What does the Bible teach us about the spiritual mechanics of being born again?

[Dave123]

What happens spiritually that makes us born again?

I'll give my thoughts on this matter and we'll go from there. Just for the record, if I'm speaking of baptism, it's the spiritual baptism that I'm speaking of unless otherwise noted. I'll tell you if I mean water baptism.

If you ask someone what being born again is, they're likely to respond with something like 'the wind blows where it wills', all from John 3, etc. The idea being that we aren't supposed to understand these things. The Bible does give us some insight and that insight helps tremendously in interpreting Scripture over all.

When we are placed into/immersed/baptized into Christ, we receive everything at once, all the ingredients to be saved. Thus we are complete "in Him" and lacking nothing (Col. 2:10-14). Setting aside the legality of our salvation, that is, being saved/delivered from the penalty of sin, the focus in this thread will be our being saved/delivered from the power of sin, born again. This is the practical side of being saved/delivered, and our being born again not only frees us from the power of sin, but also allows us to begin being conformed to Christ likeness.

Being born again is the result of being placed into Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit, called the baptism with the Holy Spirit. This spiritual baptism is by Jesus, with the Holy Spirit being the agent of that baptism/placing into/immersion. This is how He is placed into us, and we are placed into Him, Christ Jesus, the spiritual Body, the one true Church.

It is my belief that when the Bible speaks of our being raised up with Him, or raised up in Christ, it's speaking of our being born again. When it speaks of being crucified with Christ, dying with Him, that is the necessary death that must precede being raised up with Him. When we are placed into/immersed/baptized into Christ, we're also placed into/immersed/baptized into His death, and raised up with Him, thus we are born again.

These are verses that I believe are speaking of being born again, though they do not use the typical language.

Romans 6:3-11 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into (placed into) Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Col. 2:10-14 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Gal. 3:2-3 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit (baptism with the Holy Spirit) by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ---- *(added by me)*

26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized (with the Holy Spirit) into Christ have put on Christ. ---- *(added by me)*

Ephesians 2:5-6 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Being born again is simultaneous to being placed into Christ, also placing us into Jesus' death and raised up with Him.

The Bible tells us that we are saved/delivered through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe this is Saved/delivered both judicially and being born again. But when the Bible speaks of being 'raised up with Him', I believe that it's specifically speaking of our being born again.

With the Spirit indwelling we have the life, without the Spirit indwelling we don't. It's that simple. It's a baptism/placing with/by the Holy Spirit into Jesus by faith. One cannot be saved without the indwelling Spirit, that's the life that Jesus Authors and finishes.

It's basic, but important to know this. This will protect you from many of the false doctrines out there. You believe, Jesus places His Spirit, the Holy Spirit in us, which places us in Him, and that simultaneously places us into His death, and raises us up with him, born again. That's the baptism/placing into [Jesus] with the [indwelling] Holy Spirit that saves us. All you need to do to receive this life is to believe and trust in Jesus and the Gospel message.

Do you recognize this Scripture of speaking of being born again? Is this a metaphor, or does this really happen spiritually when we receive the Holy Spirit indwelling?

 

[Dave123]

Both these first two OT passages are speaking of being born again, but still a future event to be realized. Later in John it's called the Promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit.

OT-EZ 36:26-37 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

OT-John 7:38-39 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (born again)" But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

OT-John 16:12-15 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (John 3:3 points to the same fulfilment, notice, they still cannot see).

OT-John 3:13-14 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (Jesus must first be glorified)

OT-John 15:26, 14:25-26

OT-14:14-20 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

Do you see it? Born again? A future promise. Aligned with the indwelling, that baptism with the Holy Spirit. The baptism that saves. See Romans 6:3-11, Gal 3:26-29, Col. 2:10-14, 1 Peter 3:21.

Jesus the prophesied baptizer by John the Baptist himself. Fulfilled at Pentecost.

 

[GWH]

What happens spiritually that makes us born again?

I'll give my thoughts on this matter and we'll go from there. Just for the record, if I'm speaking of baptism, it's the spiritual baptism that I'm speaking of unless otherwise noted. I'll tell you if I mean water baptism.

If you ask someone what being born again is, they're likely to respond with something like 'the wind blows where it wills', all from John 3, etc. The idea being that we aren't supposed to understand these things. The Bible does give us some insight and that insight helps tremendously in interpreting Scripture over all.

When we are placed into/immersed/baptized into Christ, we receive everything at once, all the ingredients to be saved. Thus we are complete "in Him" and lacking nothing (Col. 2:10-14). Setting aside the legality of our salvation, that is, being saved/delivered from the penalty of sin, the focus in this thread will be our being saved/delivered from the power of sin, born again. This is the practical side of being saved/delivered, and our being born again not only frees us from the power of sin, but also allows us to begin being conformed to Christ likeness.

Being born again is the result of being placed into Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit, called the baptism with the Holy Spirit. This spiritual baptism is by Jesus, with the Holy Spirit being the agent of that baptism/placing into/immersion. This is how He is placed into us, and we are placed into Him, Christ Jesus, the spiritual Body, the one true Church.

