What Does It Mean to be Born Again?

​It is likely you have heard someone tell you, “I am a born-again Christian.” The declaration typically leads to an invitation for you to become a “born-again Christian,” and through the conversation, the phrase remains unclear. It sounds like a wonderful idea, and it certainly creates a sense of wonder, but what does it mean? If you were to ask that one who declared they are a born-again Christian what he means, it is likely you will hear about emotions and feelings. Perhaps some Scripture will be shared, but because the new birth is often tied to how we feel, there is nothing concrete about it. It then becomes subject to the interpretation of each person rather than a meaningful experience. Is this Jesus’ intention for the new birth?
            John’s gospel contains a key text that teaches us about what it means to be born again. Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jewish people, concerning the new birth (John 3:1-5). Nicodemus initially fails to understand Jesus’ teaching that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (3:3). He wonders whether Jesus means that a man must enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born again that way. The Lord repeats His teaching and clarifies its meaning: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (3:5). What we read in this passage alerts us to the fact that the new birth is a requirement to see God’s kingdom and enter it. In other words, it is impossible to be part of God’s people without being born again. The seriousness of this reality cannot be overstated. If we wish to receive God’s favor and submit to His reign in our lives, then we must experience the new birth.
            Thankfully, Jesus is not ambiguous with how to experience the new birth. He states that “one is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). There are two elements to the new birth according to Jesus: water and the Spirit. While interpretations for these elements vary, there are some clear points we garner from both. First, the water to which Jesus refers likely means immersion in water, which is what John the Baptist—or the Immerser—did in the wilderness (Luke 3:3). Water throughout Scripture brings up the idea of cleansing. In the Old Testament, the priests had a basin of water which they used to wash themselves before they could serve God and offer sacrifice (Exodus 30:17-21). This was a requirement to enter God’s presence lest they perish. In the New Testament, water continues to represent cleansing, but it takes on a new significance, for it is an essential part of salvation. As the apostle Peter plainly stated, baptism now saves us (1 Peter 3:21). This same apostle proclaimed that baptism is “for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38). For anyone to be born again, they must be baptized. It is through baptism that one contacts Christ’s blood so his sins may be forgiven (Romans 6:3-4). Many dispute the crucial part that baptism plays, but Scripture unambiguously shows us that it is required for us to be saved. Therefore, if we want to enter God’s kingdom and experience its blessings, we must be baptized in water.
            Second, Jesus refers to “the Spirit” as a requirement for the new birth. It is true that at baptism we receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit,” which is His dwelling within our hearts (Acts 2:38). Is that what Jesus means? That is certainly part of it. However, we must also consider the fact that the new birth involves a change in our spirits when we experience it. That is, our attitude, way of thinking, and way of living all must change if we are genuinely born again. There are some who carry out the first element of the new birth, baptism in water, but neglect the second element. We must again remember that both elements, water and the Spirit, are essential to enter God’s kingdom. A few years after Jesus taught Nicodemus, the apostle Peter taught some early Christians that the new birth they experienced came through God’s living and abiding word (1 Peter 1:23). These born-again Christians did not just have feelings and emotions to share; rather, they had a transformed life that was evident. We see that in his acknowledgment of the fact that these Christians had obeyed the truth, which purified their souls and produced love (1 Peter 1:22). Peter goes further and teaches that these Christians should lay aside things like malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and evil speaking. Instead, they should desire the true milk of God’s word so they could grow in what is right (1 Peter 2:1-3). Put simply, the new birth demands those who experience it live changed lives. It is not enough to carry out one element and leave the other undone. Any person who claims to be a born-again Christian that does not live a life obedient to the word of God has yet to experience the new birth as it is taught in the Bible.
            The new birth is essential for anyone who wants to enter God’s kingdom and share in its blessings. It is not just about how we feel, though, for the Bible teaches us that it involves much more than that. To be born again demands submission and obedience to God. That is perhaps why so many who claim to be born-again Christians do not show the reality of the new birth in how they live. The sad consequence is that these are not citizens of God’s kingdom, nor are they right with Him. Let us not focus on the status of others, however, but on our status. Have we experienced the new birth as Jesus teaches it? If not, then what hinders us? Our hope is that you will carefully weigh what it means to be born again and obey what Jesus teaches concerning it.