What does it mean to be born again?
To be born again is to receive new spiritual life from God through faith in Christ: a second birth, not of the flesh but of the Spirit, which makes you a child of God and a new creation. It is the doorway of the entire Christian life.
This question arose from studying How can I be saved? and What is faith, exactly?.
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Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
It is a second birth
Nicodemus was a religious expert, and Jesus told him he still needed to be 'born again,' born of water and the Spirit, not of the flesh. Flesh gives birth to flesh; the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The new birth is not self-improvement; it is a new beginning from above.
Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ The windblows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
It is God's work, not ours
We become children of God 'not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' It is God who saves us 'by his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.' We cannot birth ourselves; we receive the birth He gives.
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
It makes us a new creation
'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.' The new birth is not a fresh coat of paint on the old life; it is a new life, the life of Christ in you.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
It gives a living hope
We are 'born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,' and 'born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God.' The life you are born to can't die.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
How do you receive it? By believing the gospel
The new birth comes as you trust what God says about His Son. Having believed, you are sealed with the Spirit, and the Spirit Himself testifies with your spirit that you are God's child. It is a gift to receive, not an achievement to earn.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.”
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
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