What Your Pastor Doesn’t Tell You About Being Born Again

What does it mean to be born again? The term “Born Again” is a widely used phrase in different Christian denominations. Pastors passionately preach it in their pulpit and vehemently persuade people to be born again. Born Again is so popular that it has become one of the tenets of the Christian faith. For most Christians, an individual who is born again is someone who is converted to a personal faith in Christ. But does this agree with what the Bible teaches? Does what your Pastor teach concur with what the Bible says?

Modern definition of born again

We hear a lot about “born-again” Christians. They claim that since they have received Christ in their lives, they are now born again. So their definition is quite simple. Accept Christ, and you are now officially called a born-again Christian.

Wikipedia has this to say about born again:

“In some Christian movements, particularly in Evangelicalism, to be born again is to undergo a “spiritual rebirth,” or a regeneration of the human spirit from the Holy Spirit. This is contrasted with the physical birth everyone experiences.

In contemporary Christian usage, the term is distinct from sometimes similar terms used in mainstream Christianity to refer to being or becoming Christian, which is linked to baptism. Individuals who profess to be “born again” often state that they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Here’s what GotQuestions.org, one of the top Christian websites today, has to say about being born again:

“The phrase “born again” literally means “born from above. . . Sinners are spiritually “dead”; when they receive spiritual life through faith in Christ, the Bible likens it to a rebirth. Only those who are born again have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with God. . . When one is saved, he/she has been born again, spiritually renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth. Trusting in Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on the cross, is the means to be ‘born again.’”

These definitions reflect what the Christian world believes. HOWEVER, does this understanding of the term “born again” BIBLICALLY ACCURATE? Is this what the Bible teaches about what it means to be born again?

It is the time that you learn the truth. The Bible tells us that Satan has “deceived the WHOLE world (Revelation 12:9)” and that INCLUDES majority of Christians today. It is the time that you unlearn the deception of Satan and open our minds to the truth written in our Bible!

An encounter with the truth

Nicodemus was a high-ranking Pharisee during the time of Christ. He has heard about the miracles done by a respected and wise Teacher who they call Christ. His curiosity has led him to be interested in the teaching of this great Leader. So at the cloak of the night, he approached Jesus to personally inquire of His teachings.

The conversation began (John 3:3:3-10). Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was MYSTIFIED and baffled with the declaration of Christ, and so He asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Correcting the misunderstanding of Nicodemus, Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Christ continues, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

At this time, Nicodemus can’t understand the truth that was being laid before him. It seems to be a new doctrine. So he probed again, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

From this story, Nicodemus is familiar with physical birth. No doubt that he understood what Christ meant when He said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” But when Christ added, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” Nicodemus was astonished.

Modern Christianity is no different to Nicodemus. Christians don’t understand what it really means to be born again in the same manner that Nicodemus misunderstood what Christ taught.

What does the Bible really say about born again?

It is your chance to learn the TRUTH about born again. This truth has not been taught by mainstream Christianity, and it has been hidden from the world.

Let us understand what Christ meant with what it means to be born again. If we really want to know the truth, we need to hear it from the very mouth of Christ and the Bible.

Christ emphatically said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” So being born again is a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God.

Here’s where things get more interesting. Christ added substance to His initial statement and described the very meaning of being born again.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Christ is telling Nicodemus that if you are born of the flesh, you are a physical human being. But if you are born of the Spirit, you are a SPIRITUAL BEING!

The question for “born-again Christians” is this, “Are they spirit being?” Obviously, they are still human beings capable of feeling pain and experiencing death!

Christ continued to explain the characteristics of a being born of the spirit or someone who is born again:

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is BORN OF THE SPIRIT.”

Did you grasp that? Christ is saying that everyone who is born again is someone who is like the wind. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from. Christ is saying that when you are born of the Spirit, you are INVISIBLE to the human eyes unless you choose to manifest yourself.

God created man from the plain dust (Genesis 3:19), not immortal spirit. Man is mortal, physical, and is made of flesh and blood. Obviously, we are not yet spirit beings who are not limited by the law of Physics.

A future time to be born again

God is now in the process of creating His greatest and most important masterpiece. He is reproducing Himself through His creation. When Christ returns here on earth, He will reward His saints with IMMORTALITY! That is when the saints of God will become born again – to be born into the kingdom of God!

