Being Born Again

[james1523]

Being born again or being born from above, today is seen as a one time event at first salvation.
But in the ancient church being born again is seen as a lifetime process.
Being born again is being regenerated from our old nature to our new nature, passing through the waters of birth (symbolic of death) and receiving an immortal body.
The whole of our Christian life from conception (first faith in Christ) can be seen as a gestation period, with birth pains and the birth event is when we die, release our mortal bodies and receive immortality.
This is why in 1 John 3:9 it says those who are born again cannot sin. They cannot sin because they have died, resurrected and received immortal bodies. This is when we are born again.
In our experience we don't get it all when we first come to salvation. We first start as an embryo, and grow over time. This Earth is our womb, our troubles are the pains of labour, and our death and resurrection is our new birth. Common sense tells us that after conception a baby is not born the next day. Also we should not think that being born again is a once a time ago experience and that there is nothing more for us in the future.
Additionally John 3:3 says we cannot see the kingdom of God unless we are born again. We see the kingdom of God, heaven, after we die. We don't see the kingdom of God when we are first saved. All this points to the view that being born again is over a lifetime, and not a once in the past event. I first felt born again at salvation, and then at water baptism, and then at receiving the Spirit with evidence of tongues, and then again when released from some bondages, and the final and ultimate born again experience will be at death.

 

[Bambi]

Being born again or being born from above, today is seen as a one time event at first salvation.
But in the ancient church being born again is seen as a lifetime process.
Being born again is being regenerated from our old nature to our new nature, passing through the waters of birth (symbolic of death) and receiving an immortal body.
The whole of our Christian life from conception (first faith in Christ) can be seen as a gestation period, with birth pains and the birth event is when we die, release our mortal bodies and receive immortality.
This is why in 1 John 3:9 it says those who are born again cannot sin. They cannot sin because they have died, resurrected and received immortal bodies. This is when we are born again.
In our experience we don't get it all when we first come to salvation. We first start as an embryo, and grow over time. This Earth is our womb, our troubles are the pains of labour, and our death and resurrection is our new birth. Common sense tells us that after conception a baby is not born the next day. Also we should not think that being born again is a once a time ago experience and that there is nothing more for us in the future.
Additionally John 3:3 says we cannot see the kingdom of God unless we are born again. We see the kingdom of God, heaven, after we die. We don't see the kingdom of God when we are first saved. All this points to the view that being born again is over a lifetime, and not a once in the past event. I first felt born again at salvation, and then at water baptism, and then at receiving the Spirit with evidence of tongues, and then again when released from some bondages, and the final and ultimate born again experience will be at death.

Being a mother of four I know what being born is. Being "Born Again" does not happen at conception. We are not still in the womb we are in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is something you cannot see, it is inside you. Luke 17: 20-21 The indwelling of the Holy Spirit. At the moment we receive Christ we receive the Holy Spirit.

In the Bible it talks about the milk and the meat of the word of God. This is referring to our growth in our Spiritual walk. A baby in the womb does not eat or drink. It's nourishment is through the umbilical. Our nourishment our method of growth is through studying the word of God. As a baby grows it's diet changes from liquid(milk) only to solid foods(meats). So do Christians grow or they should grow.

John says those who are born of God cannot sin. He also says that those who say they don't sin are liars. 1 John 1:8-10. Paul talks of his struggle with sin in Romans. He also says that just because we are born again does not mean we can keep sinning. Our desires as believers is that we shouldn't want to sin. That is what John is trying to say.

 

[tulsa 2011]

God created man to be a three part being, as God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1: 26. In Genesis 2: 7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." But the First Facilitator, Satan, deceived Eve and "fixed" her obedience to the absolute truth and authority of God.

Man's spirit is lacking, and I Corinthians 2: 14 explains that "...the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Several NT texts talk about man's spirit, such as I Corinthians 2: 11, I Corinthians 5: 5, I Thessalonians 5: 23.

I Corinthians 2: 11 says "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

I Corinthians 5: 5 says "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5: 23 says "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In I Corinthians 15: 45-47 Paul says "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven."

In Christ, the elect are given a small c spirit. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2: 5

Even while they are in the flesh, those of the elect are transformed, or born again, into the Spirit, into that which is spiritual, by having the mind of Christ in us, by becoming new creatures (II Corinthians 5: 17). This process of being transformed from the flesh, from natural man, to spiritual man in Christ, does not reach fulfillment until as taught in I Corinthians 15: 51-57, “this mortal shall put on immortality.”

Receiving the birth of one's own spirit from being in Christ who is the quickening spirit who changes the living soul from Adam into spirit can bed seen as being born again.

