What does born again mean?

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ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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No, a person does not become born again until he hears and believes the gospel (Eph 1:13).

A good rule to follow when you are studying the scriptures, is to determine who Paul is speaking to, which in this case he is talking to the saints that are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. That is the "whom we also trusted"

Go through the first chapter of Ephesians, and notice how many "us's, we's, you's, ye's, us-ward's are listed, and they all relate to "the faithful in Christ Jesus, not to the natural man.
 
Jan 4, 2023
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The Catholic Church was not founded by Christ. It developed long after Christ ascended to heaven.
Thanks.
Matt 16:18-19 Matt 28:19-20 Jn 1:29 Jn 3:16 Jn 20:21-23 eph 2:20

A Fat sandwich man.

Interpretation / meaning?

A fat man who makes sandwiches:
Or A man who makes fat sandwiches:

You cannot know the true meaning unless I who write it tell you what it means.

And the church wrote the New Testament, and exercised authority before the New Testament
Thanks
 
Jan 4, 2023
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God initiated each covenant and the mediator always remains on earth mediating the covenant except for Christ who made Peter His personal representative and vicar! (Matt 16:18-19) with the keys of jurisdictional authority over the kingdom or new covenant church!

Adam
(Marriage covenant)

Noah
(Family covenant)

Abraham
(Tribal covenant)

Moses:
(National covenant)

Jesus Christ:
(Universal covenant)

New and eternal covenant founded by Jesus Christ! Matt 16:18

Universal (Catholic)
World universal

Lk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ( catholic universal) All men!

Lk 2:31 prepared before the face of all (catholic) people. All men!

Jn 1:29 lamb of God who takes way the sins of the world. All men!

Jn 3:16 for God so loved the world

1 Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. All men!

Lk 2: 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. All men!

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (All people universal) All men!

1 Tim 2:5 one mediator

Jn 10:16 One new covenant church

Only Jesus Christ has authority to found the church on Peter and the apostles! Matt 16:18-19 Matt 18:18
Jn 20:21 eph 2:20

All others are heretical sects the tradition of men!

Christ is king and established a kingdom!

Obedience to the apostles who have the jurisdictional authority to govern the church and administer the kingdom is obedience to Christ!
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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Yes, but Jesus also taught anyone who would listen. As did the other disciples, and Paul. People need to be taught the gospel so they can have a chance to believe it.

Can you supply a scripture that actually says that the natural man, before he has been quickened to the new spiritual life, can understand the things of the Spirit, which he thinks is foolishness?
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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You have confused knowing "the things of the Spirit of God" with knowing anything at all about God. In Romans 1:19-20, we are told that God has made plain to wicked people His eternal power and divine nature. That contradicts your view of 1 Corinthians 2:14.

By your words, you do not understand the truths contained in the gospel of Christ. Maybe next time, leave off the condemnatory conclusions, lest they bite you!

Romans 1 - Paul begins by letting us know who he is speaking to in verse 6 and 7, and it is to the called of Jesus Christ, to all who be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.

These are backsliding children of God who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifested in them, for God has shewed it unto them.

This does not describe the natural man's character, not being able to discern the things of the Spirit.

If we cannot recognize ourselves, in these verses, when we are walking in our sinful nature, then we are not humbling ourselves as we should.
 
Dec 21, 2020
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Can you supply a scripture that actually says that the natural man, before he has been quickened to the new spiritual life, can understand the things of the Spirit, which he thinks is foolishness?
A scripture that states exactly that? No. But we don't need one. God gave people free will. Anyone can decide to believe the gospel. That's why we teach it. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
 
Dec 21, 2020
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Romans 1 - Paul begins by letting us know who he is speaking to in verse 6 and 7, and it is to the called of Jesus Christ, to all who be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.

These are backsliding children of God who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifested in them, for God has shewed it unto them.

This does not describe the natural man's character, not being able to discern the things of the Spirit.

If we cannot recognize ourselves, in these verses, when we are walking in our sinful nature, then we are not humbling ourselves as we should.
Forest, it seems your whole theology is based on your misunderstanding and then overemphasizing 1 Cor 2:14.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
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Romans 1 - Paul begins by letting us know who he is speaking to in verse 6 and 7, and it is to the called of Jesus Christ, to all who be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.

These are backsliding children of God who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifested in them, for God has shewed it unto them.

This does not describe the natural man's character, not being able to discern the things of the Spirit.

If we cannot recognize ourselves, in these verses, when we are walking in our sinful nature, then we are not humbling ourselves as we should.
That's called "circular reasoning" and it is fallacious.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
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God initiated each covenant and the mediator always remains on earth mediating the covenant except for Christ who made Peter His personal representative and vicar! (Matt 16:18-19) with the keys of jurisdictional authority over the kingdom or new covenant church!
No, He didn't. If you knew the context in which Jesus spoke those words (and were able to see through the fog of your Catholic errors), you would understand what Jesus was saying. He was not appointing Peter as His vicar!

You would do well to read Hebrews again regarding the nature and limitations of 'covenant'.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
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Lk 1:34 says no sex perpetual virgin.
To Mary is not the mother of God is to say Christ is not God. Thanks
Luk 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
 

IsaiahA

Active member
Jan 24, 2023
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What does born again mean?