It is my belief that when the Bible speaks of our being raised up with Him, or raised up in Christ, it's speaking of our being born again. When it speaks of being crucified with Christ, dying with Him, that is the necessary death that must precede being raised up with Him. When we are placed into/immersed/baptized into Christ, we're also placed into/immersed/baptized into His death, and raised up with Him, thus we are born again.

These are verses that I believe are speaking of being born again, though they do not use the typical language.

Romans 6:3-11 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into (placed into) Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Col. 2:10-14 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Gal. 3:2-3 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit (baptism with the Holy Spirit) by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ---- *(added by me)*

26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized (with the Holy Spirit) into Christ have put on Christ. ---- *(added by me)*

Ephesians 2:5-6 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Being born again is simultaneous to being placed into Christ, also placing us into Jesus' death and raised up with Him.

The Bible tells us that we are saved/delivered through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe this is Saved/delivered both judicially and being born again. But when the Bible speaks of being 'raised up with Him', I believe that it's specifically speaking of our being born again.

With the Spirit indwelling we have the life, without the Spirit indwelling we don't. It's that simple. It's a baptism/placing with/by the Holy Spirit into Jesus by faith. One cannot be saved without the indwelling Spirit, that's the life that Jesus Authors and finishes.

It's basic, but important to know this. This will protect you from many of the false doctrines out there. You believe, Jesus places His Spirit, the Holy Spirit in us, which places us in Him, and that simultaneously places us into His death, and raises us up with him, born again. That's the baptism/placing into [Jesus] with the [indwelling] Holy Spirit that saves us. All you need to do to receive this life is to believe and trust in Jesus and the Gospel message.

Do you recognize this Scripture of speaking of being born again? Is this a metaphor, or does this really happen spiritually when we receive the Holy Spirit indwelling?

Being born again means loving Jesus as Messiah and the Lord incarnate. The process or mechanics includes repenting of rejecting Jesus or ignoring God’s Word and seeking Divine forgiveness at the beginning and receiving the Holy Spirit of Jesus at the end, which begins the process of growing towards spiritual maturity or Christ-likeness, which continues until death and attains perfection in heaven.

 

[Mem]

26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized (with the Holy Spirit) into Christ have put on Christ. ---- *(added by me)*

This thought coupled with Isaiah 45:10 provides a view of both sides of the coin of salvation.
"Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’”

A father begets a son, and a mother brings a son forth and they declare, "Unto us a child is born!"

Considering that Christ, The Son, had put on you (willingly) and carried you with Him to the cross, the grave, and the resurrection (everyone will be raised again, no exceptions) the only thing left to determine your eternal outcome (whether you are raised to eternal life or to eternal condemnation) is to determine whether you've put on Christ.

 

[timf]

Technically being born again is what is in store for Israel when the faithful remnant enters the earthy kingdom. The description of this in Ezekiel 36 is what Nicodemus was supposed to have known.

Christians are regenerated when they receive eternal life by being placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit upon faith.

1Co_12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

[dkontner]

I'm no longer blind.

 

[Jon777]

The OP “What happens spiritually that makes us born again?” I try to start with the plain verses on the topic “born again, or from above” In order to do that, I wish to start at the basics as best I can compare scripture to scripture.

“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NRSV)

“Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’” (John 3:3, NRSV)

“above” in the preceding is Greek “anothen” and John uses that Greek term in the following:

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, KJV)
“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, KJV)
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, KJV)

“Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God.” (1Jn 3:9 NRSV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1Jn 4:7 NRSV)

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.” (1Jn 5:1 NRSV) *One who is believing, present tense, has been born of God, past tense.

“Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory overcoming the world, our faith.” *’having been born, past tense…overcoming the world, our faith, present tense. (1Jn 5:4 LITV)

“We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them.” (1Jn 5:18 NRSV)

From the Apostle Paul, describing being born from above, or made alive
“All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else, but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”(Eph 2:3-7 NRSVue) *Being born from above takes us from being dead sinners, and makes us alive with Christ.

“In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth(Gk apokueo) by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” (Jas 1:18, NRSV)

You have been born(Gk anagennao) anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. (1Pet 1:23, NRSV)

Peter and James seem to be referring to how the gospel is opened for us. The birth here in Peter and James is a different Greek word from that used by John. It may be as the Lord opens our hearts to understand the sovereignty of God in being "born from above" by His will.

“A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.” (Acts 16:14, NRSV)

 

[Dave123]

Technically being born again is what is in store for Israel when the faithful remnant enters the earthy kingdom. The description of this in Ezekiel 36 is what Nicodemus was supposed to have known.

Christians are regenerated when they receive eternal life by being placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit upon faith.

1Co_12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

I think that the reason Nicodemus didn't know was because he was not yet born again. Being born again was not yet possible until the Spirit [indwelling] began to be given a Pentecost. As John 7:38-39 says, and parallels Ezekiel in this future promise fulfilled at the ushering in of the NT, beginning at Pentecost. If you are indwelt, you are born again and have the life in you. If you are not indwelt, you are not born again and do not belong to Jesus, according to Romans 8:9-11. Nobody had this until Pentecost.

