What do you believe "born again" means, related to Christianity?

Question

What do you believe "born again" means, related to Christianity?

Answer 1

It means to be born again in the spirit. The classic passage from the Bible that answers this question is John 3:1-21. The Lord Jesus Christ is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (a ruler of the Jews). Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night. Nicodemus had questions to ask Jesus.



As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said, “’I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:3-7).



The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." Nicodemus had a real need. He needed a change of his heart—a spiritual transformation. New birth, being born again, is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John 1:12,13 indicates that "born again" also carries the idea "to become children of God" through trust in the name of Jesus Christ.



The question logically comes, "Why does a person need to be born again?" The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." (NKJV). To the Romans in Romans 3:23, the Apostle wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So, a person needs to be born again in order to have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with God.



How does that come to be? Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." When one is "saved," he/she has been born again, spiritually renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth. Trusting in Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on the cross, is what it means to be "born again" spiritually. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Answer 2

The term Born Again refers to new birth enjoyed by Christians upon conversion and regeneration. It is a work of the Holy Spirit within a believer. It is related to faith in Christ and Him crucified (John 3:3-5). It means that the person is no longer dead in sins (Eph. 2:1), no longer spiritually blind (1 Cor. 2:14), and is now a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).

Answer 3

There is actually much to say about that. I don't find many of the things typically talked about. Such as, the word in the Greek which is translated "again" means "from above". So "born from above", which to me makes more sense than "born again". Another thing is that God had breathed life into Adam, and this event of being born "again" seems to be a continuation of that. God breathed life into Adam, and here we are getting the breath from God, who is currently "making man" in His own image.



The born again event tells of a few things; 1) that there is a seal from God holding me towards eternity, 2) that I'm at peace with God from then on, 3) that God looks at me different from the way he looks at the unsaved world, 4) that I no longer belong to the world or sinners or perishing, and death no longer has a hold on me, I don't need to fear it or anyone except for the fear of God who teaches me . . . trains me to be the person he wants me to be by His will, not mine.



I could go on. All I'd like to say for now is that there is nothing better than to know that I don't have to wonder any more. god has me in His capable hands and I get to be His child.

Answer 4

Basically it means that one has recommitted oneself to the ideals that are involved with that. It is a way of forgiving oneself and starting over again. It works. Many of us need to do this many times in life because we fall back or backslide into the old inconvenient behaviors. So we come to a point in life where we need to renew our thinking and make a new start. Being "born again" is one of those ways.

Answer 5

Hi there,



Born again means that when you have -

repented of you sins and accepted him as saviour

and then when you have surrendered your life to Jesus as Lord of your life

and determine to follow him then as it says in Romans 12:1-2

a process of change has commenced in your life

and everything changes and becomes new and your perspective on life changes

and Paul talks about all things becoming new

That is what happens and is considered a new birth



Remember that Jesus said you must take up your Cross daily

which means surrendering yourself to him 'daily'



I wish you well in you walk with him.



regards Mike D



220611

Answer 6

It refers to a spiritual rebirth in the express image of Jesus Christ himself.



God saves us to change us into his glory - not to leave us the same.



Jhn 3:3 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.

Jhn 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Answer 7

THE NEW BIRTH

A Personal Decision?



WHO causes the new birth? When exhorting their listeners to become born-again Christians, some preachers quote Jesus’ words: “You people must be born again.” (John 3:7) Such ministers use these words as a command, in effect saying, “Be born again!” They thus preach that it is up to each believer to obey Jesus and take the necessary steps to undergo the new birth. According to such reasoning, the new birth is a matter of personal choice. But is that view in harmony with what Jesus told Nicodemus?



A careful reading of Jesus’ words shows that Jesus did not teach that it is up to man to choose whether to experience the new birth or not. Why do we say this? The Greek expression translated “is born again” can also be rendered “should be born from above.”* Thus, according to that alternate rendering, the new birth originates “from above”—that is, “from heaven,” or “from the Father.” (John 19:11; footnote; James 1:17) Yes, it is caused by God.—1 John 3:9.



If we keep the expression “from above” in mind, it is not hard to understand why an individual cannot cause his own new birth. Just think of your physical birth. Was it up to you to make the choice that led to your birth? Of course not! You were born because you were begotten by your father. Similarly, we can experience the new birth only if God, our heavenly Father, causes our new birth. (John 1:13) Thus, the apostle Peter rightly states: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth.”—1 Peter 1:3.