How is a man born again?
thanks
The translation of John 3:3, 7 as "born again" followed the Latin Vulgate, translated into English in the Douay-Rheims, and for 400 years has been the translation found in the KJV, so it has become the best known, the traditional translation. Yet as far back as the 16th century there have been 2 other ways to translate that Greek phrase as seen in the 1535 Coverdale Bible as "borne a new" and the 1539 Great Bible as "borne from aboue", which was also prepared by Myles Coverdale. There is no variation in the Greek manuscripts of the NT, so it is a translation choice, from Greek, not from Latin.

Words usually have several meanings and the context will determine the meaning to be understood. There are three choices, two of which are "born again" or "born anew" in John 3:3, 7. Both are based on the misunderstanding of Nicodemus in the context. The traditional translation of anothen as "again" has less support in John than "born from above" as seen in the following three verses from John.

"He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all." (John 3:31)
"Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." (John 19:11)
"Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout." (John 19:23)

The translation "born from above" is based on the Apostle John's usage of the Greek under Holy Spirit inspiration. In the first chapter of John is a statement that seems to clinch the meaning of "born from above", which is from God.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God." (Joh 1:12-13) ["believing" is a present participle denoting belief present and continuing]

Man's believing is not initiated or caused by or from the will of man, but from the will of God, the sole author of being born from above. God's act of giving spiritual birth to man is prerequisite to his being able to believe and receive Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives the believer his faith.

Jesus speaks of the continuing belief and life as indication of having had a true spiritual birth from above, "Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;'" (John 8:31)

Luke describes briefly a birth from above and the response or attending action, "One of those listening was called Lydia, a dealer in purple fabric, who came from the city of Thyatira; she was a worshipper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul said." (Acts 16:14)

The Apostle Peter also speaks upon this idea of being regenerated coming from the initial birth from above, "Having purified your souls in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to unpretended brotherly love, love one another fervently out of a pure heart, being regenerated, not by corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the living Word of God, and remaining forever. Because "all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of grass; the grass was dried, and its flower fell out, but the Word of the Lord remains forever." And this is the Word announced as gospel to you." (1Pe 1:22-25) See the gospel from Isaiah 40:6-8

To "regenerate" is to change radically and for the better and this is by the word of God.

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

About the "water" in John 3:5, "Jesus answered, 'Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.'" (John 3:5-6)

"If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" (John 3:12)

In context Jesus' words about "being born of water and Spirit" compared to flesh and spirit clearly indicates he is saying that not only is one born physically, he must be born by the Spirit. There in nothing in the context referring to baptism.
 

Nils

New member
Dec 16, 2022
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3
The translation of John 3:3, 7 as "born again" followed the Latin Vulgate, translated into English in the Douay-Rheims, and for 400 years has been the translation found in the KJV, so it has become the best known, the traditional translation. Yet as far back as the 16th century there have been 2 other ways to translate that Greek phrase as seen in the 1535 Coverdale Bible as "borne a new" and the 1539 Great Bible as "borne from aboue", which was also prepared by Myles Coverdale. There is no variation in the Greek manuscripts of the NT, so it is a translation choice, from Greek, not from Latin.

Words usually have several meanings and the context will determine the meaning to be understood. There are three choices, two of which are "born again" or "born anew" in John 3:3, 7. Both are based on the misunderstanding of Nicodemus in the context. The traditional translation of anothen as "again" has less support in John than "born from above" as seen in the following three verses from John.

"He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all." (John 3:31)
"Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." (John 19:11)
"Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout." (John 19:23)

The translation "born from above" is based on the Apostle John's usage of the Greek under Holy Spirit inspiration. In the first chapter of John is a statement that seems to clinch the meaning of "born from above", which is from God.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God." (Joh 1:12-13) ["believing" is a present participle denoting belief present and continuing]

Man's believing is not initiated or caused by or from the will of man, but from the will of God, the sole author of being born from above. God's act of giving spiritual birth to man is prerequisite to his being able to believe and receive Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives the believer his faith.

Jesus speaks of the continuing belief and life as indication of having had a true spiritual birth from above, "Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;'" (John 8:31)

Luke describes briefly a birth from above and the response or attending action, "One of those listening was called Lydia, a dealer in purple fabric, who came from the city of Thyatira; she was a worshipper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul said." (Acts 16:14)

The Apostle Peter also speaks upon this idea of being regenerated coming from the initial birth from above, "Having purified your souls in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to unpretended brotherly love, love one another fervently out of a pure heart, being regenerated, not by corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the living Word of God, and remaining forever. Because "all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of grass; the grass was dried, and its flower fell out, but the Word of the Lord remains forever." And this is the Word announced as gospel to you." (1Pe 1:22-25) See the gospel from Isaiah 40:6-8

To "regenerate" is to change radically and for the better and this is by the word of God.

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

About the "water" in John 3:5, "Jesus answered, 'Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.'" (John 3:5-6)

"If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" (John 3:12)

In context Jesus' words about "being born of water and Spirit" compared to flesh and spirit clearly indicates he is saying that not only is one born physically, he must be born by the Spirit. There in nothing in the context referring to baptism.
Yes, thanks and all glory to the Lord.