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." II Corinthians 3: 18

"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

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" Colossians 1: 13

Becoming a new creature sounds like being born again. If we do have the mind of Christ in us, we are new creatures and have been fundamentally changed. And in II Corinthians 3: 18 Paul says we are changed. Being translated into the kingdom of the Son is being born again, fundamentally changed.
In Romans 12: 2 Paul uses the Greek word metamorphousthe, from metamorphoo,to transform. The English word metamorphosis means "a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something."

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

 

[Bambi]

In Christ, the elect are given a small c spirit. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2: 5

What do you mean small c spirit?

 

[tulsa 2011]

"small c spirit" is a typo. It should be "small s spirit." It means this spirit is man's spirit, not the Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit.

 

[Bambi]

"small c spirit" is a typo. It should be "small s spirit." It means this spirit is man's spirit, not the Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit.

What do you mean, "the elect are given"? Don't all men have a spirit? And what does the reference in Philippians 2 have to do with "little s spirit"?

 

[MelodyC]

What does it mean to be Born Again?

I think Jesus explaination speaks for itself. Looking at the teaching in context can be very helpful.


JN 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

JN 3:9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

JN 3:10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
​

 

[tulsa 2011]

In The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, 1977, by Harold K. Moulton, on page 331 pneuma is defined as "wind, air in motion, breath. In Romans 2: 29, 7: 6, II Corinthians 3: 16, spirit, as a term for a process superior to a merely natural or carnal course of things." Pneuma is translated as spirit.

On page 443, psuchikos, "pertaining to the life of the soul, in NT animal, as distinguished from spiritual substance, I Corinthians 15: 44-46, occupied with mere animal things, animal, sensual." Psuchikos is translated as soul.

The meanings given to these Greek words in the New Testament is what is important.

I Corinthians 2: 14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

I Corinthians 3: 1: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ."

Galatians 6: 1: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

I Corinthians 15: 44-46: "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual."

Paul distinguishes between man in his natural state, the carnal state, and those who are in a spiritual state, or, as he says in Galatians 6: 1, those who are spiritual. The natural man does not discern the things that are spiritual, because they are discerned only by those who are in a spiritual state.

John 3: 5: "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."

Man must be born, not only of water, that is, born of woman in the flesh, but must also be born of the Holy Spirit, to be saved. Entering into the kingdom of God is not something different from being saved.

Being born again by the Spirit is not something that may happen sometime after one is saved, something called the New Birth. Unless you are born again, you are not saved. How do you know you have been born again? Paul provides some more specific texts, such as Romans 12: 2, on being transformed, II Corinthians 5: 17, on becoming a new creature, Philippians 2: 5, having the mind of Christ in you, II Corinthians 3: 18, changed by the Spirit of the Lord, Colossians 1: 13, being translated into the kingdom of God, and especially II Thessalonians 2: 10-12, receiving the love of the truth, so that you can be saved.


Being born again by the Holy Spirit means becoming spiritual, a transformation from the state of the natural man in a carnal condition.

Acts 20: 27: "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

There are not "essential" scriptures that can be divided off from "non-essential" scriptures on the process of salvation, and key doctrines of the Gospel, which is the whole counsel of God, cannot be re-defined to fit an easy salvation, almost by a procedure.

 

[MelodyC]

My Nephew when he was 5 years old received Jesus as his Savior at school in Bible Studies. He ran home to tell his grandmother and me that he was different today and we asked why? His reply:- "I have Jesus in my Heart, He is my friend".

I have no doubt that on that day my Nephew was Born Again. He is now 20 and still walking with the Lord. He was Born Again at 5 years old. Praise God it is such a simple thing we Adults like to debate Theology until the Cows come home trying to tell others how they should understand the Bible. We are not convinced other Christians truly know what we know and so we continue to try and have them use the same Terminology or Jargon with the same Definitions we have for these Words.

I come from a Migrant family whose English isn't too good and they really don't have a deep understanding of how many words can have so many definitions. Especially since in their own language this isn't the same case as English. For Example, the word "Hot" means not Cold. It doesn't have the meaning of something that is currently in Vogue or a Fad at the moment. It doesn't mean to them a person who has some extra special sexual attraction to others. It doesn't mean Spicey. Hot is what you have when you light a fire or turn on a heater.

We find so many shades of gray with each others description of what we Believe when we share it with other Christians who are so Analytical you can never satisfy them with your Answer to their question about the Bible.

So sad. I often think of that day when at 5 my nephew told us that he had Jesus in his Heart. I asked him what he thought that meant. His answer was "Jesus is my Friend". Jesus has been his friend all these years, his closet friend. I helped to raise my Nephew and spent many an hour reading the Bible with him, doing his homework with him, helping him in his serach for a job (now he has finished his schooling). I can see how the Lord has worked in his life and I can see the Spiritual Fruit. So it doesn't matter that at 5 he didn't have a Theological Understanding of salvation or being Born Again. BTW I have gone through repentance with him so he understands that we are to repent and receive Jesus.

