Real Bible Truths The real meaning of Born Again
As with most of these studies, this is an important subject that many Christians have gotten wrong. Jesus said “You must be born again”, and since He put such an emphasis on it we need to make sure we understand it. So then, What is Born Again?
The phrase “Born Again” is only used three times in the entire Bible. First by Jesus and twice in the same passage, then once by Peter. Let’s read what Jesus said;
The fact that Jesus uses the phrase “Verily, verily”, shows that Jesus means it is absolutely necessary. Now Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, but confused, Nicodemus said this”
So Jesus goes on to explain it a little better to Nicodemus
So Jesus gave two requirements. One is that we must be born of water and two me must be born of the Spirit. So first things first, what does it mean to be born of water?
Well the first thing that should come to mind is water baptism. That is by far the most obvious thing. But many try to explain this away and just focus on being born of the Spirit. But they are not one and the same otherwise Jesus would not have separated them. So clearly they are separate things and we need them both.
Now I’ve even had people try to tell me that the water Jesus is referring to is the water sac from which we are born. But that is absolutely ridiculous!!! Jesus is giving us requirements that we need to receive, (future tense). If the water Jesus was referring to was the water sac from which we were born, then why would He tell Nicodemus he still needed to be born of it?
Also, if the water is only a reference to our natural birth, why would Jesus bother to even mention it? We know we have to be born and we know we have to be alive to even qualify so why would He make this a requirement, or even mention it?
Jesus does not just waste His words on the most obvious. Every word He ever used had a very specific purpose for our benefit and education. He would not waste His words on the most basic things we already know.
Besides, nowhere else in the Bible does it ever use such a phrase as “born of water” to refer to our natural birth. The Bible uses “born of a woman” and “born of women”, but never “born of water”. So why would Jesus want to confuse us?
So Jesus is speaking about something else when He said we must “be born of water“. The only other thing that makes sense is the water baptism which is in fact what Jesus is referring to. If we understand what the water baptism is for then we can easily see how the phrase “born again” applys. According to the Bible, water baptism is for the washing away of our sins. See the study on “Baptism”.
Since our sins are washed away in water baptism, we get a brand new start in life with no past to worry about. THAT’S what Jesus is talking about!! Being born again, starting over, and getting a new chance to do things right. But it all starts with getting our sins washed away in water baptism.
Now, what does it mean to be “born of the Spirit”?
One of the main differences between being born of water and being born of the Spirit is that being born of water (baptism) is something we have to make an effort to do. But being born of the Spirit is entirely God’s effort and is a gift. So when and how do we become born of the Spirit?
Lets read what the Apostle Peter said about it.
So being born of the Spirit is linked to our water baptism. In fact if you’ll remember this is exactly what the Bible shows us when Jesus got baptized. Remember when He came up out of the water of baptism He prayed and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. He is our example and forerunner He showed us what we must do and what will happen to us if we follow His example. This should be obvious.
Why some people try to reject the most obvious things I’ll never know.
Now in all fairness, we can receive the Holy Spirit before we are baptized as I will show below. But that does not diminish the importance of having to be baptized in water too. We still must be born of both as Jesus said.
Next is an example of those who received the Holy Spirit first but still needed to have the water baptism.
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord….
So as you can see, it is possible to be baptized in the Holy Spirit even before someone is baptized in water. However the water baptism is still so important that the Apostle Peter even commanded them to be baptized in the water after they had received the Spirit. So the order of the baptisms is not important as long as both are accomplished.
Now after someone is baptized in water, all we have to do to be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to pray and ask for that baptism like Jesus did. You see He wants us to have His Spirit to lead, teach, and comfort us.
So, What is Born Again? It is being born of the water (water baptism) and of the Spirit. Without one or the other we would not be part of His personal family and can not enter His Holy City New Jerusalem. You must be born again, as Jesus said. Born of the water and of the Spirit. This is the real meaning of being born again according to Christ’s own words.