What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?

Born Again

“I don’t know…” would be an acceptable answer to title of this article. But being that there are many different understandings of born again, most of which are contradictory, we must come to the conclusion that they all can’t be right.

For Hindus, to be born again is to be reincarnated. Reinarnation is based on your Karma. If your good deeds outweigh your bad, then you are reinarcarnated or born again, up a stage from what you were in your previous life.

For Buddhists, to be born again is to be enlightened. Not even the Buddha reached enlightenment or was born again. He didn’t reach the place where he lead others after he left his wife and kids.

For Muslims, the idea of being born again doesn’t have a home.

For the Atheist, the idea of being born again entails personal awakening. You find yourself by being authentic and by following your wants and desires for your life.

For the Christian, it’s different than all of these. For instance, being Born Again is soteriological, or having to do with salvation. In other words, one who is saved is “Born Again.” The one who puts their faith in Christ is “born again.” Being Born again is not based on your desires, or based a special personal awakening, but it is based on the Holy Spirit.

Let’s Unpack This Further

The Curious Case of the Spirit

Nicodemus: Curious; Lover of Truth; Pharisee; Defender of Jesus; Convert.

It is safe to say that Nicodemus is an intriguing man to study. Nicodemus is a surprising man to show up in the Gospels who has an interaction with Jesus.

Because he knows the suspicion that would be thrown towards his way by his colleagues, he asks to meet with Jesus at night in order ask Him questions of His teachings. The interaction is recorded in the Gospel of John and is the basis for important concepts in Christendom. Let’s take a look at the relevant passage.

John 3: 1-4

Here’s how the interaction begins in the Gospel of John.

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

As said above, Nicodemus is a surprising man to approach Jesus with warmth and genuine curiosity. The Pharisees were strict observers of the Law.

Any deviation of the Law is a threat, not only to them, but to the people of Israel. This is so much so, that the Pharisees added traditions to the Law with the attempt to preserve it from being broken. Exile was fresh in their minds. This was never going to happen again.

Unfortunately, what started as a practice of pure intent turned sour. They became legalistic over time and treated their traditions as synonymous with the Law of God. Nicodemus is one of these people. But, it appears that something stirred him.

Now, Jesus told him something incredibly and strange. No one can see the kingdom unless they are born again.

Does that mean that you must re-enter your mother’s womb and start over?

Does it mean that you are reborn into another animal or human being?

Is rebirth referring to a personal awakening?

John 3: 5-8

The Interaction Continues.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Everyone who is born by water and the Spirit is one who sees the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the key here. And the Holy Spirit chooses who is He wishes. As no one knows where the wind is going or is coming from no one knows where the Spirit goes. What we do know, is that to be born again, one must be born of the Spirit, and thus be cleansed from sin as water cleans the body.

Ezekiel 36: 25-27

The prophet, Ezekiel, is helpful when understanding what Jesus may be referring to. In Ezekiel 36: 25-28, we see a stunning picture of purification.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all our uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you… I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statures and be careful to obey my rules.”

As the Spirit cleanses us, we are, what Christians called, sanctified. The Spirit does a work in us in which our heart of stone is changed to a heart of flesh. We then walk in the commandments of the Lord, one day at a time, as we seek to represent Him to the nations.

This is what it means to be reborn: To have God’s Spirit indwell us. He does not dwell in temples, cathedrals, or church buildings. But, rather, he dwells among His people and in His people; a nation of priests; a culmination of ambassadors.

We are reborn as a people; we aren’t reborn by trying hard, or by being our authentic selves.

We are reborn through the death of self, and the revitalization that the Spirit brings.