People have different levels of education, different levels of understanding of the Bible and it's many Biblical concepts and we all have had experience in this world that will colour how we see and understand various concepts and words. However no matter how old we are, if we have mental illness or born with mental disability or are uneducated or very educated. No matter how we think or reason or analyse, God can enable each one of us to Understand His Gospel and be able to respond within the abilities we have.

I have been a Teacher for many years. I know my students learn differently and understand the same concepts I am teaching in different ways. The same thing exists within the Body of Christ. We need to be aware others may not see things exactly as we do but we can still share the same Truths of God in slightly different ways and still be correct. If we can all remember this when we are sharing we would be developing ways of trying to understand how the other person we are speaking to is understanding the same piece of Scripture that we are looking at and that would go a long way in having an Encouraging and Edifying exchange instead of a Debate.

I am not saying that someone who obviously has some Black and White teaching wrong. For Example:- Jesus died on the Cross to bring mankind salvation and forgiveness for our Sins. If a person is saying we have to Work for our Salvation that is obviously contrary to God's Word. I am not saying that this a just a difference in understanding. However we should try to correct gently and with Christ's love.

I didn't correct my Nephew at 5 years old with Doctrine or Theology because at his age and experience in life that would have been useless. He was not able to understand more than the concept that he had Jesus in his heart and that Jesus was his friend. His grandmother and I over the years had of course taught him about Sin or (being a Naughty Boy) and how he could Obey God and his parents (or be a Good Boy). We shared at my Nephews level various Truths from the Bible and as he grew and matured we were able to share in a more complex way.

I don't assume that another Christian has the same education or maturity as I do. I am over 50 years old now and have 33 years in Christ. I have diligently studied God's Word in that time. I know some things well and there are still BIG gaps of knowledge and understanding. My knowledge is mainly in the Basics of salvation and maturing in Christ or living our lives in Obedience to God's Word. Spent many years taking Sunday School, childrens Scripture classes and Bible studies for New Believers. Really I haven't progressed much past that but it does me and I can't argue or debate End Times or other topics of that nature as I only have a Basic overveiw of these and I really have not needed them in my life up until now. The rapture will come when it comes, Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation. Meanwhile I struggle to live my life for Jesus and encourage others around me to do the same.

So what does it mean to be Born Again? You will get different answers from different Christians according to where they are with Christ and their Age (physical) & spiritual maturity, etc.. Some Christians will not know much and some will have this concept really well analysed and worked out in their thinking and able to discuss it in detail. Whatever a persons Answer is remember they are not Jesus but they are sharing with you what THEY Understand. It is fine if all they know is they have a new life in Jesus. Whatever the answer is let us encourage them and not try to set them straight according to our own fine theological understanding. Give people food for thought rather than a dressing down for not knowing this or that.

Meet people where they are AT! Try to share with the person on the level that they are so they can understand what you are sharing.

I have several University degrees but I don't always give an Academic Answer with big words that are rarely ever used by the English Speaking World (words like Plethora instead of Many). By being too intricate in our answers we can turn off many people who really can't follow what you are saying. I'm old now and I really don't have the concentration I used to when people get Academic my mind shuts off.

The KISS principal is often the best. Go into more intricate discussion & fine detail only when necessary.

My apologies for the teachers rave here. I didn't say all this to be critical but I have observed on forums we often lose people with our answers because they are too hard for many to understand. I love it when my children used to get complex Biblcal concepts explained to them in simple language. They really love learning about God's Word and at times get things wrong but that is OK. In time as they go on with Jesus they will have those things corrected by the Holy Spirit. For in the End it is God's Spirit that reveals All of God's Truth to us.

 

[james1523]

The spirit and Spirit are now essentially referring to the same thing when we talk about a believer's spirit. Two spirits have become one: 1 Cor 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
The human spirit is really not 'born again' because the spirit was not born in the first place, it was given by God. It is not born again but it is made alive.

Every human being has a spirit, and it provides human beings with conscience and intuition, and this spirit was given to man so that man could have inward fellowship with God who is Spirit.
Adam and Eve died spiritually, in the sense that the part of their spirit which fellowshipped with God, was deadened, and their soul (mind, emotions, human will) became the primary mode of their existence.
The unsaved's spirit is dead, except for their conscience, which is part of their spirit. Believers have a regenerated spirit, the Spirit makes the dead spirit alive by joining Himself to the human spirit. Birth is not the best example to use to illustrate this event because it is a matter of resurrection, not a matter of birth. Thus, being 'born again', can be seen as the process by which your whole being (not just your spirit) is transformed into the image of Christ. It starts, but does not finish, at the moment the dead human spirit is made alive by the Spirit.

