Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Origin:The concept of being "born again" is a fundamental tenet in Christian theology, referring to a spiritual rebirth and transformation that occurs when an individual accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This term is primarily derived from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in the Gospel of John. Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (
John 3:3).
Biblical Context:The phrase "born again" is synonymous with regeneration, a work of the Holy Spirit in which a person is renewed and becomes a new creation in Christ. This transformation is not merely a moral or ethical change but a profound spiritual renewal. In
John 3:5-7, Jesus further explains to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’" This passage emphasizes the necessity of spiritual rebirth for salvation and entry into the kingdom of God.
Theological Significance:Being born again is central to the doctrine of salvation. It signifies the beginning of a new life in Christ, marked by repentance, faith, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this transformation in
2 Corinthians 5:17, stating, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" . This new creation is characterized by a changed heart, renewed mind, and a life that seeks to follow Christ's teachings.
Process and Experience:The experience of being born again involves a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, leading to a conscious decision to turn away from sin and embrace a life of faith. This process is often accompanied by a sense of conviction, repentance, and a desire to live according to God's will. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this transformation, as described in
Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" .
Implications for Christian Life:Being born again has profound implications for a believer's life. It marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of sanctification, where the individual grows in holiness and becomes more like Christ. This transformation affects every aspect of life, including relationships, priorities, and values. The Apostle Peter encourages believers in
1 Peter 1:23, "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God" . This underscores the enduring and eternal nature of the new birth.
Conclusion:The concept of being born again is a cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual rebirth for salvation and a transformed life in Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, believers are renewed and empowered to live according to God's purposes, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel.
Topical Bible Verses
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Topicalbible.orgJohn 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
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1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever.
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Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.
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Romans 5:8
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
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John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
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Greek
3962. pater -- a father... 3962 ("father") is used of our heavenly . He imparts life, from physical birth to
the gift of eternal life through the birth (regeneration,
being born again).
...Library
These Things, Since they are Asserted Upon the Warrant of the...
... such wiseborn, orborn again, without the intervention of a mate, that it remains
continually one, and continually bybeing born orborn again succeeds itself...
Letter i. The Christian's Mark.
... As conversion is calledbeing "born again," the young convert is very properly compared
to a "new-born babe." As a babe is least when firstborn, so the...
The Gateway into the Kingdom.
... Is not that a new birth?" No. What has that to do withbeing born again? There...
regenerated. No; forming a new resolution is notbeing born again....
Making the Man.
... serve God. Alone she prayed with him, and pressed home upon his conscience
the necessity ofbeing born again. Surely this child...
Refutation of Marcion's Objections Derived from the Cases of the...
... to die for us, not having assumed even a brief experience [3228] of flesh bybeing
born, because they were not destined to lay it downagain by dying; but...
Those Persons who do not Believe in God, but who are Disobedient...
... a difference betweenbeing born so andbeing made so... For the first is indeedborn
from the person referred... have rebelled against Me." [4438] Andagain, where He...
The Great Change
... "Ye must beborn again," and thisbeing born again is not the evolving of some good
thing out of you that is already there hidden away, but the putting into...
Bunyan's Last Sermon --Preached July 1688.
... As it is compared to a birth, resembling a child in his mother's womb, so it is
compared to a manbeing raised out of the grave; and to beborn again is to be...
Thoughts Upon Christian Education.
... When Children are baptized,being born again of Water and of the Spirit, as the
Guilt of their Original Sin is washed away in the laver of Regeneration, so...
The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable...
... It is true the particular phrase ofbeing born again, or regenerated, does not occur
there; nor is it expressly said, that an unregenerate man shall not be...
Resources
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