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At times, it seemed as though Jesus spoke in riddles. Thus, when the Pharisee, Nicodemus asked him: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
This, we are told, is because:
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
So, if you are born again and the spirit of God lives in you, how is anyone to know that you are not just a deluded person? It is not as though all those who make this claim agree with each other, or as though all who make it have never been charlatans? In the end the problem is the same as with what some of those born-again call ‘religion’ – as though their beliefs are something other? How do you know who to believe?
It is easy (which is why it is done so often) and I fear lazy (another reason) to counterpoint ‘religion’ with being ‘born again’. Jesus isn’t just talking about the ‘Spirit’, he also talks about ‘water’, and in concentrating on one part of what Jesus says – the SPirit – and ignoring the water, do we not run the risk of misinterpretation? The Greek, ek hudatos kai pneumatos, is a single linguistic phrase and refers to the same rebirth – not, as some claim, the initial birth and then the rebirth; water and spirit come at the same time. So there is no intrinsic reason why the traditional Christian understanding of baptism is not applicable here.
Is there any reason to suppose that in every case the new birth has to be an instantaneous act? In my own case I would credit my baptism with sowing the seed which has led me closer and closer to Jesus; indeed, without it, I do not know how I would have known him or come near to him.
But if I confess Him on my lips, but my heart is cold, what good is that? God wants us all to be saved, not condemned. We have the power to condemn ourselves, but when we condemn others, when we tell them they are bound for the lake of fire, why do that? Some say it helps others, but I have never known a single instance of it; I have known very many where such language has turned off people.
If He speaks through us, we have to be humble and ensure it really is Him, not us speaking for Him – an easy enough thing. If we are in Him, and He in us, then we shall be moved with the compassion which moved Him to die that we might live. Until I get there, I am a baby Christian making my way by faith, with thanksgiving, and, as Paul says, working our my salvation with fear and trembling.
All Along the Watchtower 
Feel born again when a whole new attitude about everything emanates in mere daily living. All our actions now seem to be testimony. I feel it, people see it as one seems to transform into a new and different person magnetized by the Holy Spirit.
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That’s a tremendous testimony Carl 🙂 x
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I’m with you ‘baby Christian.’ Working out our salvation with fear and trembling is the only way that I know.
“I believe Lord; help my unbelief.”
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Yes, that’s me too 🙂 x
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That’s pretty much all of us, and I suspect that’s the plan. 🙂
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Could well be, dearest friend 🙂 xx
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Maybe 🙂 xx
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Indeed. As many a saint has said in the past. “Lord, show me the next, best step.” So one step at a time is all we have as far as I can see and let us pray it is the best step that we can take.
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Yep, it’s all we can do, and the least as well.
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That is so. To not take a step is as bad as taking a bad step. We are as pilgrims and as strangers in a strange land.
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Yep, I suspect soon we will come to the Slough of Despair, and failing to find a bridge will have to ford it.
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Ah indeed, the miry slough, the Slough of Despond. I fear you are right, my friend.
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It is so interesting how God puts things together in our world. I have just come from a pastoral round table where the discussion topic was ‘Is baptism evangelism or discipleship?”
One of the side topics that spawned great discussion was the idea that in our circle of influence salvation or being “born again” which was once considered almost strictly and event is now being seen as a process.
It put me in mind of a conversation I once had with my grandmother who participated in a different faith tradition than myself.
I asked her “Gramma are you a born-again Christian?”
Gram chuckled and touseled my hair responding, “Silly boy what other kind of Christian is there?”
After many years of serving the Lord I can see that the born again experience is a moment that for some launches a process and for others is come upon sometimes unexpectedly in the middle of or the end of a process
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I like that, Joseph – very good comment 🙂 x
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For Catholics, next Wednesday is the beginning of another Lenten Season. This is when Catholics are “born again” each and every year.
Salvation is not Bosco like a one time deal and you have to do nothing else, it is an on-going process. We get a chance to renew our Christianity through prayer, alms giving and sacrifice. The sacrifice we’re asked to do is not the giving up of something but rather the addition of somethings. It’s OK to give up say, candy or alcohol but how about attending Daily Mass. So you have to get up an hour earlier…aye that’s the rub.
What are you going to do to bring yourself closer to Christ?
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at the moment of being born again one is given a new spirit, one that comes down from heaven. Gods gift of salvation doesnt wear off and need to be renewd.And why is being born again a process? Does god give just alitle salvation at a time?