Is It a Command?



Some may wonder, though, ‘If it is true that no one can decide on his own to be born again, why did Jesus give the command: “You people must be born again”?’ That is a valid question. After all, if Jesus’ words do indeed constitute a command, he would be ordering us to do something beyond our control. That does not sound reasonable. Then, how should the words you must be “born again” be understood?





What similarity is there between the new birth and a physical birth?

A closer look at that phrase in its original language shows that it is not rendered in the imperative mood, or in the form of a command. Rather, the phrase is rendered in the form of a statement. In other words, when Jesus said you must be “born again,” he was stating a fact, not giving a command. He said: “It is necessary for you to be born from above.”—John 3:7, Modern Young’s Literal Translation.



To illustrate this matter of command versus statement of fact, think of a comparison. Picture a city that has several schools. One of them is set aside as a school for students belonging to a native, or indigenous, population living in an area far from that city. One day, a young man who does not belong to that native group tells the principal of that school, “I want to enroll in your school.” The principal tells him, “To enroll, you must be a native.” Of course, the principal’s words are not a command. He is not ordering the student, “Be a native!” The principal simply states the fact—the requirement for attending that school. Similarly, when Jesus said: “You people must be born again,” he was simply stating a fact—the requirement for one to “enter into the kingdom of God.”



That last thought—the Kingdom of God—has a bearing on yet another aspect of the new birth. It concerns the question, What is its purpose? Knowing the answer to that question is a key to understanding accurately what it means to be born again.



http://www.watchtower.org/e/20090401/article_04.htm

Answer 8

Spiritually born into the family of God by belief and acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and your Savior.

Answer 9

It means accepting by faith the biblical truth of Christ's sacrificial death for mans sins; through His death, burial, and resurrection on Calvary's Cross.



It means confessing / repenting of ones sins and accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Answer 10

In Christianity, "born again" refers to a spiritual rebirth of the human soul contrasted with the physical birth everyone experiences. Hinduism and Buddhism have similiar spiritual rebirth concepts.

Answer 11

It means to be born again through Jesus. When you accept Jesus into your heart and accept him as your personal savior, you are then born again.

Answer 12

By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the control sin had is gone and you tend to surrender to the Spirit's control. This can only be received by repentance and faith in Jesus.

Answer 13

IT means that you have been purified and washed in the blood of Jesus; having a spiritual transformation and having eternal life with Christ Jesus..

Answer 14

It means your two navels rub together and form a vacuum between your ears.

Answer 15

"Born from above". We all were born physically, we must be born spiritually as well.



Born once-die twice.



Born twice-die once..

Answer 16

a dead spirit given life

Answer 17

born again? Made a mental decision to lunacy.

Answer 18

It means giving your old life of sin to Jesus so that you can be forgiven for them and living a life with Jesus in your heart to help lead and guide you in your life.

Answer 19

All it is, is a person saying they have changed there lives back to where it was when they first were baptized

Answer 20

To surrender yourself to an archaic definition of god and religion.

Answer 21

It means that you have come to believe the Jesus myth.

Answer 22

It means never growing up.

Answer 23

It means that you believe the Jesus myth.

Answer 24

It means you weren't previously a Christian, and since you're tardy to the party you feel you can be a total a**hole to everyone you talk to.

Answer 25

Jesus Freaks telling me that God doesn't love anyone who is not "saved" in the right way.

Answer 26

Yogis erroneously teach that the Lord Jesus Christ meant reincarnation by His term born again. Being born again has nothing to do with the false teaching of reincarnation, but union with God, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and holy transformation that comes ONLY through the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Saviour. Jesus said that no human being can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born again, and that humans are born again through water and Spirit (John 3:3-6). The capital "S" in Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit (the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead) Who one receives only through accepting Jesus as their Saviour. The water is not earthly water but the living waters that flow out of the hearts of all who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (John 7:38). It is the same waters the Holy Spirit uses to wash and renew us (Titus 3:5) as we are transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is what Jesus meant by His term “born again”.



