What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The word “born” is the Greek word “gennao” meaning procreate, to bring into being, and the word “again” is the Greek word “anothen” which means from above. This is what is written in John 1:13-14:

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

When Jesus says that a man must be born again, He means a new creation. Something that was not there, but now through your faith in Jesus has been created.

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” This verse talks about a new Spiritual Creation, you can see it much clearer in John 3:5-6: 

“Jesus answered, 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.”

As a believer you are born in the flesh (from your parents) and one spiritual birth when you receive Jesus Christ and become a new creation. It is your Spirit that are born again, your Spirit becomes a new creation and the Bible calls this for a new Spiritual man:

1 Corinthians 2:15 “ The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.”
God creates a new Spiritual Man in your Spirit. The Bible also explains who this Spiritual Man is that you are in your Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:17 “ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”. In your spirit, you are one with God.

Galatians 2:20 ” I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; .”

Colossians 1:27 “ To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Romans 8:29” For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

The word conformed is the Greek word “summorphos” and refers to form once and not formed step by step. If you are saved, you are now in this moment conformed in His Son image, in your Spirit. If I could see through your Spirit, I will see the Son of God, Jesus Christ, with the same holiness, righteousness, power, mind, wisdom etc. (Eph 4:24, Gal 2:19-20, 1 Cor.2:16b, 1 Cor. 1:30)

Ephesians 4:24 “ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Let me summarize the new Spiritual birth. When you receive Jesus into your life, you become a new Spiritual man in your Spirit which is created in the image of Christ – is Christ (1 Cor 6:17, Gal. 2:20,  Col. 1:27). So now you have the same nature as the Son of God, Jesus, a divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). And Your are son of God and God is your Father in the same way as Jesus. The Bible says in Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
And Galatians 4:6 “ And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

Now we have been born again and are as much the sons of God as Jesus.

Related articles Abba, Father, Spirit, Soul and Body.

More teachings with Aly-Sam Botros