Do Catholics and Eastern Orthodox teach that you must be "born again" to see the kingdom of Heaven?

Question

If so, how do they become born again.

Answer 1

Yes. This rebirth takes place with the Sacrament of Baptism:

Born Again in Water Baptism
John 1:32 - when Jesus was baptized, He was baptized in the water and the Spirit, which descended upon Him in the form of a dove. The Holy Spirit and water are required for baptism. Also, Jesus’ baptism was not the Christian baptism He later instituted. Jesus’ baptism was instead a royal anointing of the Son of David (Jesus) conferred by a Levite (John the Baptist) to reveal Christ to Israel, as it was foreshadowed in 1 Kings 1:39 when the Son of David (Solomon) was anointed by the Levitical priest Zadok. See John 1:31; cf. Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21.

John 3:3,5 - Jesus says, "Truly, truly, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." When Jesus said "water and the Spirit," He was referring to baptism (which requires the use of water, and the work of the Spirit).

John 3:22 - after teaching on baptism, John says Jesus and the disciples did what? They went into Judea where the disciples baptized. Jesus' teaching about being reborn by water and the Spirit is in the context of baptism.

John 4:1 - here is another reference to baptism which naturally flows from Jesus' baptismal teaching in John 3:3-5.

Acts 8:36 – the eunuch recognizes the necessity of water for his baptism. Water and baptism are never separated in the Scriptures.

Acts 10:47 - Peter says "can anyone forbid water for baptizing these people..?" The Bible always links water and baptism.

Acts 22:16 – Ananias tells Saul, “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins.” The “washing away” refers to water baptism.

Titus 3:5-6 – Paul writes about the “washing of regeneration,” which is “poured out on us” in reference to water baptism. “Washing” (loutron) generally refers to a ritual washing with water.

Heb. 10:22 – the author is also writing about water baptism in this verse. “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Our bodies are washed with pure water in water baptism.

2 Kings 5:14 - Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored like that of a child. This foreshadows the regenerative function of baptism, by water and the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 44:3 - the Lord pours out His water and His Spirit. Water and the Spirit are linked to baptism. The Bible never separates them.

Ezek. 36:25-27 - the Lord promises He will sprinkle us with water to cleanse us from sin and give us a new heart and spirit. Paul refers to this verse in Heb. 10:22. The teaching of Ezekiel foreshadows the salvific nature of Christian baptism instituted by Jesus and taught in John 3:5, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21 and Acts 22:16.

Answer 2

This passage is misunderstood by the Protestants and others (like Ted Haggard) who can become "born again" as many times as one wishes.

One is born in the flesh. One is re-born by baptism - whether one is an infant, a convert or a hundred year old Hindu.

There is one baptism for the remission of sins - meaning that once you have been baptized, you have symbolically died and rose from the dead. The sacrament of confirmation seals you with the Holy Spirit. Should you go astray, like Dog the Bounty Hunter for example, confirmation re-seals you back into the faith NOT another baptism.

Answer 3

Yes but born again means you stop sinning not just believe that Christ is going to take all my sins and I can do any---- thing I want. Christ said "Go and sin no more" That means we can become sinless but because of all the mistranslations and things taken out of the bible you do not even know that meat eating is a sin Stop eating meat then you have a chance of becoming born again "to what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?Saith the Lord; I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts and I delight not in the blood o bulls or cows or of lambs or goats When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear, for your hands are full of blood." Isaiah 1:11,15 There is so much more and Christ was a vegetarian If you want to actually become born again go to http://www.essene.org and know what Christ actually said and follow his teachings.

Answer 4

The Scripture in question is from John 3 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

This is a reference to Baptism which both the Othodox and Catholics practice so the answer is yes.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1257:

"1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments."

Answer 5

First of baptism we see it as being born again but then when we are ready to accept the faither "born again" formally by the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confrimation, but being born again isn't just a one time process it can happen any time you recieve the Holy Spirit back into you once you repented for your mortal sin and stuff like that.

Answer 6

Can a person who is not “born again” be saved?

Rev. 7:9, 10, 17: “After these things [after the apostle John heard the number of those who would be “born again,” those who would make up spiritual Israel and would be with Christ in heaven; compare Romans 2:28, 29 and Galatians 3:26-29] I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ . . . ‘The Lamb [Jesus Christ], who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life.’”

After listing many pre-Christian persons of faith, Hebrews 11:39, 40 says: “All these, although they had witness borne to them through their faith, did not get the fulfillment of the promise, as God foresaw something better for us, in order that they might not be made perfect apart from us.” (Who are here meant by “us”? Hebrews 3:1 shows that they are “partakers of the heavenly calling.” The pre-Christian persons who had faith, then, must have a hope for perfect life somewhere other than in heaven.)

Ps. 37:29: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”

Rev. 21:3, 4: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Is it possible for a person to have God’s spirit and yet not be “born again”?

Regarding John the baptizer, Jehovah’s angel said: “He will be filled with holy spirit right from his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15) And Jesus later said: “Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is [Why? Because John will not be in the heavens and so there was no need for him to be “born again”]. But from the days of John the Baptist until now [when Jesus stated this] the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press.”—Matt. 11:11, 12.

The spirit of Jehovah was “operative” upon David and “spoke” by him (1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 23:2), but nowhere does the Bible say that he was “born again.” There was no need for him to be “born again,” because, as Acts 2:34 says: “David did not ascend to the heavens.”

Answer 7

Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

John 3: 5

"Being born of water and Spirit" is what Catholics see as Baptism

Answer 8

Yes, via baptism, which may be accomplished at any age, by virtue of the grace which God has entrusted to his Church, and by virtue of the faith which the Church continually demonstrates and represents to the world.

Infants who are baptized receive God's grace as a free gift, and a gift which is entirely independent of any WORKS on their part.

Isn't that wonderful? God is great!

Answer 9

Yes and you also must have 3 box tops from Corn Flakes, Sugar Puffs or Captian Crunch

Answer 10

No they don't. They teach that you must be a good church person and attend all the rituals and cerimonies to get into heaven. In other words, get saved by works, their works, not God's grace.