What does ‘To Be Born Again’ mean?

Before his conversion, St. Augustine was a brilliant but restless and worldly individual who was deeply involved in intellectual pursuits and worldly pleasures. He was a talented rhetoric professor, but lived a hedonistic life that included a long-term affair and fathering an illegitimate son. He also pursued heretical philosophies, most notably Manichaeanism, a gnostic religion based on the conflict between good and evil, despite his devout Christian mother's fervent prayers for his salvation. One day he was in his garden, feeling lost and guilty for the way he was living, when something happened:

“I was weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when I heard the voice of children from a neighbouring house chanting, ‘take up and read; take up and read.’ I could not remember ever having heard the like, so checking the torrent of my tears, I arose, interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book and read the first chapter I should find. Eagerly then I returned to the place where I had laid the volume of the apostle. I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell:

‘Not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.’ (Romans 13:13-14)

No further would I read, nor did I need to. For instantly at the end of this sentence, it seemed as if a light of serenity infused into my heart and all the darkness of doubt vanished away.”

Augustine realised how his life had been very contrary to that which God wanted of him and he opened his life to Christ.  He turned to God not only for forgiveness but for the power to live a completely new life, a godly life.  He was to become one of the most effective Christian thinkers of all time.  He brought the church back to Jesus and the Bible.

There always have been many people who think they are acceptable to God but who do not meet God’s requirements.  It is only because of Jesus and his death as our substitute that we can feel secure and then only if we are devoted to living with and for him.  There are some who have a warped sense of assurance.  They feel that because they are in a recognised denomination, are committed to the church and are moral people that they must be safe.  That is not true.  Even popular, gifted, ordained church leaders may not be right with God.  Jesus himself warned:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23

The only way to God is through an utter reliance on the death or blood of Christ.

‘You must be born again’

When the Sanhedrin member, Nicodemus, visited Jesus with his questions, Jesus interrupted him and said,

“You must be born again.” John 3:3

He didn’t understand.  He thought that as he was one of God’s people and had been regularly involved in the temple sacrifices, his sin had been forgiven.  Jesus rejects this view and says:

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:5-6

By referring back to what the Prophet Ezekiel said, Jesus is explaining his use of idiom. This Old Testament passage was one that Nicodemus, as a teacher of Israel, would have known well. Jesus is emphasising both aspects of the gospel, forgiveness and empowerment to live a new life, that he alone can give to individuals.  He will bring a people together, will wash them of their sins and then put a new heart, a new spirit into them:  Ezekiel was shown what the coming of Jesus would result in.

“I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:24-27

Ezekiel was written during the captivity in Babylon but he uses the future tense.  This prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus.

This spiritual transformation, is the essence of what is called being "born again" in the New Testament.  The general principle that sinful humanity needs divine intervention to be put into a right relationship with God is a foundational Old Testament concept. The only hope for a spiritually dead person is to be made alive by God, which is the core idea of the ‘new birth’.

In Exodus 12, God makes clear that a foreigner who chooses to follow God's commands and keeps the Passover becomes "native born" among the Israelites. This idea of a spiritual change in status, making an outsider an insider by faith, provides a parallel to the New Testament's spiritual ‘new birth’. 

So to be born again is not just having our sins forgiven, it is a radical change where we start a new life living as God wants with Jesus is controlling;

Being ‘born gain’ is not only taught in John’s record of what Jesus said and did.  James, the brother of Jesus also said,

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:18

Here the ‘new birth’ describes what happened to Christians when they first accepted God’s authority over their lives.  This authority, or word, is found both in Jesus himself, for he is called ‘the word’ (John 1:1- 2) and in the word of God, the Bible.  Rebirth is not just ‘wiping the slate that lists our sins’ clean, it means the beginning of a completely new live.  Bad habits such as anger, lying promiscuity become a thing of the past.  'Firstfruits' is a metaphor from an ancient harvest offering, symbolising that believers are a special, dedicated offering to God, a foretaste of the future, complete harvest of redemption. This concept highlights that God has chosen and set them apart, signifying their role as an example of His power and grace. True Christians will begin to become the ideal that God intended when he created the world.

The apostle Peter begins his first letter with this same concept:

“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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

Again this ‘new birth’ is clearly when the Christian life begins.  It starts when he become followers of Jesus but gives us great confidence for the future.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead so will we. Peter recognises that people can have a spurious faith but tests of a saving faith are that we really love Jesus, are willing to suffer for him and yet are fulled with the joy security and confidence:

“. . . even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls..” 1 Peter 1:8-9

Peter doesn’t say that we will receive salvation but that we are receiving salvation - our present lives are in the process of being changed.

He later goes on to explain other consequences of being ‘born again’.

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God”. 1 Peter 1:23-24

Those who are ‘in Christ’ will try to live godly lives that are in accordance with what he teaches us in his word and were demonstrated by the life of Jesus.  It will mean that the Christians will come together as a team and will ‘love one another deeply’.  No Christian should ever separate themselves from other Christians within a Bible teaching church.  They will revere and study the Scriptures because these are “living and enduring word of God’.

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote about this new life Christian have embarked on:

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Becoming a Christian, the rebirth, is only the beginning, we have been washed of our sins but also our hearts have been washed so that we long to live as he wants.

What does belief in Christ mean?

Throughout John’s record of the gospel we read that people are saved by ‘believing’ in Jesus:

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . .” John 1:12

To believe in Jesus’ name is equated with ‘receiving him’.  Those who ‘receive Jesus’ are the children of God.  John continues:

“. . . that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15-16

‘Belief’ in Jesus is essential for salvation. A little later Jesus further expanded on what ‘belief’ means:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24

To ‘hear’ must mean to listen and then obey.  We have to feed on what Jesus teaches.

