Have you ever sincerely asked: what does born again mean!
A lot has being said about being born again, what it means, what it does not mean and how to be born again really.
But what does the bible really say about it?
Well, in this post on what does born again mean, we will take a scriptural look at what it means to be born again.
READ ALSO: What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
What Does Born Again Mean In The Bible
To be born again means to be born from above, to be spiritually reborn, to be regenerated in your human spirit by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit.
And this is in contrast with the physical birth.
In a nutshell, to be born again means to be reborn by the breath of God, Spirit of God – just as Adam was born by the direct breath of God.
Without the direct breath (operation, influence) of the Holy Spirit, one cannot be said to be born again.
In Adam, according to Scripture, man died spiritually when Adam sinned and ate of the ‘Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,’ what God ask him not to eat.
And what’s spiritual death?
Spiritual death is separation from God.
He lost God’s glory and covering, he became naked, separated in spirit from God, driven from the very presence of God.
Every man born of Adam is dead spiritually and separated from God – lost.
So to get back to God, He has to be born again, reborn spiritually by the influence and breath of the Holy Spirit and then get back into union again with God as was before the fall of Adam.
READ ALSO: Bible Verses About Thankfulness In Hard Times
What Does The Bible Say About Being Born Again
The phrase ‘born again’ was first used in the bible by Jesus Christ in John chapter 3 verse 3 when He was addressing a notable member of the Jewish ruling council by the name Nicodemus.
This Jewish religious leader came secretly to Jesus at night to ask about certain things that he saw missing in his life as a religious leader.
He saw that there was something about Jesus that was different from his religious experience, he saw that Jesus was not just about religion but power and life, then he wanted to know what this was about.
Answering him, Jesus said ‘unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’
Jesus had a life, kingdom life.
His power, purity and authority reflects a kingdom, He could only do the things He was doing because He was operating a different kingdom on earth.
So what does born again mean?
Jesus meant to say to Nicodemus, you must experience a rebirth by the Spirit of God.
Without that you will not be able to perceive the kingdom of God, let alone have a part in it.
That’s serious!
READ: ALSO: Can You Get The Holy Spirit back?
How To Be Born Again
So what does born again mean?
It is a spiritual rebirth by an act of the Spirit of God; a supernatural influence and breath of the Spirit of God coming upon a man’s spirit resulting in the recreation, regeneration of that person’s spirit.
It’s like a physically dead person come back to life a again.
So now, how do you get born again?
Paul the Apostle gave us a clue to being born again in 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.”
First he says to confess the lordship of Jesus.
Second is to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, when you do, the Holy Spirit takes over from there and do the rebirth of your spirit by imparting you with life giving breath from heaven.
So your part is to believe that Jesus not only died for you to pay the ransom for sin so you can have a legal ground to receive God’s forgiveness and be saved, but that God also raised Him from the dead.
The resurrection of Christ is at the heart of the gospel that brings salvation.
You must believe that Jesus is risen from the dead and alive today and forever more.
And then you take the second step by confessing that Jesus is now lord of your life.
When you believe the resurrection and confess Jesus’ lordship, the Holy Spirit goes to working on your spirit by a supernatural act that results in your being again.
And when this happens, you will know.
Yes, anyone who truly met the Lord and is born again will know that something has happened to him, he has received eternal life.
It is not about religion or joining a church, it about spiritual life from above.
READ ALSO: Scriptures On Praying In The Spirit
Some Bible Verses About Being Born Again
1. John 3:3-7:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
3. 1 Peter 1:3:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
4. 2 Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
5. 1 Peter 1:23:
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
6. Titus 3:5:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
7. Genesis 2:7:
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
8. John 1:12-13:
“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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
9. Romans 8:9:
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
10. John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
11. Ephesians 2:1-6:
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
READ ALSO: Bible Verses For Overcoming Anxiety
PS: Unless otherwise stated all scriptural quotations in this post are taken from the Authorised King James Version. And all scriptural quotations tagged NIV are taken online from the New International Version 2011, published by Biblica.
Final word
So now, we believe that you’re no longer at a loss as to what born again means!
What does born again mean?
It means everything above and more.
What does born again mean, it also means a personal walk and relationship with the Lord through the same Holy Spirit afterwards.
What does born again mean?
It means you have been accepted in the beloved, your sins are remitted, you are now a new creation, you have experienced the kingdom of God and are set to begin to walk in the reality of the kingdom now.
What does born again mean?
It means you are in the kingdom of God right now, you have right of way and access to the powers, authority, blessings and blessedness of the kingdom and can now be fully indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
That’s what it means to be born again.
READ ALSO: Bible Verses About Being Thankful For The Little Things
Please share if you find this post helpful!
