what does it mean to be a born again christian ?

siddhikoli · Jul 11, 2022

Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by baptism in the Holy Spirit, it is not caused by baptism in water. It is a core doctrine of the denominations of the Anabaptist, Moravian, Methodist, Quaker, Baptist, Plymouth Brethren and Pentecostal Churches along with all other evangelical Christian denominations. All of these Churches strongly believe Jesus' words in the Gospels: "You must be born again before you can see, or enter, the Kingdom of Heaven." Their doctrines also mandate that to be both "born again" and "saved", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

John 3:3

King James Version

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.

John 3:7

King James Version

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

ForestGreenCook · Jul 11, 2022

siddhikoli said:

Being born again to a new spiritual life comes unnoticed, as explained by Jesus in John 3:8 Conversion, on the other hand, comes in with pomp and excitement, such as Paul's experience on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:3-7.
How we are born again to a new spiritual life is explained in Eph 2:1-5. When a person is spiritually dead, with no ability to discern spiritual things, God quickens them by his sovereign grace, without any actions on man's part.

Webers.Home · Jul 11, 2022

.
God has only one offspring to His name. In something like six verses (there
may be more) Jesus is described as God's sole progeny; so it must be that all
the rest of God's sons obtained their position another way.

The Spirit birth about which Jesus spoke at John 3:3-8 doesn't produce offspring
for God. The process is actually regeneration, i.e. an act of God-- God's handiwork
--which is very different than producing offspring.

• 2Cor 5:17 . . If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature

• Gal 6:15 . . For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creature.

After regeneration (or perhaps simultaneously) the new creations undergo
adoption into God's home.

• Gal 4:4-5 . .When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His
son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

• Eph 1:5 . . Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will

Adopted children are entitled to the same rights and privileges afforded a
family's natural children; including the right to be identified by their adoptive
father's name, viz: I started out as a son of Adam, now I'm a son of God,
i.e. one of His begotten son's many siblings.

• Rom 8:15-17 . . For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit himself corroborates with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
_

Amanuensis · Jul 11, 2022

siddhikoli said:

This definition is rather odd. Jesus told his disciples that they were forgiven, that they had eternal life, that their names were written down in heaven, and He even breathed upon them to receive the Holy Spirit all before the day of Pentecost which He said was specifically for power to be a witness and not to make them born again.

I think whoever wrote that definition is confused about the difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and being born again. But that is why we have so many denominations I suppose.

I was born again and several months later after reading the book of Acts I prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I also became a powerful witness and preached in the prison chapel and several hundred came forward to receive Christ. This was a result of the power from on high and not from my natural gifts or abilities. This is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit will produce. It makes you a witness operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, it does not make you born again which happens prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I think the Assemblies of God has gotten closer to the truth on how to explain this.

https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/Baptism-in-the-Holy-Spirit

JohnDB · Jul 11, 2022

siddhikoli said:

Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by baptism in the Holy Spirit, it is not caused by baptism in water. It is a core doctrine of the denominations of the Anabaptist, Moravian, Methodist, Quaker, Baptist, Plymouth Brethren and Pentecostal Churches along with all other evangelical Christian denominations. All of these Churches strongly believe Jesus' words in the Gospels: "You must be born again before you can see, or enter, the Kingdom of Heaven." Their doctrines also mandate that to be both "born again" and "saved", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

John 3:3

King James Version

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.

John 3:7

King James Version

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Or it could be part of a marketing campaign of the evangelical crowd that was based on poorly and inaccurate translated scripture....

But then people would get all upset about that....with a Ton of self righteousness to go with it.

ResidentAlien · Jul 11, 2022

siddhikoli said:

What do you mean exactly by "baptism in the Holy Spirit?"

The_Watchers_2017 · Jul 11, 2022

Titus 3:5 explains what happens the best

esv
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

kjv
He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

tlv
He saved us through the mikveh of rebirth and renewing of the Ruach ha-Kodesh

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

ForestGreenCook said:

Man must make the decision to accept before being born again. All who neglect to yield their lives to Jesus will go to Hell. All must come to the light to receive salvation.

John 3

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

ResidentAlien said:

The moment a man yields his life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters into that man and abides in him.

John 14:16

16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

Amanuensis said:

No confusion whatsoever. One receives the Spirit when they are born again. There is no third birth.