Oh gosh, im only half born again. Next week i might be two thirds saved.
Truth is, God drops this spirit in you and thats that. Whats so hard to believe? That is unless one thinks theres a method of being born again. Religions tell you its a method. Thats too bad. Jesus says its a gift.
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Are you a believer in “once saved, always saved.”
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Hi Bosco,
The Bible teaches us that being born again is both a moment and a process. It has a beginning but there is necessity to walk in salvation.
I John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
From the moment we confess our sins to God (and so there will be no confusion here,I am not speaking of the human confessional here but a prayer of heart felt confession of sin to God ) we are forgiven and born again completely and fully. God gives it all to us. However the process once begun doesn’t just stop leaving people forgiven but still bound in their sin . A truly born again person will bear fruit in keeping with righteousness according to John 15:1-17 and according to James 2:14-26 and that is the moment by moment process of being born again.
Ephesians 5 says “1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.a 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The verb “be filled with the Spirit” is actually better translated ” continue to be characterized by the ongoing condition of fullness by the Spirit’s work in your life.”
It indicates that the process of works is a natural outflow of believing. The “religious” life is a natural outcome of being born again and it is part of being born again.
What that means is that after we are saved even our good works are not our good works they are the Spirit’s work through us So Paul could say “It is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me.”
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gOOD BROTHER dAVID, ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED IS TRUE, BUT IF ONE WORKS HARD ENOUGH, ONE CAN LOSE IT.
Good brother Joseph, thanks for that post. There are no degrees of salvation. Either one is saved or one isnt. Working out salvation is what one does after being born again. It means learning about Christ. The NT is a letter to those already born again.
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Let me qualify that. One can never unmeet Jesus. One always knows him. i dont know of any reason that a saved can lose salvation, but anything is possible, i guess.
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Well if you turned into the male version of Elsa Koch, do you think you’ll be still saved?
For me I was born again at my Baptism and Confirmed in my Faith at nine and received my First Holy Communion at the same time.
From then on it’s up to me, it’s a process to continue to be saved. Nothing assured until I see God.
For those that believe otherwise might be in for a rude awakening.
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oNCE ONE IS BORN AGAIN, NOTHING IS UP TO THEM..They let go and let god.
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St. Bisto, so you can be the male version of Elsa Koch and still be saved…to be kind that is both asinine and hell-bound.
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Good brother David, do you always put words in peoples mouths?
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Hi David, Scripture teaches us that the Christian life is never entirely up to us.We will never by our own merit attain or keep Heaven. Paul speaks to this in Romans 2- 8 in which discourse he lays out the need of man to continually reckon the work of Christ in His life because the power to live right in our own strength is an illusion. In Ephesians 2 he goes on to teach “it is not by works of righteousness that we have done but according to His mercy He has saved us.”
In Ephesians 2:10 Paul goes so far as to indicate that we are God’s workmanship and it is God who prepares our good works for us. If so these things are not to our credit but God’s, which means we cannot use them as leverage for entrance into Heaven.
However the Bible does indicate we can be sure of salvation but it is not because of what we do but because of our faith in the promise of Christ which once embraced changes a person forever. Again I refer you to Romans 2-8.
This is a wonderful discussion!
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Thanks good brother Joseph, but that is not what the catholics want to hear. They like their works religion.
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PS i doubt if someon who knows Jesus will do as Miss Koch.
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Being saved you can act as you will, ergo it’s possible to be Elsa Koch…but it’s no skin off my nose.
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Now that you ask… someone who knows Jesus wants to be a better person. The law is in their heart.Not that the saved arent human. All the saved i know, which i can count on my fingers, wont do some things. Lets hope they wont do some things. But if they do, they know its wrong and the spirit convicts them. The spirit doesnt convict the unsaved. Dont count on a born again person being a sadistic mass murderer. Dont count of the saved burning people at the stake. Thats the realm of the unsaved.
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I won’t count on it and yet I won’t dismiss it as impossible…Saints you’re not.
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Who are the saints? Are they all costume catholic holymen? Your religiocentricity is showing
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While that may be true for some Bosco I think it unfair to lump all people into a category. To say no Catholic believes in salvation by faith is the same as saying all evangelicals are unschooled yahoos. Faith is found in their stream and intelligence is found in ours. It may surprise us who God lets into Heaven in the end.
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