Born Again?

Question

Someone answered that Catholics aren't Christian unless they are 'born again'? What does born again mean?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060821113208AAQFp6G&r=w#NbUvWzu.UTj4YzMg3Q31

All Catholics are baptized. Why is our baptizism not equivalent to yours?

All Christians are followers of Christ.
All Christians repent when they have done wrong.
All Christians love one another...

Why is a Catholic any different? These are so general how can they NOT apply?

Catholics are also sealed with the Holy Spirit by the annointing of the Chrisim after baptizim. We revere the Holy Spirit just like any other Christian.

Answer 1

The Evangelicals are false teachers about this. Being born again essentially means that you are born anew. You first were born of sinful flesh, rejecting God.

When one is a believer, they are reborn - not of flesh and blood, but of the spirit.

ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE ARE BORN AGAIN.

What does this mean?
If you are Baptized, you have been born again. This is because all who are Baptized are believers. (that is until they reject the faith)

Those who are not Baptized, yet believe are also "born again".

No one can believe apart from the Holy Spirit which means that all who believe are born again.

Only the Holy Spirit can work faith in the unbeliever.

Answer 2

baptism is just a symbol, an outward example of the born again experience. Catholics are generally baptized as babies- a baby cannot make a conscience decision for Christ and cannot understand the gospel message. catholic, infant baptizing is equivelant to our baby dedication, it is a statement by the parents they they commit to raise the child according to the word of God- it is a commitment b the parents, not the child.
A person, even an adult can be baptized but not born again. The baptism is just a symbol and can unfortunately become a meaningless ritual. Born again mean putting off the old man, the old ways and accepting Christ as your Lord and saviour, making a decision to follow him and commit oyur own life to him- it is a rebirth of the spirit that happens from the inside, not from the outside.

Answer 3

I wish people would stop splitting hairs. We are all children of God. Born again is a term that Jesus used to describe Spiritual birth. Believing that Jesus died for your sins, and letting him become the king of your heart. Believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth, You are considered "Born again". Baptism if a reflection of us dieing with Christ(Going under the water) and being raised with him(when he arose from the grave) it's a public announcement that you are a Christian (Christ-like) You belong to the family of God. Don't call yourself what the title of the "Church Building is" the organization, or Building name is not a relationship with God, that's just religion. God wants relationship - He doesn't care whats the name of your group.

Answer 4

Mainly because these things are outward, not inward.

I have always maintained that Catholics can be born-again Christians, but it is much harder, because there are so many distractions and superstitions that have grown up around the Catholic faith.

Answer 5

Unfortunately there is some understand that Catholics are not Christians (dont ask why). As far as I am concerned Catholics are Christians i.e. followers of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

Being born again isn't the same as being baptized.

When Jesus said "You must be born again," he was referring to birth by the Holy Spirit. In other words, if you recognize your sinfulness before a Holy God, repent, and put your faith in Jesus (God's chosen path for redemption), you will be sealed by the Holy Spirit. It's referred to as a "rebirth" because to truly repent and turn from your sins is compared in scripture to a death... dying to yourself (sinful nature) and living in the Lord.

Baptism by water is a symbol of this. It is commanded in scripture, but not a requirement for salvation.


Additional details in response to your addition:
Not all who call themselves Christians have truly been saved. A person must first understand his sinfulness ... have you ever lied? stolen? lusted? hated? blasphemed? If so, you've broken God's laws and must stand before Him on judgment day. Nothing you can do can make it right before him, because a fine must be paid. You can't repent enough, feel bad enough, or do enough good works. It just isn't enough.

When you (I'm using "you" generally, not You personally) truly recognize your own sinfulness, and understand that you cannot get to heaven through any of your own means or works, then the good news: God loved you and sent His Son to pay your sin penalty. If you put your trust in Christ, like putting on a parachute, God views you with His righteousness and you are saved from hell.

Many Catholics probably have repented and trusted in Christ once for all. The trouble with Catholicism is generally that they don't realize their own works can't save them. They believe if they live a good life and believe in Jesus they'll be saved, but they don't see their hopeless condition before God, and some never really understand what it means to put their faith in Jesus and walk with Him. It isn't about confessing to a priest; a priest is only another sinful man and cannot give absolution. No one can forgive sins but God. And _believing_ in Jesus isn't enough; even the devil believes in Him.

Answer 7

I think this is a good question. I'm Catholic and am baptized and know that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling....

Answer 8

to be born again is not a matter of baptism... is a matter of spiritual growth... if you go by the laws of love and you keep yourself pure... then you reach this state of being born again. you symbolically reach it by being baptized but you need to put effort into getting there really...

Answer 9

So "born - agains" can feel superior - hallelujah god help us all

"If'n you ain't born-agin you is livin-sin"

Just another crock of crap that came into existence in the last hundred years or so by Evangelical American bible thumpers who discovered that if you can git'em to believe they are special then you ken git their cash! - Yee hah and praise the lord - the retching sounds you hear are the god warrior getting a whif of her own stank! I AM the God Warrior! You are evil slakits! ;-)


Catholics are confirmed in their faith as a conscious choice and by that alone ought to be considered part of the Born Again Sector.

I have serious problems with those born again who find no worth in their fellow man if that fellow man hasn't been washed in the exact blood of the lamb as they were. It is by it's very nature evil in its exclusion tactics - the louder one yells Sinner the more likely that one sins in secret! And all the thumbs down in the world cannot change my clear understanding of the truth.

God bless y'all!

All religion is man's device and I and God choose not to conform. My faith is personal and deep in my relationship with the diety and he leads me not into temptation and keeps me from the company of false prophets.

Answer 10

Born again means to go back into your mother womb and be born again. Nicodemus had the right idea when the said the same to Jesus in John 3. It was Jesus who has the funny-head idea of born again being some spirtiual kind of birth. Nicodemus was right. Jesus was wrong.