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I am genuinely interested to know what exactly does it mean, and more importantly what’s the historical aspect of it? What are it’s origins? Does anyone know when was the first time this term was used, and by whom?
I am genuinely interested to know what exactly does it mean, and more importantly what’s the historical aspect of it? What are it’s origins? Does anyone know when was the first time this term was used, and by whom?
The term comes from the biblical story of the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus, long after John the Baptist's head was separated from his neck, but I am old enough to remember when it first became popularized as a term for evangelical Christians to describe themselves. It had to be the late Sixties or earlier Seventies. All of a sudden some people started to call themselves born-again Christians. They didn't do that in the church I attended with my parents (the RCA), but more in the type that were referred to by some as the "holy-roller" churches where people yelled things out in the middle of the sermon or waved their hands in the air.
(RCA churches are very staid. You sit and be quiet and listen to the minister remind you that YOU CAN DIE AT ANY MINUTE and that you are doomed to go to hell if you don't believe as he tells you to when that minute comes. No hand waving or shouting or probably not even smiling is permitted. The youth group once brought in a guitar player who played Christian songs, and the people were appalled. Somewhere in the Bible it says that only organs and pianos are permitted in church.)
I think Jimmy Carter became the first public figure outside of the churches to declare himself a "born-again Christian".
John 3. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he will not see Heaven.
John 1:12....Those that believe have the right to become children of God.
Paul fleshes it out in his letters -- specifically 2 Cor. We are born sinners as descendants of Adam...but we need to be "born again" into the "New Adam" -- Jesus.
As you have probably discoveed by now, the term was first used by Jesus with Nicodemus in John 3:3 ("Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again,")
While everyone is born a natural, flesh and blood being, only those who personally trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are "born again -- in God's indwelling Holy Spirit). This is a work that can only be accomplished by God's Holy Spirit, because those 'born again' are Spiritually "transformed by (God's) renewal of (their) mind". (Romans 12:2)
Spiritual rebirth is much more than a religious belief or attitude shift. It literally changes one's heart and mind from the inside-out. "no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. " (1 Cor 2:11-12).
Spiritual rebirth is the real difference between those naturally born into this world - and those sealed to Salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ. "...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor. 5:17)
John 3. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he will not see Heaven.
John 1:12....Those that believe have the right to become children of God.
Paul fleshes it out in his letters -- specifically 2 Cor. We are born sinners as descendants of Adam...but we need to be "born again" into the "New Adam" -- Jesus.
It's been my experience that most people claiming to be born again are confused, poorly educated, lack life skills, and are easily led by manipulative pastors.
"Born again" equates to a symbolic "new person" with a new life focus; acknowledging a spirit inside, and a commitment to live according to the principles of Jesus. It's actually quite straightforward in its purest sense.
Unfortunately, it's no guarantee that he/she will adequately live and model that. Sometimes it goes well, but far too often people get caught up in organized religion and politics. What results is a ruined and bastardized version that brings shame to God, and pushes people farther away from him. It's a mine field for many, but thankfully not all
It'd better to keep quiet with the label and accurately model the way/life, than to throw around the label and irritate everyone (incl. God). If someone resorts to calling themselves that, they're likely up to no good.
Last edited by Thoreau424; 10-16-2018 at 09:58 AM..
It can mean a lot of things. The obvious one is the Mystical Experience, or 'Enlightenment' as the Buddhists call it. It also seems to be (from the recollections of deconverts) quite simply manipulation. There could be a interesting discussion of how being 'born again' (and again, and again) or 'saved' was done.
What John meant by it is debatable. It evidently meant some kind of mental (some might say 'spiritual') change from one mindset not approved by John to one that was, and thus John though the person who thus changed would be saved. Whether that was either of the above I don't know.
It would be interesting to see the believers discuss this, assuming they do anything but through Biblequotes at it) and tell us what they think it actually means in terms of Christian doctrine.
The Greek actually says born from above, not born again...
You're right. Born a second time. So again. The first was into Adam, the 2nd time is into the "New Adam".
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I don't THINK so.
