What is a born again Christian?

QUESTION: What is a born again Christian?

ANSWER:

“What is a born again Christian” is a question that is often asked. According to OCF at Berkeley¹, “a recent national survey found that about fifty percent of the American population claimed to be born again Christians”. However, when that question was presented to its participants, one has to wonder how they defined “born again Christian.” Did the participants all have the same understanding of what the term means? What is a born again Christian anyway?

The term “born again” refers to people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, or the Messiah. Of course it is not a physical rebirth, but it refers to a spiritual rebirth. The person understands that he/she is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and that the penalty for that sin is death (Romans 6:23). To remedy the situation, God sent His only Son to die in his/her place—to take the penalty for sin (Romans 5:8). After Jesus’ death, He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6) and He gives the gift of salvation. Each person has the choice to receive or reject God’s gift through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and experience new birth (John 3:1-8). Whoever follows Jesus as Christ, the Son of God, and has accepted His gift of life can be called Christian. That is where the journey of rebirth begins.

Being born again is having a change or transformation of the soul and heart by the work of God’s Spirit. One’s soul is the part of our being that consist of three things: the mind (or its disposition), emotions (feelings), and our will (what we determine).

What is a born again Christian? Understanding the Spiritual Makeover
This spiritual makeover when we become a born again Christian is a change in the way we think, the way we manage our emotions, and choices we make by our will.

MIND: “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27).

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

“‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Through being born again, renewing our minds, and having an intimate relationship with God, we grow by spending time in His presence and in His Word (the Bible). Though we cannot fully comprehend God, His Spirit abides in us, giving us a deeper understanding of Him and His ways.

EMOTIONS: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:29, 31).

Born again Christians are not to let their emotions rule their actions. Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In Him we have peace.

WILL: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).

“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” (Matthew 7:21).

Being born again brings God’s protection, blessings, and promises into your life. If you have not made that choice, let Him change your circumstances, relationships, and life today.

Footnote:
¹ www.ocf.berkeley.edu