Born From Above

Hearing and being taught from God is a necessary step in salvation

Joh 3:3 JesusG2424 answeredG611 andG2532 saidG2036 unto him,G846 Verily,G281 verily,G281 I sayG3004 unto thee,G4671 ExceptG3362 a manG5100 be bornG1080again,G509 he cannotG1410 G3756 seeG1492 theG3588 kingdomG932 of God.G2316

The word translated again is actually the same as from above in other verses It implies from the 1st or highest position of authority

Joh 3:31 He that comethG2064 from aboveG509 isG2076 aboveG1883 all:G3956 he that isG5607 ofG1537 theG3588 earthG1093 isG2076 earthly,G1537 G1093 andG2532 speakethG2980 ofG1537 theG3588 earth:G1093 he that comethG2064 fromG1537 heavenG3772 isG2076 aboveG1883 all.G3956

A person must be born through the teaching of God through Christ, from a higher position than man's teaching

One verse that makes this clear is from I John,

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Our understanding of eternal life must come through Christ, and that understanding requires walking in righteousness Not the righteousness of law but of the Gospel.

1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

The new birth is not belief only, it involves doing righteousness from the Gospel.

This is not legal righteousness from the law of Moses, but faith righteousness from Christ

Baptism is a righteousness from Christ not Moses, a righteousness of faith

Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Christ's baptism fulfilled a righteousness distinct from the law.

Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

That is, they heard and followed Christ through faith, Christ's teachings became their righteousness

It is that which we must submit to.

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

God's righteousness involves understanding.

1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Faith only groups see Christ's righteousness being imparted to us through the cross,but it is actually imparted through Christ's teaching as we submit to the Gospel, the cross being the center piece.

Since we must submit it isn't faith only.