word.
Jesus prayed:
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
— John 17:17
The pattern is:
The Word reveals truth.
The Spirit illuminates truth.
The believer receives truth.
The believer applies truth.
The truth transforms the believer.
The Holy Spirit is the Teacher, but the Word is the revealed standard of truth.
Therefore, every spiritual impression should be tested against Scripture.
11. The Word Is the Instrument of Recreation
James 1:18 says:
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth…”
And 1 Peter 1:23 speaks of being born again through:
“the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
Therefore, the Word does more than give information.
The Word:
- reveals
- exposes
- corrects
- cleanses
- instructs
- renews
- establishes truth
- reveals Christ
- teaches us God's ways
We can therefore describe the process as:
Word → Knowledge → Understanding → Conviction → Obedience → Transformation
12. “Learned Christ” — Ephesians 4:20–24
Paul says:
“But ye have not so learned Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:20
Notice that Paul does not merely say “learned about Christ.”
He says:
“learned Christ.”
The objective is not simply to collect information about Jesus.
The objective is to learn His character, His ways, His mind, His obedience, His love, and His life.
Paul then gives us the pattern:
1. Put Off the Old Man
“Put off concerning the former conversation the old man…”
— Ephesians 4:22
2. Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
— Ephesians 4:23
3. Put On the New Man
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
— Ephesians 4:24
This is the recreation process:
Put off → Renew → Put on
13. Recreation Must Become Visible
Paul immediately makes the teaching practical in Ephesians 4:25–32.
Old existence:
Lying
New existence:
Speak truth.
Old existence:
Uncontrolled anger
New existence:
Be angry, and sin not.
Old existence:
Stealing
New existence:
Work honestly and give to those in need.
Old existence:
Corrupt communication
New existence:
Speak words that edify and minister grace.
Old existence:
Bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking
New existence:
Kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.
This gives us an important principle:
The new existence must eventually become visible in the way we live.
14. The Goal Is Not Merely to Remove Sin
The Christian life is not simply:
“Stop doing this.”
“Stop doing that.”
“Remove this sin.”
“Remove that habit.”
That is part of the process, but it is not the ultimate goal.
The ultimate goal is:
Christ must be formed in us.
Paul says:
“until Christ be formed in you.”
— Galatians 4:19
Therefore:
Hatred → Love
Bitterness → Forgiveness
Pride → Humility
Deception → Truth
Impurity → Holiness
Rebellion → Obedience
Self-rule → Christ's rule
The old must decrease while Christ's character increases.
15. The Mind Must Be Renewed
Romans 12:2 says:
“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The new birth does not necessarily mean every old thought pattern disappears instantly.
The mind must continually be renewed by God's truth.
Therefore:
New birth → New identity → Renewed mind → Transformed desires → Transformed conduct
This is why personal study and meditation are essential.
16. The Word Must Move From Hearing to Living
There is a great difference between hearing a teaching and being transformed by that teaching.
We can:
- hear a sermon
- take notes
- understand the concept
- close the notebook
- continue living exactly as before
In that case, the Word has remained information.
James 1:22 says:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
Therefore:
Hearing → Understanding → Meditation → Application → Obedience → Transformation
The Word must move:
from the Bible → into the mind → into the heart → into our conduct.
17. Personal Study and Meditation
A teacher may introduce a truth.
A preacher may explain it.
But personal study allows the believer to search Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to apply that truth personally.
Meditation takes the Word deeper.
For example:
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.”
— Ephesians 4:32
Meditation asks:
- What does forgiveness mean in my situation?
- Who am I struggling to forgive?
- Why am I holding bitterness?
- What has Christ forgiven me?
- How should I respond differently?
Now the Word has moved from the page into the person.
That is where transformation begins.
18. Prayer Connects the Word to Our Life
Prayer should accompany study and meditation.
We can think of it this way:
Study gives understanding.
Meditation gives depth.
Prayer gives surrender and communion.
Obedience gives expression to the Word.
Together, these allow God's truth to become active in us.