Runningman · Jul 11, 2022

siddhikoli said:

Your first birth was a natural birth from your mother. Your “born again” birth consists of water and Spirit. Water is water baptism and Spirit is the Holy Spirit.

John 3:5
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

Webers.Home said:

Yes. Amen.

ResidentAlien · Jul 11, 2022

The_Watchers_2017 said:

Titus 3:5 explains what happens the best

esv
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

kjv
He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

tlv
He saved us through the mikveh of rebirth and renewing of the Ruach ha-Kodesh

That's a good passage.

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

Runningman said:

Yes. And every living person on this Earth has already been born of water. God's first gift was life itself, which opens the door to the opportunity to enter into a renewed fellowship with God. It is obvious why we must be born of water before we can experience the second birth.

Runningman · Jul 11, 2022

oyster67 said:

The key word is “again.” As in a second time. If a natural birth is water birth, as you say, Nicodemus was right; a man can enter into his mother a second time and come out again. Jesus disagreed with Nicodemus.

By process of elimination, being born again of water can’t be a flesh birth. It’s water baptism.

XavierJesusLovesIndia · Jul 11, 2022

I believe in Baptismal Regeneration. We are saved by Grace through Faith in Baptism. Even Martin Luther and Billy Graham held this position, beside St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, the whole Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople etc. The Bible often declares, and the Creed lifted this line from the Bible: "Baptism is for the remission of sins". It is not a mere symbol.

Acts 2:38"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Wiki has more here: "One author from the Churches of Christ describes the relationship between faith and baptism this way, "Faith is the reason why a person is a child of God; baptism is the time at which one is incorporated into Christ and so becomes a child of God" (italics are in the source).[5]

"Section 1215 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "This sacrament [baptism] is also called 'the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,' for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one 'can enter the kingdom of God.' (Titus 3:5)"

Martin Luther elaborated the regeneration and the saving power in Baptism:

It is not the water that does them, indeed, but the Word of God which is in and with the water, and faith which trusts this Word of God in the water... [22]

Lutheranism affirms baptismal regeneration,[23][24][25] believing that baptism is a means of grace, instead of human works, through which God creates and strengthens faith.[26][27][28]

Lutherans believe that the Bible shows how Christians are connected through baptism with Christ and the new life Christ's work gives us.[28][29] The Bible's author uses the picture of cleansing to show how baptism applies Jesus Christ's saving work to receivers.[30] Lutherans believe that the Bible depicts the connection between faith, baptism and being clothed with Christ. The result of the connection is that Christians are children of God with all the rights, privileges and blessings that go with that status.[31] Lutherans state that in his letter to Titus, Paul introduces the work of the Holy Spirit, again linking baptism, new life, and the blessings Jesus has won.[32] Lutheran scholars concluded that in the Scripture:

we see that baptism is not a mere symbol of what God does for us. It is not just a ceremony done to connect someone outwardly to a church. God is at work through baptism. He is connecting us to Christ's death and resurrection. All of his mercy and grace are directed at the person being baptized. The Holy Spirit is giving the new life of faith in Jesus. The results are amazing: buried and raised with Christ; clothed with Christ; washed clean of sin; a forgiven, believing child of God; an heir of eternal life."

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptismal_regeneration

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

Runningman said:

Your argument is devoid of logic as well as truth. The first birth is a natural birth, and the second birth is a spiritual birth.

Pilgrimshope · Jul 11, 2022

siddhikoli said:

“that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit.”

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

when we accept the word of the gospel we’re excepting the spirit that changes us within the mind and heart were transformed in the spirit of the mind

“But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:20-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the old sinner that first came to Jesus accepts the gospel his word his teachings and this changes the sinful corrupted mind and forms the mind of Gods son in our hearts . The corruption leads us that’s why we sin , the gospel is able to replace the corrupt knowledge with the truth of God so that spirit leads us home rather than the sinners spirit leading us to sin and death

we’re born through Jesus word in the gospel that changes our faith what we believe about God and man from erroneous to truth so we can be saved

