Born Again:
What is the contemporary meaning for born again?
The term ‘born again’ is a used by many Christians in reference to one that has been ‘saved’ or ‘converted’.
What does ‘saved’ mean in the Bible?
Saved is: preserve; preserved from harm; rescue; deliver; keep safe; cure; make well; heal.
What is Biblical conversion?
It means: for one to turn; to turn about; or to change.
What does ‘born again’ mean in the Bible?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Note: Born again means to be born from above; to regenerate; to beget anew; cause to be born again; give new life.
Born again is a misleading translation. The accurate translation is born from above, and means ‘born from above’.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;’
John 3:7 ‘Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
Does born from above (born again) have a dual meaning?
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
Note: One could come to the conclusion that we can be born again in our present physical bodies, and then again in a spiritual body.
But notice what it is clearly being stated in these verses. This is referring to one that will be resurrected and is imperishable.
Peter is not saying that one is born again at that time, but one has the living hope to be born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Note: When a seed is planted into the soil it must die before it can sprout. Just as a person must die a physical death in order to be resurrected and be ‘born from above’.
One that is considered to be saved, is not born from above.
What does ‘saved’ mean in the respects to ones’ faith, and belief?
Saved is: to preserve; to be preserved from harm; rescue; deliver; keep safe; cure; make well; to heal; or healed.
Being saved is by grace from Jesus Christ, and is a gift from God.
Nowhere do any of these verses state or imply that one has to make a public appearance (like making their way to an alter), and/or by answering a plea (alter call) after a sermon from some preacher.
In any of these cases, the question should be asked, ‘who is doing the saving, God or the preacher’?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Sermons are never the words of God or Christ.
Sometimes they may contain some Scripture verses , but sermons are always presented and commingled with theological doctrines, traditions, beliefs, and opinions.
The words of Jesus Christ should never be mixed and/or explained by sermons that are religious ideas and points of view.
It is the Holy Spirit that leads one to call upon the Lord (by faith), not a sermon by some preacher.
It is the faith, belief, and conviction by the Holy Spirit of an individual that ‘converts’ someone. It is a gift from God, not from the preaching of men.
[See: 'Soul Winning' and 'Missions'.]
What does the Bible mean by ‘converted’?
For one to be converted requires a change of one’s mind by the Holy Spirit. It is not by emotions and/or feelings.
Titus 3:5 (not by works that {are} in righteousness that we did but according to His kindness,) He did save us, through a bathing of regeneration, and a renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Romans 12:2 and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what {is} the will of God — the good, and acceptable, and perfect.
Note: One can be converted from any religion to another. For one to be converted into Christianity (from another religion or not) is not conversion by, or to Jesus Christ. It is a conversion into that religion.
True conversion is the renewing of one’s mind by the Holy Spirit, and that has nothing to do with any religion.
When Christian organizations send missionaries to ‘convert or save’ anyone, they are in reality only converting them to their religion and/or faith. [See: 'Missions'.]
These religious organizations claim that they are spreading and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Even with the minimum of investigation, one will discover it is not the gospel of Christ they preach, but the gospel of their doctrines, beliefs, and religious faith. [See: 'Soul Winning'.]
Was anyone rejected by Jesus Christ?
John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. :66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” :22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property.
Luke 12:9 but he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Note: Jesus Christ does not reject anyone. It is an individual that rejects and/or denies Christ.
Wasn’t Jesus only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?
Matthew 15:22 And behold, a Canaanite woman came out from that region, and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”:23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came to Him and kept asking Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is shouting out after us.”:24 But He answered and said, ” I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”:25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”:26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”:27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.
Note: It is true that Christ was sent only to the house of Israel, but this does not mean that anyone that was not of the house of Israel was rejected.
The Canaanite and her daughter were not rejected by Christ.
1 John 2:2 and he — he is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world,
Being saved is not born from above. Born again in the flesh is a tradition.
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