19. Knowledge of God Brings Freedom
Jesus said:
“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
— John 8:32
This shows that there is a difference between hearing truth and knowing truth.
The process is:
Hearing → Understanding → Knowing → Applying → Freedom
The Word exposes what was hidden.
It helps us recognize:
- sinful patterns
- wrong thinking
- deception
- bondage
- temptation
- worldly thinking
- areas that need surrender
What we refuse to recognize, we cannot properly confront.
Therefore, truth brings hidden things into the light.
20. Knowledge Is Not Merely Information
Hosea 4:6 says:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
But biblical knowledge is not merely intellectual accumulation.
The important question is not simply:
“How many verses do I know?”
The deeper question is:
“How much of what I know has become part of the way I live?”
Knowledge becomes powerful when it is:
received → understood → believed → meditated upon → obeyed
Then knowledge becomes spiritual strength to:
- overcome sin
- resist the flesh
- reject worldliness
- discern deception
- walk in righteousness
- make godly decisions
- stand firm in temptation
21. Knowing About God vs. Knowing God
There is a profound difference between:
Knowing about God
and
Knowing God.
Jesus defined eternal life as:
“that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
— John 17:3
The goal of the recreated existence is therefore not merely to accumulate knowledge about God.
It is to know God personally and walk with Him.
The New Covenant promise is that God's people will know Him.
This is the knowledge that recreates the inner person.
22. The Educational System of the Holy Spirit
We can describe the spiritual formation process as an education under the Holy Spirit.
The world educates people in worldly knowledge.
But the believer is being educated in the knowledge of God.
The process is:
Word of God
↓
Teaching
↓
Holy Spirit's illumination
↓
Personal study
↓
Meditation
↓
Prayer
↓
Understanding
↓
Application
↓
Obedience
↓
Transformation
↓
Christlikeness
The purpose of this education is not merely:
“Know more.”
It is:
“Become more like Christ.”
23. The Holy Spirit Can Use God's Vessels
Ephesians 4:11–12 describes Christ giving ministers to equip His people.
Therefore, God can teach us through:
- apostles
- prophets
- evangelists
- pastors
- teachers
- other faithful servants
But the human vessel is not the ultimate Teacher.
The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher.
A human teacher may explain a principle.
The Holy Spirit takes that truth and applies it personally:
“This is the area in your life that needs to change.”
“This attitude needs to be surrendered.”
“You need to forgive.”
“This thought does not agree with Christ.”
This is where teaching becomes transformation.
24. Deliverance, Conversion, Renewal, and Translation
The recreated existence involves a continuing movement.
Born Again
New spiritual life begins.
Deliverance
The person is brought out from the dominion of darkness.
Conversion
The direction of life turns toward God.
Renewal
The mind and heart are progressively transformed.
Holiness
The believer increasingly lives according to God's character.
Translation
The believer is brought under a new dominion—the rule of Christ.
Colossians 1:13 says:
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
The contrast is powerful:
Darkness → Light
Bondage → Freedom
Old existence → New creation
Sin → Holiness
Self-rule → Christ's rule
25. Deliverance Is Not the Final Destination
Obadiah 1:17 says:
“But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness…”
Deliverance is important, but deliverance is not the final goal.
Deliverance makes room for holiness.
Holiness makes room for maturity.
Maturity produces faithful living.
Therefore:
God does not merely want to bring us out of something. He wants to bring us into something.
He brings us:
out of darkness → into light
out of bondage → into freedom
out of the old existence → into the new existence
out of self-rule → under Christ's rule
26. The Believer's Relationship With Creation
Spiritual knowledge also restores the proper order between the Creator, humanity, and creation.
The order is:
God — Creator and Lord
↓
Humanity — Steward under God's authority
↓
Creation — Entrusted to humanity's care
Genesis 1:26 speaks of humanity being given dominion.
But Genesis 2:15 clarifies that Adam was placed in the garden:
“to dress it and to keep it.”
Therefore, biblical dominion is not exploitation.
It is responsible stewardship under God.
We are not supposed to worship what God has entrusted to us.