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” John 6:47-48

To believe is therefore not simply an acceptance of certain doctrines about Jesus but to ‘feed on him’, to depend on him, to live closely with him, to love him.  Later, when teaching his disciples, shortly before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus made it clear what it meant to believe and love him:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15

“He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me.” John 14:21

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23

Paul starts and ends his letter to the Romans with this reminder that belief means a commitment to obey and follow Jesus.  This key teaching bookends the rest of this book.

“Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:5-6

“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, . . . so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith.” Romans 16:26=27

So belief or faith means nothing less than a commitment to love, obey and follow the Lord Jesus.

Joshua’s concern

Joshua was now an old man who had led the Jews to capture the land of Canaan.  When he was born in Egypt his parents called him ‘Hoshea’ which means Saviour.  When he was becoming a leader of the people Moses changed his name as no man can save others.  Moses changed it to Jehoshua or ‘Joshua’ which means ‘YHWH saves’. This was shortened to Yeshua in Aramaic, which became the name of Jesus in his native language. The English name ‘Jesus’ is a further translation from the Greek Iēsoûs, which itself was the Greek transliteration of Yeshua. Therefore, the names are linguistically share the same meaning of ‘the Lord is salvation’. The only hope of eternal salvation is if the Lord steps in to save us - this is what Jesus did for people of all ages..

Joshua became very concerned that God’s people had lapsed in their commitment to follow the Lord.  At the very end of his life he warns the people about this and what the consequences will be if they fail to believe.  He dies this three times:

Joshua 22 - Joshua address the tribes living east of the river Jordan

Joshua 23 - Joshua addresses all the leaders of Israel

Joshua 24 - Joshua addresses all the people of Israel

Joshua 22

The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the have tribe of Manasseh had faithfully supported the other tribes in capturing Canaan.  Now they were returning to their own lands on the east side of the river Jordan.  Joshua reminds them what it means to live by faith.

“But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

This has always been what God wants the relationship with his people to be like, a personal loving relationship of obedience.

Joshua 23

Some years later Joshua summonsed the leaders of all the tribes of Israel and reminded them what the Lord had done for them and what their response must be.

“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. . . .  But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now. . . .  So be very careful to love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:6-11

What God requires of his people has never changed, he has always wanted our constant love.  He then goes on to remind them to remain true to the Word of God - again nothing has changed over the centuries, God wants the same devotion today.  He also warns them that if they drift away from living as God’s holy people he will turn his back on them, with awful consequences.

“You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.  But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.  If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.” Joshua 23:14-16

Joshua 24

Joshua then had all the people of Israel assemble at Shechem.  This was his last official act and it demonstrates what he longed for most of all, the holiness of all God’s people.  He begins his talk by reminding them all that the Lord had done supernaturally to rescue a people for himself from Egypt where they had been slaves for 400 years. and establish them in their new land.  He then applies what this should mean:

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14

The word ‘serve’ comes 14 times in this chapter.  The relationship they had with God meant that they should live in awe of him and obey him, which is what ‘serve’ means.  Without a desire to ‘serve the Lord’ any conversion is spurious. Joshua shares with the people the personal decision he and his family have made:

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14

Then the people all responded:

“We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.” Joshua 24:18

Joshua then reminded them how easy it is to say the right words when life is easy but, as pressures come, it is all too easy to turn away from the Lord:

“You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” Joshua 24:19-20

However the people then said to Joshua:

“No! We will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:21

Joshua, like Jesus (see John 2:23-25). knew how fickle the hearts of men are so he then says:

““You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.

“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:22-24

Only when the people had fully understood what this commitment to the Lord meant, did Joshua publicise eir decision.  We have this document in the book of Joshua.  He also established a remembrance sign for them, a large stone, that the people could constantly look back on to remind them of this covenant they have entered with the Lord.

“On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.“See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” Joshua 24:25-27

Today we also have the Scriptures to remind us both of what God has done for us in Christ and of what being God’s people should mean.  Christians can look back to their baptism as the sign that we are committed to living wholeheartedly for Christ as his people and should read the Scriptures regularly.

George Whitefield (1714-1770) was a great Christian preacher who helped to bring about the revival in both England and the Americas in the 18th century.  He realised that there were many spurious conversions, people who were outwardly rejoicing in the gospel but whose lives deep down had not been changed.  He wrote:

“There are so many stony ground hearers who receive the Word with joy that I have determined to suspend my judgment till I know the tree by its fruits ...Do you think any farmer would have a crop of corn next year unless he plowed now? You may as well expect a crop of corn on unploughed ground as a crop of grace until the soul is convinced of its being undone without a Saviour. That is the reason we have so many mushroom converts, so many persons that are always happy! happy! happy! and never were miserable. Why? Because their stony ground is not ploughed up; they have not got a conviction of the law . . . they fall away . . . That makes me so cautious now, which I was not thirty years ago, of dubbing converts too soon. Now I wait a little, and see if people bring forth fruit; for there are so many blossoms which March winds blow away that I cannot believe they are converts till I see fruit brought forth.”

John the Baptist had similarly said,

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:8

This "fruit" is evidence of a genuine transformation and includes behaviours such as a refusal to do what is wrong and a turning to love, kindness, honesty generosity, and obedience to what the Scriptures teach. It will include a commitment to join in with God’s people.  This phrase ‘Produce fruit’ serves as a call to each of us, urging us to be real Christ-like people and to demonstrate our changed hearts through tangible good deeds, not just in words. 

When I was a first year medical student I went to hear a talk given by a young American, George Verwer in a room in my college.  His text was:

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

As he spoke, I knew that my commitment to the Lord Jesus had only been skin deep and I went back to my room and prayed, asking that the Lord would indeed be my Lord.

BVP