Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ John

[Jurist]

What does "born again" mean to you?

[jimwalton]

Unfortunately, “born again” has become a catch-phrase, and in the minds of some it symbolizes a certain understanding or “sect” of Christianity, which is most unfortunate. It's a biblical concept, straight from the mouth of Jesus, almost in the form of a parable, which helps us understand new life in Christ and adoption into God’s family.

Jesus means that one must have a spiritual birth—a vibrant connection with God that doesn't come just with being a human being (our first birth). The process of physical birth is the joining of sperm and egg and one begins his or her biological life. The process of spiritual birth is the aligning of oneself to God, and one is given spiritual life (2 Cor. 5.17). That person now is given life that is in God and God alone. Jesus would call this true life, or real life, as opposed to mere biological life that is so vulnerable to weakness, injury, disease, and eventually death. This real life is incorruptible, eternal, and qualitatively perfect.

In that sense, it’s quite impossible to “follow Christ” and yet not be “born again.” If any person is in Christ, they ARE a new creation. When you are born again, you become spiritually alive (Rom. 6.11), and are "born" into God's family (Rom. 8.16-17).