 

[GWH]

I think that the reason Nicodemus didn't know was because he was not yet born again. Being born again was not yet possible until the Spirit [indwelling] began to be given a Pentecost. As John 7:38-39 says, and parallels Ezekiel in this future promise fulfilled at the ushering in of the NT, beginning at Pentecost. If you are indwelt, you are born again and have the life in you. If you are not indwelt, you are not born again and do not belong to Jesus, according to Romans 8:9-11. Nobody had this until Pentecost.

Because the NT indicates OT believers were saved/belong to Jesus, I think it is better/more inclusive to say that although the HS was active prior to Pentecost, His indwelling was not revealed/manifested until that event, after which Paul's teachings included Rom. 8:9.

 

[Dave123]

Considering that Christ, The Son, had put on you (willingly) and carried you with Him to the cross, the grave, and the resurrection (everyone will be raised again, no exceptions) the only thing left to determine your eternal outcome (whether you are raised to eternal life or to eternal condemnation) is to determine whether you've put on Christ.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This is only for those who believe, not before. The death and the life that results cannot be separated. In a way, it's the life that gives, or allows the death that must precede that life realized.

Romans 6:6-8 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

All people are naturally born into Adam, inheriting sin, spiritual condemnation, and physical and spiritual death, which is a separation from God. It's important to understand the distinction between the death that we have in Adam, and the death that we experience TO Adam when we are placed into Christ that precedes the life. The death in Adam, everyone has. The death to Adam only happens in Christ and always results in the life being realized in us. All this only happens as a result of faith.

I think of it like this..... Jesus was elect from the foundations of the world. We become elect with Jesus (from the foundations of the world) when we are placed into Him in time. With that same line of thinking, Jesus was crucified at a specific point in time, and we become crucified with Him from that specific point in time when we are placed in Him.

That's the way that I see it. I say it like this. When we are placed into Christ, we identify with His death and resurrection in such a way that we die with Him, and are raised up with Him, born again. He is already died and risen, but when we are placed into Him, we get to be part of that. That's how I wrap my mind around that.

Would you agree or disagree?

 

[dkontner]

God can't lie.

John 14​

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even 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.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

[Dave123]

Because the NT indicates OT believers were saved/belong to Jesus, I think it is better/more inclusive to say that although the HS was active prior to Pentecost, His indwelling was not revealed/manifested until that event, after which Paul's teachings included Rom. 8:9.

I believe OT believers were saved in promise. The reality came at Pentecost, when the first believers were placed into Christ with the promised Spirit baptism which placed them into the Body, Jesus, the One True Church. If you look at the way the Apostles struggled in every way, in faith, courage, understanding, etc., in the OT, it's because they were not yet indwelt and born again. They acted the exact opposite after receiving the indwelling at Pentecost, called the life, and became courageous in faith and with good understanding, thus the (power). The supernatural fillings afterwards to prepare them for their ministries didn't hurt either.

OT-John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

"Dwells with you", I believe is speaking of Jesus, but can also mean the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Christ. Without the Spirit indwelling, they are not yet in Christ. I believe this is why He said many times that He first must be lifted up, glorified. It seems as though we could not be indwelt with the Spirit of Christ until Christ was no longer with us physically. This next verse is speaking of being born again.

OT- John 7:38-39 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

OT- John 3:13-15 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

OT John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

OT- John 12:32-33 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

I touched on some on this in my thread about the NT beginning at the cross, or Pentecost in Acts, and not Matthew chapter one. All these passages listed above were still in the OT dispensation.

 

[Mem]

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This is only for those who believe, not before. The death and the life that results cannot be separated. In a way, it's the life that gives, or allows the death that must precede that life realized.

Romans 6:6-8 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

All people are naturally born into Adam, inheriting sin, spiritual condemnation, and physical and spiritual death, which is a separation from God. It's important to understand the distinction between the death that we have in Adam, and the death that we experience TO Adam when we are placed into Christ that precedes the life. The death in Adam, everyone has. The death to Adam only happens in Christ and always results in the life being realized in us. All this only happens as a result of faith.

I think of it like this..... Jesus was elect from the foundations of the world. We become elect with Jesus (from the foundations of the world) when we are placed into Him in time. With that same line of thinking, Jesus was crucified at a specific point in time, and we become crucified with Him from that specific point in time when we are placed in Him.

That's the way that I see it. I say it like this. When we are placed into Christ, we identify with His death and resurrection in such a way that we die with Him, and are raised up with Him, born again. He is already died and risen, but when we are placed into Him, we get to be part of that. That's how I wrap my mind around that.

Would you agree or disagree?

Your writing inspires the summary of Jesus drawing all to Himself.
I was looking through my watch history to find the lady that explained the crimson worm. I thought I'd heard it from this woman in this short, but after reviewing it and finding no mention of the crimson worm, I realize I must've heard it on the radio. Even so, this short is worth a click anyway.