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The term “born again” Christian is bantered around by the mainstream public frequently to refer to a person who has had (or claims to have had) a life changing experience.
The Bible doesn’t actually define what such an experience should be like, but it does offer further light on what it means to be “born again” from God’s perspective.
For starters, the term “born again” or “born of God” is applied to anyone who “believes that Jesus is the Christ” (1 John 5;1).
The Bible further describes believers in Christ as being a “new Creation”. (II Cor. 5:17). Our spirits are regenerated and refashioned in the image of holiness and blamelessness. (Col. 1:22)
The Bible also says that in Christ, we are Forgiven, Redeemed, (Romans 3:22-26; Eph 1:17) Completely free from any accusation (Hebrews 10:16-18), “Adopted” as children of God, and made full Heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17; Eph 1:5; 3:6 Gal 3:15; Titus 3:7) Those who are “Born of God are “Justified” (made righteous) and no longer need to fear that are unacceptable to God, or subject to God's wrath. (Acts 13:38,39; Romans 3:23, 24; Galatians 3:27,28) Being born-again puts one in a secure position before God. Although to many, it sounds like a trite phrase, there is a very significant meaning in both the Bible, and an individual’s life. The Bible presumes that everyone who is truly a Christian is, in a metaphysical sense “born again” whether they use the term or not. Much of Christian walk is our coming to full knowledge of who the "real me"- that which was birthed when we were “born again”- is on the inside, and yielding the old self to the new man by putting off the fruitless deeds of the flesh. |
