Tape One - You Must Be
Born Again
Listen Online
This first tape in the series is loaded with enough
information to spark a revolution. It has the potential to
transform the heart and mind and release the peace and joy
believers long for in their Christian experience. You will
want to listen to it over and over again.
Mike Williams begins by talking about the fact that
there are literally thousands of different Christian
groups and belief systems in the world. This brings up the
obvious but seldom stated question: With such massive
division in Christendom might there be something
fundamentally wrong with Christianity itself? There is and
Mike opens our minds to that fact. Instead of adding to
the ongoing debate and arguments between the differing
Christian groups, he challenges the fundamentals of
Christianity itself! He questions the very logic that is
propelling these hundreds of belief systems and then goes
on to propose that THEY ARE ALL WRONG!
I think he’s right. They are all wrong! See
what you think. Perhaps we should be rethinking the
fundamentals of Christianity itself.
There does however, seem to be one unifying bond in
Christendom – the concept that "you must be born
again." Jesus said, "Unless a man be born again
he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Each
denomination and Christian belief system then goes on to
teach the requirements of what constitutes being
"born again" (believing, believing and
speaking in tongues, being baptized, how and when you get
baptized, living a fruitful life, being filled with the
spirit, not sinning any more, etc.). The division and
disunity among the groups multiplies.
After teaching us what is really meant by being
born again (it’s not what you think) Mike raises this
incredible idea: Is it possible that the requirement to be
BORN AGAIN was met by Jesus himself ON BEHALF OF THE
ENTIRE HUMAN RACE.
Mike is constantly bringing us face to face with
various church teachings and doctrines that suddenly seem
suspect. For example: most Christian groups equate believing
in Jesus with being born again. Mike points out
that indeed, believing is a concept in the Bible. The need
to be born again is likewise in the Bible. But alas,
nowhere are the two concepts connected together. I
always thought you had to BELIEVE to be BORN AGAIN and
that the Bible taught as much. WRONG!
What exactly does being born again or born from above
mean? Mike teaches us. It is not what you were taught in
Sunday School. You might even get mad. Perhaps you should
get mad.
The Christian religions teach being born again as
follows: Your first birth was the natural one, coming out
of your mother’s womb into this world on your birthday
(in your case the doctor slapped your mother – joke
insert). The second birth, the one called being born again,
takes place when you believe in Jesus, or get
baptized, or whatever. This "whatever" would
depend on the particular church institution you were
aligned with. Mike shows us very clearly that this idea is
totally foreign to the Bible. WHAT!?
We get a new perspective on what fleshly and earthly,
heavenly and spiritual really mean. Again, its not what
people are taught. Fleshly is not sex, drugs and rock ‘n
roll. Spiritual is not saying your prayers and going to
church and tithing and keeping the 10 commandments (as if
you ever could) and on and on.
Once again the Christian religion has been feeding us
lies. When you begin to really understand what these terms
mean you will most likely come to the conclusion Mike
does: Evangelical Christianity’s definition of being
born again is NOT IN THE BIBLE.
The teaching on this series turns most of Christianity
upside down. After clearly showing us what being born
again or born from above means Mike raises this
Galileo-like question: Does believing get you born again
OR does being born again make a believer out of you. This
answer to this question will ROCK your religious world!
Yes, those who are "born of the flesh" or are
"worldly, earthly, or carnal" have no hope.
Indeed, you must be BORN AGAIN – from above –
of the spirit. But, born of the flesh is not referring to
your birthday. And being born of the spirit is not when
you say the sinners prayer or get baptized and speak in
tongues. WOW! Mike is very clear. The teaching is sound.
Born of the flesh are those in Adam. Born of the spirit
are those in Christ. Man did not have to believe to be
"in Adam" they were just born that way.
Likewise, man does not have to believe to be "in
Christ" they are just born-again that way.
WOW!
The psychology of this Christian revolution is
profound. Mike asks, "Which would be more mentally
and emotionally stabilizing":
- God making you righteous and perfect in his eyes,
you finding about it and then believing, OR…
- You being required to believe, by being dangled over
hell, and then by believing becoming righteous?
The answer is obvious. The ramifications of what Mike
is teaching are socially revolutionizing.
If you accept this teaching it becomes clear that our
task now becomes the glorious work of sharing with the
world that they have already been redeemed and born
again from heaven. You will never read 2Corinthians
5:16 – 21 the same way again. We have a gospel
revolution on our hands folks! IT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!
The teaching Mike brings from 1Corinthians Chapter 15
is the best I’ve ever heard. He ties it in beautifully
with John 3 and the teaching on being born again. The
clarity we gain about the "Resurrection of the
Dead" is amazing. Again the terms flesh and spirit,
earthly and heavenly come in sharp focus. When you listen
to the teaching on the First and Last Adam all will
come together in your thinking – as ALL were effected by
both.
First the natural then the spiritual – this is not a
personal salvation deal. Adam is "of the earth"
and came first. Jesus is the man from heaven and
came second – a life giving spirit. Mike throws
the whole "Jesus is my personal savior" nonsense
out the window. It is NOT in the Bible. The problem is not
that people are not redeemed and accepted by God, the
problem is that they DON’T KNOW IT. The Law revealed the
condition of sin, which existed before the Law was given,
it did not impart sin. Likewise the TRUE GOSPEL reveals
the condition of righteousness which now exists for ALL
thanks to Jesus Christ the WORLD Savior.
Modern day Christianity is waiting for the last trumpet
to sound. Mike shows us that the last trump blew 2000
years ago at the end of the "world" (ages –
see Hebrews 9:26 and original language) and in the
twinkling of an eye we were changed – out of Adam
and into Christ (translated out of darkness into the
kingdom of light). Death has been (past tense) swallowed
up in victory, the victory of the cross.
What produces a born again believer according to
Mike? Revealed righteousness NOT required righteousness
– showing people that God loves them, not dangling them
over hellfire. WOW! Mike has us doing a 180 – and loving
it. You MUST be born again and you ARE! So is your
neighbor. Go tell ‘em.