Romans 1:25 describes the tragedy of worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator.
Therefore:
God is to be worshipped. Creation is to be stewarded.
Knowledge restores this proper order.
27. What Exactly Is Being Recreated?
This is one of the most important questions.
What is God recreating?
The focus is the whole inner person:
- heart
- mind
- desires
- will
- understanding
- character
- spiritual life
- conduct
The goal is not simply external religious behavior.
God is progressively shaping the believer according to the character and nature of Christ.
Romans 8:29 speaks of being:
“conformed to the image of his Son.”
Therefore:
The target of recreation is Christlikeness.
28. The Spirit Man and the New Existence
When we speak of the “spirit man,” the important biblical truth is that the believer's new spiritual life comes from God through the Holy Spirit.
The purpose is not simply to give a religious experience.
It is to establish a new way of living under the rule of Christ.
The recreated person increasingly develops:
- the values of Christ
- the character of Christ
- the holiness of Christ
- the obedience of Christ
- the love of Christ
The goal is that Christ becomes increasingly visible through the believer's life.
29. The Complete Process of Recreation
Here is the entire teaching in one continuous flow:
Old existence
↓
Sin and corruption
↓
Separation from God
↓
God's promise of a New Covenant
↓
Grace
↓
Repentance and faith in Christ
↓
New birth / Regeneration
↓
New heart — Ezekiel 36:26
↓
New spirit — Ezekiel 36:26
↓
God's Spirit within — Ezekiel 36:27
↓
New creation in Christ
↓
Deliverance from darkness
↓
Conversion
↓
Receiving the Word
↓
Knowledge of God
↓
Holy Spirit's tutorship
↓
Personal study
↓
Meditation
↓
Prayer
↓
Understanding and conviction
↓
Putting off the old man
↓
Renewing of the mind
↓
Putting on the new man
↓
Obedience
↓
Christ being formed in us
↓
Walking by the Spirit
↓
Holiness and purity
↓
Maturity and faithful endurance
↓
Living under Christ's rule
↓
Faithful perseverance to the end
↓
Entering His Kingdom
The Central Message
Born again is the recreation of our existence.
Man's old existence has been corrupted by sin and separated from God. Therefore, God promised a New Covenant in which He would give a new heart, put a new spirit within His people, and put His Spirit within them.
Through Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, the believer receives new life.
But the new birth is only the beginning.
Under grace, the believer enters a lifelong process of transformation. The Word of God becomes the foundation and instrument of this transformation, while the Holy Spirit becomes the divine Teacher who teaches us to understand, apply, and obey the truth.
The old man is progressively put off.
The mind is renewed.
The heart is purified.
The new man is put on.
Bondages are confronted.
Darkness is replaced by light.
Self-rule is replaced by Christ's rule.
Knowledge becomes conviction.
Conviction becomes obedience.
Obedience becomes character.
And the character of Christ increasingly becomes visible in the believer.
Therefore, the ultimate purpose is not simply that we can say:
“I was born again.”
It is that our entire existence increasingly testifies:
“Christ is being formed in me.”
One Complete Statement
“Born again is not merely the forgiveness of the old existence; it is the beginning of its recreation in Christ. God fulfills His promise by giving a new heart and a new spirit, placing His Spirit within us, and teaching us through His Word. Under the tutorship of the Holy Spirit, the believer learns Christ, receives the knowledge of God, recognizes the patterns of the old existence, confronts bondage, renews the mind, puts off the old man, and puts on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. Grace gives us the opportunity to work out the salvation God has begun in us. Through study, meditation, prayer, obedience, and walking in the Spirit, the truth becomes established in us and produces transformation. The purpose is not merely to possess knowledge, receive deliverance, or experience a new birth, but to be progressively conformed to the image of Christ, live under His rule, walk in holiness, faithfully endure to the end, and ultimately enter His Kingdom.”
The shortest expression of the whole teaching:
“The Word gives us the knowledge of God; the Holy Spirit teaches us that truth; obedience makes that truth visible; and through this process, the old existence is put away and Christ is progressively formed in us.”
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