 

[Barny]

the birth event is when we die, release our mortal bodies and receive immortality.
This is why in 1 John 3:9 it says those who are born again cannot sin. They cannot sin because they have died, resurrected and received immortal bodies. This is when we are born again.

Hi James,

How and when are Christians born of God?
1John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God

This is a one time event.
And as Christians abide in Christ then Satan the accuser cannot charge us with sin.

What is "sin"?
Transgression of the law, 1john 3:4.
Unrighteousness, 1John 5:17.

A Christian's righteousness is not judged by deeds of the law as we're not under the law (Rom 8:2, Rom 10:4, Gal 4:24, Gal 5:18, 1Tim 1:9).
Instead, it's our faith that's counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.

Hence we cannot be charged with sin.
Rom 8:33
Who shall lay any thing (even sin) to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Hence we see that Christians (born of God, 1John 5:1) "cannot sin", 1John 3:9.



.

 

[Glow]

Being born again requires repentance and faith, both of which are from God and that we cannot produce on our own. Repentance is from God, and is when a person realizes/is convicted of their sin, and has a desire to confess/turn from it. It does not mean that we "force" ourselves to overcome sins by our own willpower. Rather, it means we confess and have a desire to forsake it. Faith comes from God as well (of course), and it is when we put our whole-hearted trust in Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross.

Nowhere in the Bible does it talk of "just repeat this little prayer after me and you will be saved". Rather, the person must confess (something entirely different than "repeat these magical words"), and have a heart desire to love God, which only comes from God Himself.

 

[Barny]

Being born again requires repentance and faith, both of which are from God and that we cannot produce on our own. Repentance is from God, and is when a person realizes/is convicted of their sin, and has a desire to confess/turn from it.

Hi Glow,

We see in scripture what it is we repented of.
Heb 6:1-6
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

The sin Christians repented of was dead works of self-righteousness (sin).
This was a once only repentance, as we see above in Heb 6:4-6.

Once we receive Christ there is no more sin that can be charged against us because we're no longer seeking to attain our own self-righteousness through works of the law.

Sin is defined in the scriptures below.
Transgression of the law, 1John 3:4.
Unrighteousness, 1 John 5:17

But a Christian's righteousness is not judged by deeds of the law as we're not under the law (Rom 8:2, Rom 10:4, Gal 4:24, Gal 5:18, 1 Tim 1:9.
Instead, it's our faith that's counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.

Christians cannot be charged with transgression of the law as we're not under the law.
Nor can we be charged with unrighteousness as our faith is counted for righteousness.

Hence we cannot be charged with sin.
Rom 8:33
Who shall lay any thing (even sin) to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Christians fight the good fight of faith by continuing to believe on Jesus, which is how we see that one has truly repented.
1Tim 6:12-15
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession (confess Jesus with your mouth, Rom 10:9) in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment (to believe on Jesus) without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,

 

[tulsa 2011]

The natural man of I Corinthians 2: 14, who does not receive the things of the Spirit of God - and in II Timothy 3: 4-8 those who have a form of godliness but deny its power, do not come to the knowledge of the truth and resist the truth - wants to be saved in state of the natural man. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." II Timothy 4: 3

The person in the state of the natural man, who is not born again by the Spirit in Christ and transformed, has itching ears to hear from the false prophets, the preachers, that salvation is easy, and, those who remain in the condition of the natural man think they can be saved in that condition, without having to be born again and changed into a spiritual man, as Paul says in II Corinthians 5: 17, to become a new creature. "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." II Thessalonians 2: 10-12.

The natural man, not born again, thinks he is a spiritual man, and the false prophets do not convince him otherwise. This is part of the strong delusion, and is part of the judgment of God for falling into false doctrines and sin.

 

[Barny]

The natural man of I Corinthians 2: 14, who does not receive the things of the Spirit of God - and in II Timothy 3: 4-8 those who have a form of godliness but deny its power, do not come to the knowledge of the truth and resist the truth - wants to be saved in state of the natural man. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." II Timothy 4: 3
.

Hi tulsa,

Scripture explains "godliness"
1Tim 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

1Tim 4:8
godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Godliness is to have Christ.
Anyone who believes on Jesus is godly.

Regarding 2Tim 3:5, that you referred to:
having a form of godliness but denying its power.

This refers to those who profess to know him, but in works they deny him (Tit 1:16). They have a form of godliness, saying "Lord, Lord...", but they deny the power of God. They deny the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God.

Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

How do they deny the power of God (the gospel of Christ)?

Heb 12:15
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Gal 5:4
You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

We see this warning throughout scripture, warning Christians against turning back to works of the law to determine righteousness.

Tit 1:16
They profess to know God, but in works (of the law, which is unbelief in Jesus) they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.