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

For All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:22-25‬ ‭

The phrase born again is referring to the transformation of the knowledge in the gospel and how it can put to death our sinful ways and teach us to walk upright lives pleasing to God

like anything when mankind learns we learn from words three carry knowledge as we learn new knowledge of any subject it changes how our mind works Regarding the subject

for instance if one wanted to become a doctor we start out needing to hear the information and knowledge found and conveyed through words

as the Ned student learns the new information thier mind is changing how they think about medicine is transforming from the words in the books and then oracticing what they are learning

eventually the persons mind retains the knowledge they learned and now they don’t need to look at the book when a thought arises the knowledge is imprinted upon thier mknd and heart they know in tbier renewed mind how to perform medical procedures

thier mknd has been changed from normal person to a doctor now thier knowlefge is different from what it used to be they have been changed in thoer mknds me this changes what actions are coming out of them

born again is a reference to the change that happens when we really hear and believe the gospel

old man to new man old mind to. Eve mind old corrupt best to new clean heart this happens by the knowledge of Jesus Christ poured out in the fisoel that’s why salvstion can be summarized like this

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Hearing and believing the gospel is salvstion because it renews the formerly corrupt knowledge on our mind

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We’re renewed by the knowledge of Christ we’re supposed to conform to the gospel because that’s the Will of God what Jesus told us to do

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

as we learn the knowledge Jesus preached if we accept and believe him d don’t reject him in our minds he’s able to change our thinking , understanding and grasp of the true things of God

we’re born again when we accept the truth of the gospel

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:18

this is the word of truth

“Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

to know the truth we need to do this

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The word of life and no condemnation

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

being born again or being “ reborn “ is about our understanding of God. Remember how man was led astray in Eden he was given the wrong knowledge and man became sinners

the gospel is the right knowledge that redeems us from sin it’s a reference to the transformation the gospel is able to accomplish in a believer . The death of a sinner and the birth of a child of God formed t be ugh the gospel of Jesus Christ the only son

oyster67 · Jul 11, 2022

Pilgrimshope said:

“that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit.”

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

when we accept the word of the gospel we’re excepting the spirit that changes us within the mind and heart were transformed in the spirit of the mind

“But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:20-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the old sinner that first came to Jesus accepts the gospel his word his teachings and this changes the sinful corrupted mind and forms the mind of Gods son in our hearts . The corruption leads us that’s why we sin , the gospel is able to replace the corrupt knowledge with the truth of God so that spirit leads us home rather than the sinners spirit leading us to sin and death

we’re born through Jesus word in the gospel that changes our faith what we believe about God and man from erroneous to truth so we can be saved

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

For All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:22-25‬ ‭

The phrase born again is referring to the transformation of the knowledge in the gospel and how it can put to death our sinful ways and teach us to walk upright lives pleasing to God

like anything when mankind learns we learn from words three carry knowledge as we learn new knowledge of any subject it changes how our mind works Regarding the subject

for instance if one wanted to become a doctor we start out needing to hear the information and knowledge found and conveyed through words

as the Ned student learns the new information thier mind is changing how they think about medicine is transforming from the words in the books and then oracticing what they are learning

eventually the persons mind retains the knowledge they learned and now they don’t need to look at the book when a thought arises the knowledge is imprinted upon thier mknd and heart they know in tbier renewed mind how to perform medical procedures

thier mknd has been changed from normal person to a doctor now thier knowlefge is different from what it used to be they have been changed in thoer mknds me this changes what actions are coming out of them

born again is a reference to the change that happens when we really hear and believe the gospel

old man to new man old mind to. Eve mind old corrupt best to new clean heart this happens by the knowledge of Jesus Christ poured out in the fisoel that’s why salvstion can be summarized like this

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Hearing and believing the gospel is salvstion because it renews the formerly corrupt knowledge on our mind

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We’re renewed by the knowledge of Christ we’re supposed to conform to the gospel because that’s the Will of God what Jesus told us to do

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

as we learn the knowledge Jesus preached if we accept and believe him d don’t reject him in our minds he’s able to change our thinking , understanding and grasp of the true things of God

we’re born again when we accept the truth of the gospel

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:18

this is the word of truth

“Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

to know the truth we need to do this

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The word of life and no condemnation

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

being born again or being “ reborn “ is about our understanding of God. Remember how man was led astray in Eden he was given the wrong knowledge and man became sinners

the gospel is the right knowledge that redeems us from sin it’s a reference to the transformation the gospel is able to accomplish in a believer . The death of a sinner and the birth of a child of God formed t be ugh the gospel of Jesus Christ the only son

A fine treatise indeed.

Amanuensis · Jul 11, 2022

oyster67 said:

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it come the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1–31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12–17; 10:44–46; 11:14–16; 15:7–9). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37–39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).

what does it mean to be a born again christian ?

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