Read I Corinthians 15:50-54:

Now this I say, brethren, that FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

The Bible cannot be clearer than this! The time when we will be born again is when Christ returns here on the earth. Being born again has NEVER happened yet! Christ said that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. This is what He was telling Nicodemus. Christ was saying that we need to be turned into a spirit being because NO PHYSICAL BEING can enter God’s Kingdom.

Final Words

Being born again refers to the change, from human being to spirit being, from corruption to incorruption, from mortal to immortality. The Bible plainly tells us that being born again is a future event. It occurs when Christ finally returns here on earth and rewards His saints with eternal life.

Anyone who claims to be born again during this lifetime does not understand what the Bible really teaches. We are not to believe any man’s teaching unless it squares with the Bible.

Today, as we struggle with the challenges that our Christian walk may bring, let us not forget the unimaginable and INCREDIBLE reward prepared for us. One day, we will be born again into the Family of God and be literally called His immortal sons and daughters!

15 thoughts on “What Your Pastor Doesn’t Tell You About Being Born Again

  1. I was pondering this the other day myself.
    So what do you tell people who bring up what Peter said about being “born again” in 1 Peter chapter 1?
    I would say if asked, that the terminology used is different(even though it looks the same in the English language), and the context is different.

  2. I enjoyed the writing though I have experienced something different. When we accept Christ we are sealed and one of His. The Holy Spirit works His work in the life of a believer. Christ’s indwelling Spirit testifies of Christ, corrects, teaches and comforts. You go through growrh periods as the Holy Spirit works to make you holy. It is this growth that is not discussed much in church. You will definitely know you are born again at the Holy Spirit’s timing. Christ is inside us changing us from glory to glory. When we do die, it is Christ’s record not our own that is seen. The dead referenced above is those that were dead before Christ’s descendion and those that die before His return. Christ changes you now through regeneration. Romans 12:2. A completely changed person is the indication of being born again as in Romans.

    • Hi Tamera,

      Thank you for your comment. I appreciate how you gave your answer. Obviously, you are a dedicated and loving Christian. 🙂

      I agree with you that it is the Holy Spirit who works in us to help you grow spiritually and develop its fruit. It is the Holy Spirit that comforts us and guides us through our lives. In fact, the Holy Spirit is called the down payment of our salvation.

      However, the term “born again” in the Bible isn’t used to refer to being converted. Born again, as the blog explains, refers to the literal transformation of our physical body to spiritual body. That’s how “born again” is explained in scripture.

      Blessings and peace,
      Joshua

  3. As usual Joshua, your conclusions are based on only consideration of one part/a few selected verses and totally ignore other verses and completely out of context. Trying to convince others by using half truths is not only misleading but God said very clearly in 1 John 2:26. Now my question to you, Joshua – Why do you only focus on the ‘spirit’, what about the ‘water’. The verse you quote says – ‘Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God! So how does water fit into your doctrine?

    • Hi Rolph,

      I’m sorry for the super late reply. I didn’t notice you left a comment and I just noticed it now.

      Regarding your question, born of water means being born from the womb. When a mother gives birth, a bag of water is “broken.” One should be born of water first before a person can be born in spirit. Obviously, someone who is not born physically can’t be born spiritually. A physical birth should first come.

      Jesus or Yahshua was simply saying that there are two stages of births and without these two, you can’t enter the Kingdom of God.

      I hope that clears the confusion.

      Regards,
      Joshua

  4. Don’t blame the writer he has opinion of others he doesn’t have his personal opinion of being born again.

  5. This is a wrong doctrine. Being born again means, you meet the father. The wind is the kind of experience you get while meeting. The wind can be in a house for instance your living room.That’s why it says you won’t be able to see where the wind is coming from and where it’s going. It is a spiritual experience and you will recognise it by feeling wind blown and also hearing it out loud as if it’s physical. The wind is God filling you with his spirit Amen. I love you all and have a good day.

    • Hi Kevin,

      Thanks for your comment. However, I’m afraid I need to disagree with you. Being born again means to be born in God’s Kingdom as a spirit being.

      Regards,
      Joshua

  6. Wrong Joshua i was born again after baptism and 1 year later I cried out to Jesus and He sent His Holy Spirit into my bedroom it came suddenly and unexpectedly like the wind and filled me with love so pure and powerful Divine after a few minutes He left but I knew the truth as Jesus said He would send us His Holy Spirit the Comforter Amen

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