There is a vast difference between Jesus being firstborn from the dead - meaning that he was the first one resurrected after his finished work on the cross, and being born again as his followers are to be.
Different words. Jesus was God. He did not need to be born again. His purpose was to die on the cross for our sins. Not in some made up scenario in hell, as the WoF teachers describe.
Words have meaning. And saying Jesus was born again is not in Scripture, and it twists the meaning of Col 1:18 and pulls it out of context.
"[SUP]15 [/SUP]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [SUP]17 [/SUP]And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [SUP]18 [/SUP]And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [SUP]20 [/SUP]and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.[SUP]21 [/SUP]And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [SUP]22 [/SUP]he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, " Col. 1:15-22
Looking more closely at Col 1:15
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" Col. 1:15 ESV
"ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως," Col. 1:15 Greek
πρωτότοκος or prototokos means "first born" The word emphasizes the pre-existance and uniqueness of Christ as well as His superiority over creation. This term does not indicate that Christ was a creation or a created being.
On "Born Again":
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:6-7 ESV
"τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστιν, καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστιν.μὴ θαυμάσῃς ὅτι εἶπόν σοι Δεῖ ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν." John 3:6-7 Greek
γεγεννημένον or gegennaenon, the first two instances mean "born," and is in the perfect passive tense. The above two verses mean:
"beget, give birth to, produce." Both are in the perfect tense, which conveys that which has been born and presently comes before us in a new light. This shows the necessity of a new birth in order to become children of God.
γεννηθῆναι or gevvathenai is the perfect passive participle and has the same root above and also means born. When paired with ἄνωθεν (anothen) it means "From above, a new beginning, again, anew). So born again!
So completely different words, in Col 1:15, and John 3:6-7. Completely different meanings.
This is why a teacher of the Word needs to know Greek. One WoF teacher started this lie, (Hagin? Copeland?) and the others swallowed it whole, just like the TV audience that watches these false teachers. Teachers are held to a higher standard than other Christians.
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." James 3:1 ESV
This is why I am so careful to exegete the text, read the meaning in both historical context and Biblical context, as well as really looking carefully at the words, the grammar and how they fit together.
This is why God instructs us to be discerning about how the Word of God is used. Twisting of Scriptures, saying one word means something totally different, because they don't understand the Greek or Hebrew is how false doctrines and heresies start.
Jesus was NOT born again, and no where in the Bible does it say that!
