WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN AGAIN?

I have been asked many times by Bible believing Christians, to explain what it means to be born again.  The verses below reveal what takes place when a person experiences the new birth.  Like the birth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit "births us" as children of God (see 1 Jn. 3:2).  The Gospel message (1 Cor. 15:1-4) has the power to bring about the "metamorphosis" necessary for the new birth:  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

Luke 1:35 - "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of God."  While this verse is describing how the virgin Mary conceived, and her Child would be The Son of God, as I stated above, the Holy Spirit does the same for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:  we become "sons of God."

John 1:12-13 - "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

John 3:3-7 - "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.  Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water AND of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh (physical birth); and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (spiritual birth).  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

1 Peter 1:23 - "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." By comparing Romans 10:8-17 with this verse, we find that the Word of God - the Gospel - is the transforming power of God. 

1 John 5:1, 4 - "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  The title "Christ" means "the anointed One"; it identifies Jesus as the Messiah, Israel's promised King of kings.

To sum up, the Holy Spirit convicts man of his sin (Jn. 16:8-9) and his need for a Savior.  The Spirit uses one or more of God's children to preach the Gospel message to him (Rom. 10:8-17).  When he believes that Jesus died for his sins, that He was buried, and that the Father raised Him from the dead, all according to the Scriptures, he is born again.  Because he understands that Jesus is The Christ, he begins to live out his life serving Him as his Lord.  After all, the Word clearly teaches us that salvation is a gift and not the result of religious works, but that one is saved to become His servant (Eph. 2:8-10). 

 

Those who are born again, love God and gladly serve Him!