To be born again means to be born from above by God — the spiritual birth that is required for anyone to see or enter the kingdom Christ will set up on earth.
Jesus made this clear to Nicodemus in John 3: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Les Feldick explains that this is not the world's 'born-again' idea; it is an inner spiritual relationship with God that makes a believer part of the literal, physical, political kingdom that Christ will establish as King of kings and Lord of lords.
John 3:3 — Jesus explicitly tells Nicodemus that being born again is required to see the kingdom of God.
John 1:13 — Describes believers as those who are born not by natural means but by God, defining the nature of the new birth.
In John's Gospel, when Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The Bible thus ties the new birth directly to entering the kingdom. John's Gospel also says of believers, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." The new birth is a birth that comes from God, not from human descent or human will.
Les Feldick teaches that the biblical phrase "born again" is better understood as "born from above." He prefers that wording because the world has misused the term — he mentions Chrysler Corporation and losing sports teams having a "born-again experience," which is not what the Bible talks about. The real meaning is an inner spiritual relationship with God that makes a person part of the literal, physical, political kingdom that Christ will set up on earth when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. No unbeliever will enter that kingdom, so believers must be born from above. Les connects this to Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter 3, and to John 1:13, where believers are described as "born... of God" — not by blood or human will. He also notes that throughout Scripture there is only one kingdom, the one Christ will establish on earth.
Les uses "born from above" because the term "born-again" has been picked up by the world and applied to everything from Chrysler Corporation to losing sports teams. He says that is not what the Bible is talking about. The real birth is spiritual: a person who is spiritually dead and has no concept of God must first believe what the Bible says — "I'm a sinner" — and the believer is then "born... of God," as John 1:13 says.
Jesus told Nicodemus that except a man be born again, he cannot see or enter the kingdom. Les points to this exchange as the basis for separating those who will go into the kingdom from those who will not. He explains that "born again" or "born from above" means having an inner spiritual relationship with God, which is what makes a person part of the coming kingdom.
Les is clear: no unbeliever will go into the kingdom. He applies this to the survivors of the tribulation: after Armageddon, the surviving peoples of all nations are separated, with believers going in and unbelievers kept out. The believers who enter include a large group of Jews, who become the nation of Israel in the kingdom, and a small number of Gentiles from every nation — the seed stock, as Les puts it, of the Gentile nations.
Les teaches that throughout Scripture there is only one kingdom — the kingdom that Christ will set up on earth when He returns to become King of kings and Lord of lords. This is a literal, physical, political kingdom, not merely a spiritual idea. He notes the disciples' question to the risen Lord, "Wilt Thou restore again the kingdom to Israel?" as showing that the promised kingdom is an earthly kingdom and the same kingdom referenced in the conversation with Nicodemus.
The Disciples and the Promised Kingdom
Les observes that when the disciples asked Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel, He did not ridicule the idea — showing that the kingdom is a literal earthly kingdom connected to Israel.
Nicodemus and the Kingdom
Les applies Jesus' words to Nicodemus — except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom — to show that no unbeliever will enter that earthly kingdom.
Born Again Means an Inner Spiritual Relationship
Les explains that "the kingdom is within you" refers to the inner spiritual relationship with God needed to become part of the literal kingdom coming on earth.
The Separation of Believers and Unbelievers
Les uses John 3 to show why believers and unbelieving tribulation survivors had to be separated at Matthew 25 — believers enter the kingdom, unbelievers do not.
The One Kingdom and the Inner Spiritual Relationship
Les repeats his explanation that the inner spiritual relationship is what fits a person for the literal, physical, political kingdom Christ will set up on earth.
Born From Above
Les prefers "born from above" to "born again" because the world's usage is not biblical; being spiritually dead, the first step of faith is believing the Bible's verdict that you are a sinner.
No Unbeliever Enters the Kingdom
Les applies John 3 to Israel: if Israel had repented, no unbelieving Jew would go in, but no unbeliever will ever enter the kingdom.
Believers Are Born of God
Les reads John 1:13 to show believers are "born ones" — not born of blood, flesh, or human will, but of God.
John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
This is the verse Jesus spoke to Nicodemus that forms the basis of the born-again teaching.
John 1:13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This verse shows that the new birth is not by human descent or will, but is a birth from God.
Les Feldick says the biblical phrase is better understood as "born from above." He uses that phrase because the world has taken "born-again" and applied it to everything from Chrysler Corporation to winning sports teams. The real meaning is the spiritual birth that makes believers part of the kingdom, since no unbeliever will enter it.
Jesus was speaking about the kingdom: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Les explains that a person must have an inner spiritual relationship with God to become part of the literal, physical, political kingdom Christ will set up on earth.
No. Les is emphatic that no unbeliever will ever go into the kingdom. He applies this to the survivors of the tribulation in Matthew 25, where believers go in and unbelievers are kept out.
John 1:13 says believers are "born... of God" — not by blood, not by the will of the flesh, not by the will of man. Les describes these as the "born ones" who enter the family of God through faith.
Watch the Teaching: Who Goes Into the Kingdom? What the Bible Really Says