The term ‘born again’ is used synonymously and correctly with being saved, being a believer in Christ, and being a Christian.
As with our first birth, there’s also an expectation with our second birth that we will live and grow. Let’s briefly look at the process.
In John 3, Jesus spoke with Nicodemus the Pharisee and declared great truths about the kingdom that Nicodemus didn’t yet understand.
- One must be born again to see the kingdom of God.
- God loves the world.
- God gave His only begotten Son.
- Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life.
John 3:3 NKJV
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:16 NKJV
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
On what condition are we born again? John 3:3 and 16 help us understand this. Jesus says “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” and later “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Thus the condition of being born again is our believing in Jesus.
In what way are we born again? The Apostle Peter writes about this topic in 1 Peter 1.
1 Peter 1:22-25 NKJV
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because
“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.”
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
According to verse 23 we are born again of incorruptible seed, which is the living and abiding word of God.
Long before Peter wrote, Jesus told the parable of the sower, where the sower spread seeds that fell on soil of various quality. Jesus also explained the parable, stating that the seed is the word of God, and the soil is our hearts, in regards to our reception to it. For those that believe, the word of God is implanted in our hearts.
Luke 8:4-8 and 11-15 NKJV
4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.
6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.
8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
…
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Psalm 19:7 tells us that the word of God transforms us.
Psalm 19 NKJV
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
Thus, it is the seed (the implanted word of God) in us, that God has used to give us second birth. It is alive and abiding in us, continuing to transform us into the image of His Son Jesus.
Version History
1.00 – November 16, 2019: Initial version
Walking with God in The Way 