What It Means to Be Born Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLuZpXipO2s



The Lord Jesus Christ (the second Person of the Triune Godhead) made it clear humans have only one physical life (Matthew 25:46) and His most important teaching is that Salvation is found ONLY through faith in Him (Jesus) Who is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, THE BREAD OF LIFE and THE DOOR (John 6:35; John 8:12; John 14:6; John 10:9-11). The way to God and an eternity in Heaven is so simple but many reject it.



Without God, the spiritual part of the human being is dead (Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13). The sin of our first parents (Adam and Eve) caused the separation between God and man. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin causes us to be separated from God which results in spiritual death. Christ, the 2nd Person of the Triune Godhead was made flesh (through the immaculate conception) and paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross so we could THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOUR be instantly redeemed and united to God and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who teaches us, comforts us and grants us fruits to live in righteousness and gifts to help and edify the Church. The only way one can receive redemption and union with God is through receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Saviour.



Only the pure and holy can enter Heaven and be with God. We human beings cannot make ourselves pure and holy no matter what we do and that's why we need a Saviour.



There are 2 kinds of people on the earth: people who love God and people who don't. Those who love God will be drawn to His Son Jesus Christ and accept him as their Lord and Saviour. Those who do not love God will not love His Son and accept Him.



1 John 2:23

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.



Those who do not love God are not good people but His enemies (Romans 5:10) and He has already prepared a place for them (Hell). Many say they love God but they are liars. How can we prove they are liars? God sent His Son to die for us, but these reject Him (Jesus) and the truth about Him.



The truth about Jesus Christ can be found only in the Holy Bible. Three days after the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, He resurrected from the dead (Luke 24:1-8; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4) and 40 days later, He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11).



A PERSON BECOMES A CHRISTIAN THROUGH FAITH. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Saviour is the ONLY WAY one can receive CLEANSING OF SINS (1 John 1:7), REDEMPTION (Ephesians 1:7), ADOPTION BY GOD (Romans 8:15), THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 6:19), SANCTIFICATION (Hebrews 13:12; 1 Corinthians 1:2), JUSTIFICATION (1 Corinthians 6:11), TRANSFORMATION (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 9:12-14; Titus 3:5) and SALVATION (Romans 10:9; Revelation 21:8).



When a person has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, the Triune Godhead takes up residence within them! Adonai lives within believers (John 14:23), the Lord Jesus Christ lives within believers (2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 2:20) and the Holy Spirit lives within believers (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).



If a person physically dies without ever having made the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour, God would not accept them into Heaven. They would go to Hell and then at the end of the Millennium, would be thrown into the Lake of Fire.



The Lord Jesus Christ describes hell as an actual place in the afterlife:



Luke 16:22-24

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’



The Lord Jesus Christ preached on the Lake of Fire and revealed this place of torment to John in visions (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 20:14 Revelation 19:20).





REDEMPTION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH



Because mankind is incapable of meeting God’s standard of perfection necessary to abide in God’s presence (Romans 3:19-20,23), God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the total debt for the believer’s sins and mercifully credits to his account Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:21-28,5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Jesus’ gracious act of atonement was complete and covers all sin (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9). Salvation is not based on good deeds but according to the mercy of God (Titus 3:4-5). Believers are justified by faith; it is a gift by God’s grace (Romans 4:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). A true, living faith will result in a desire to live a holy, loving life of good works (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26), but failure to be absolutely successful at righteous living does not negate the believer’s justified status.



If you sincerely say this prayer, your sins will be washed away, you will be redeemed to God, be saved from eternal torment and inherit the Kingdom of God:



"Dear Jesus,



I am a sinner.

I repent of my sins.

Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood;

come into my heart.

I want to receive you as my own personal Lord and Savior.



Amen"



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THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS AND OTHER ANCIENT NON CHRISTIAN SOURCES PROVE THE VALIDITY OF THE BIBLE:



http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/extrabiblical.htm



https://www.probe.org/the-dead-sea-scrolls/



FULFILLED PROPHECIES ALSO PROVE THE BIBLE IS RELIABLE:



Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible by Dr. Hugh Ross http://www.believers.org/hughross.htm



PROPHECIES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE

http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/jesus66books.htm



The Father is God, the Son (Jesus Christ) is God & the Holy Spirit is God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJUWnt07FQM



SEQUENCE OF END-TIME EVENTS IN BIBLE PROPHECY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMsvk3FEkWk&feature=youtu.be





https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/