What does it mean to be “born again”?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that to be "born again" is to receive a brand-new, supernatural life from God. Think of it as a spiritual resurrection that happens while you are still alive. You receive a new heart and a completely new nature that desires to please God (Question 43).
Before this new birth, you were spiritually dead, unable to please God or understand His truth. To be born again is God’s miracle that grants you the ability to trust Jesus, be led by the Holy Spirit (Question 66), and grow into the person God intended you to be. It is not an emotional feeling or a religious ritual; it is the instantaneous work of God that marks the true beginning of your life as a Christian.
The Simple Answer
The phrase "born again" is a biblical term used by Jesus when speaking to the Jewish leader, Nicodemus (John 3:3-7). The word Jesus used means to be born "from above" or "anew."
It is the theological term for Regeneration, which is defined as:
The Act: A single, instantaneous act of God in which the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life to a person who was spiritually dead in their sins.
The Result: A new creation that brings with it the ability to repent, believe, and live a life pleasing to God.
Every true Christian has been "born again."
The Deeper Dive
The doctrine of the new birth is central to understanding how a person becomes a Christian.
1. The Necessity of the New Birth
Jesus explicitly states that the new birth is non-negotiable for anyone who desires a relationship with God:
"Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'" — John 3:3 (NIV)
The reason it is necessary is that humanity, after the Fall, is born with a nature corrupted by sin (Question 22). No amount of self-improvement, good works, or religious effort can fix this fatal flaw. Only God can implant a new, clean nature.
2. The Means of the New Birth
Jesus explained that this new birth is accomplished through the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit, often symbolized by wind and water:
"Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." — John 3:5 (NIV)
Water often refers to the cleansing, sanctifying power of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).
Spirit refers to the sovereign, powerful action of the Holy Spirit, who brings life where there was death.
The new birth is therefore purely a work of God; you cannot "choose" to be born again any more than an infant can choose to be born physically.
3. The Evidence of the New Birth
While the new birth itself is instantaneous and invisible, it produces visible, lasting change (Question 78). The evidence that you have been born again is seen in:
A new direction in your life (a desire to turn from sin, called repentance).
A new love for the truth and people of God.
A new dependence on the Bible and prayer.
A new belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (1 John 5:1).
God's Assurance
God assures you that He is the one who initiates this powerful, life-altering change, and His work is complete and sovereign.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." — 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
You are assured that the God who raised Jesus from the dead is the same God who brought you to new life when you believed.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not confuse being "born again" with joining a church or having an emotional experience. It is the supernatural genesis of spiritual life. If you have truly turned from your sin and placed your faith in Jesus, you have been born again. The evidence is not how you feel, but the new direction and new desires God has placed in your heart.
