Christians...what does it mean to be 'born again.'?

Question

Serious answers please! Thanks!!

Answer 1

You ask a good question and already have gotten a good range of answers. Some of which are serious and some just seriously wrong. PRETENDERS CAN GO AHEAD AND SKIP TO THE NEXT SUBJECT – THE REST OF THIS TEXT MAY CAUSE YOU TO THINK.

Rather than just think something up and feel good about it & teach it to others as “God’s word”, it is best to go to the Bible to see what God has to say about it.

First of all, we understand that we are physically born (except for babies killed in the womb of course) and we will all physically die just like our ancestors did before us. In the very beginning of mankind, Adam & Eve learned the difference between physical death and spiritual death. The serpent told them if they disobeyed God they would not really die as God had told them. So they ate of the forbidden fruit and whala they did not die at least not physically at least not right away (after the Tree of Life was removed from them they did eventually die physically).

So Adam & Eve learned a lesson that we should all know – when you disobey God, you die spiritually (Romans 6:23 is very clear on this). How horrible is it to die spiritually and be forever separated from your Creator? …very. God knows this so He made provision for us to come back into a good relationship with him. This is the Good News (Gospel) that Jesus brought to mankind (you know “Peace on Earth” … not physical peace as we can see around us we do not have, but spiritual peace with God).

Jesus taught in John 3 that a person has to be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (vs. 3) and further explains how this is done (vs. 5) – being “born of water and of the spirit.”

The apostles explain this even further. After Jesus died and at the very beginning of Christianity when Peter was teaching the Jews on the Day of Pentecost about God’s new covenant, the people realized they were not in a saved condition so they asked Peter what they needed to do be saved. Peter told them in Acts 2:38 to “be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Here we see how we are born again by water, but not a physical re-birth from our mother’s womb which was also water (amniotic fluid). The word “baptism” is the Greek word for immersion.

Acts 8:12 Philip baptized men and women in Samaria (now Christianity is spreading beyond the Jews). In Acts 8:26-38 Peter taught the Ethiopian treasurer about Jesus & the Gospel using the prophesies of Isaiah. Verse 38 says “they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Here is an interesting thought for you – why would they both have to go “into” the water if baptism is just a sprinkling of water? …were we born physically with just a sprinkle of water or were we immersed in water when we were born? …hmm). Acts19:5 Paul baptized in the name of Jesus.

There are numerous other Bible examples of people being baptized (born again of water). Of course when you are born again spiritually, you now are to live as a servant to God. Paul teaches that we have to put to death our old selves and be renewed in the spirit of God. However, that is a whole other lesson.

I hope this helps your understanding of being born again. Of course the BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON GODLY MATTERS IS THE BIBLE rather than the “opinions” you get from most people. Think about it – figure it out!

Answer 2

Another way of putting being born again is becoming saved or
being born from above.

It is a good question to ask for serious persons who want to know what being born again is all about.

One thing, is that it, being born again, can only be achieved a certain way. For it is the only way a person can be saved, and be then entitled to go to heaven.

Answer 3

There are 2 answers.
One answer is about what Christendom teaches.
But its wrong.
The second is the truth:
Jesus chose 144,000 humans (over centuries) to work with him in the heavenly kingdom.
Just as one is physically born to start a physical life on earth, SO, those of the 144,000 begin a new life.
Now they antcipate becoming spirit creatures in heaven.
Its as if they were born again.
Its just an expression to help us understand better.

Answer 4

Spiritual birth, there are two births one is of flesh or from the whomb, born of water. The other Birth is spiritual. born of the spirit. Jesus Christ said...John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The second birth is spiritual when you accept Jesus Christ to be the son of God ans the "lamb of God" that taketh away the sin of the world.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned
Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death but the GIFT of God is eternal life.
Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.(born again)
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (born again)

Answer 5

The answer can be found in John 3:1-5

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God."
Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again."
Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."

-John 3:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version)

Actually, a better translation of "born again" would be "born from above", to distinguish between God's spirit and Satan's spirit. In order for your soul to live beyond your body's death, one must be "born again" either from above (by God's spirit) or from below (by Satan's spirit). If you are born again from above, you get to spend the rest of eternity with God. If you are born again from below, you get to spend the rest of eternity away from God. If you aren't born again, then your soul dies and its like you never existed.

Answer 6

Basically this means you can do anything you want to people or whatever. Be the most horrible nasty person, then be reborn. All these past discretions be totally erased.
Lots of people in prison get reborn while there. Seriously!

Answer 7

Born Again...means born of the Spirit...it means when you come to accept Christ as your Saviour and He comes into you heart. That is born again...

Answer 8

When you were born, you were a mortal. Your destiny is to die.
To be reborn, means to be made a new creature, from within...to be made immortal...that is, your spirit will never die.
Only Jesus can do that for you, and only from within your being...it is the gift He bought for you with His blood.

Answer 9

Aww you want a biased answer dont you? It means to pretend like youre a new person, then treat everyone that doesnt think like you like dirt, oh yes i used to be a fundie like you, its a horrible mindset and the people dont know that they hurt others until its too late!

Answer 10

It means that you have let the old you "die" so to speak and are now reborn in the spirit through Jesus Christ as your Savior. It means that you now live your life for God and search His wll for your life. You put away the old ways of the worldly you to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.