What Does "Born Again" Mean?

The Christian Post ^ | September 19, 2013 | James R. Aist

[James R. Aist]

Many in the Christian church today have, at best, a rudimentary understanding of what Jesus was talking about when he said "You must be born again." False teachers are often quick to invent their own concept of "born again" apart from sound biblical information, so be careful to compare what they teach to the Word of God. A good grasp of the biblical teaching on this subject is important to the understanding of how God saves people and transforms their lives – the very essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[James R. Aist]

Do you know what Jesus meant when He said, "You must be born again." Are you born again?

[SADMILLIE]

Excellent question. It simply means that you accept that Jesus is the Son of God and HE died on the cross and rose from the dead for all your sins,past present and future, BORN AGAIN!! John 3:16. Simple.

[HarleyD]

Excellent article. I think of Peter's response:

Joh 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

If this is what one truly believes, and they can honestly say they know, then they are born again. But it is a question each of us must ask ourselves.

[OrangeHoof]

Paul says we were dead in our trespasses and sins. To be born again is to be made alive (spiritually) through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross that restored our fellowship with the Almighty.

[yldstrk]

It has been grossly taken out of context by Protestants

[lquist1]

Simple; born once, die twice. Born twice, die once.

[A CA Guy]

Agreed and that would happen at some time by personal choice, not as a child IMO.

[onthelookout777]

The gospel (good news) of eternal salvation:

The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who died on the cross as our substitute.

He paid the penalty for our sins.

He took the punishment that we deserve.

God’s provision of eternal salvation is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8,9).

God, through Jesus Christ, did everything.

All you do is accept that free gift.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

The Bible explains how to be saved (how to receive the free gift of eternal salvation):

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVES in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He who BELIEVES on him is not condemned: but he who does not BELIEVE is condemned already, because he has not BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 4:5
But to the one who does not work, but BELIEVES in Him who justifies the ungodly, his FAITH is reckoned as righteousness

Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by FAITH without the deeds of the law

John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to BELIEVE in the one he has sent.”

John 6:47
(Jesus Christ said) He who BELIEVES in me has everlasting life.

Acts 16:31
BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved

Acts 10:43
Every one who BELIEVES in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

John 11:25-26
(Jesus Christ said) I am the resurrection and the life. He who BELIEVES in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and BELIEVES in me will never die. Do you BELIEVE this?

[James R. Aist]

Yes, indeed.

[James R. Aist]

Amen.

[James R. Aist]

I agree.

[James R. Aist]

Yes, indeed, it does mean that.

[1010RD]

Why baptize then?

[Bruinator]

Oh, pleased clarify to relieve any suspense from this deep and thoughtful statement.

[GeronL]

lolz

What a farce

[yldstrk]

you all that stuff, walk up to complete strangers and ask: “Have you been born again?” and so on and so forth, never made sense to me even when I was a Methodist

[Zuriel]

**John 3:16. Simple.**

“..whosoever believeth in him...”.

Jesus Christ taught in John 3:3,5-8 his instructions on how to be born again. 3:16 is simply a condensed closing statement on his previous commands.

vs. 8. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou HEAREST the SOUND thereof, but canst NOT tell whence it cometh, whither it goeth: so is EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit”.

Those that hear his words, and keep (obey) them have eternal life.

[Bruinator]

Ok. I guess. I think that is what speaking and spreading the word is all about. Paul didn’t know who he would be speaking to on his journey’s. He just did it as he was driven to do.

[SoConPubbie]

Do you know what Jesus meant when He said, "You must be born again." Are you born again?

I think the best example, the most clear example, can be found in Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Romans is really the handbook for finding God, or Salvation, or being Born Again, or the New Birth as John Wesley called it.

Romans chapter 7 and 8, where Paul, speaking in the third person, is a very clear "definition". In Chapter 7, Paul, talks about a man who has become aware, or awakened to his need. His utter sinfulness, his utter helplessness to stop sinning, his utter helplessness to help himself in anyway. This chapter also makes it clear that he is condemned, and that his condemnation is the fault of his sin. At the close of Chapter 7, that sinner starts to turn to God, to Jesus for help, not knowing anywhere else to go.

Romans chapter 8 starts with verse 1 where Paul states that "Now there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus". This man has found Salvation, he has been born again!

Where there is no condemnation, there can be no sin, because sinning is what brought the condemnation.

So the work of God wrought in this man who basically fell on Jesus and asked him for deliverance include both the forgiveness of his past sins, and deliverance from the power that that sin had over his soul.

Furthermore, farther down in chapter 8, Paul states that "His Spirit witnesses with our spirit, that we are the children of God". So not only does he forgives us, and gives us power over our sin, but he goes further and cements this new birth with Knowledge, given by God himself.

So, if we are walking in his grace, we should not only believe that we are saved, but if, in truth, we are saved, we should know it as well.

And as further proof, that in this New Birth experience, this being "Born Again" includes a change in the inner man, or regeneration, please consider the following:

II Corithinthians 5:17-19
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

[Vision]

Born again simply means experienced in life to me.

You have lived through your earthly instincts and pleasures to realize that to live for Christ is where true happiness, peace, and direction lie.