{"id":501,"date":"2026-10-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/?p=501"},"modified":"2026-10-03T23:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T03:52:10","slug":"what-does-it-mean-to-be-born-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/?p=501","title":{"rendered":"What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The phrase \u201cborn again\u201d is familiar to many Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what does it actually mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus used those words while speaking with a man named Nicodemus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious leader, and a man who knew the Scriptures. He was respected. He was educated. He was serious about religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet Jesus told him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.\u201d John 3:3 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicodemus was confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He understood physical birth, but Jesus was speaking about something spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicodemus had religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had morality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he still needed new life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Need More Than Improvement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes we think Christianity is mainly about becoming a better person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We may try to stop bad habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treat people more kindly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go to church more often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make better choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are all good things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Jesus did not tell Nicodemus, \u201cYou need to improve yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou must be born again.\u201d John 3:7 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because our greatest problem is not simply bad behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our problem is sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do not merely need to become better versions of ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need spiritual life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible tells us that apart from Christ, we are spiritually dead because of sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you were dead in the trespasses and sins…\u201d Ephesians 2:1 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dead person does not need improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dead person needs life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And only God can give spiritual life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born of the Spirit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus explained to Nicodemus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.\u201d John 3:6 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our first birth gives us physical life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new birth gives us spiritual life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the work of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cannot produce it ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Church membership cannot give it to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baptism cannot give it to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good works cannot give it to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian parents cannot give it to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Holy Spirit brings new life when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God Changes the Heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being born again does not mean becoming religious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means God does something within us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gives us a new heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He changes our desires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He begins transforming the way we think and live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That does not mean we instantly become perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christians still struggle with temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We still fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We still need to confess sin and grow in obedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But something has changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We now belong to Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible describes it this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.\u201d 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The old life no longer has to define us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God begins making us new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do We Need the New Birth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because sin separates us from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every one of us has sinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.\u201d Romans 3:23 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cannot repair that separation ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why Jesus came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 3 contains one of the best-known verses in the Bible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…\u201d John 3:16 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus came because we could not save ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He died for our sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He rose again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And eternal life is offered to those who believe in Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same conversation in which Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again leads directly to the message of God’s love and salvation through Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new birth is possible because of what Jesus has done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does It Mean to Believe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biblical belief is more than agreeing that Jesus existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is more than knowing the story of the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is trusting Jesus Christ personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine sitting in a chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may look at the chair and say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe that chair can hold me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you do not actually place your weight on it until you sit down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same way, we may know many things about Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But saving faith means placing our trust in Him rather than ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We stop depending on our goodness, religion, baptism, church attendance, or works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We depend on Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Remember Being Born Again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people can name the exact date and time when they trusted Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The important thing is not whether you remember a particular calendar date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The important question is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you personally placed your faith in Jesus Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not base your assurance simply on growing up in church or remembering that you once repeated a prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What am I trusting in today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is my hope for eternity completely in Jesus Christ and what He did for me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Changed Life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being born again should eventually produce evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There should be a growing desire to know God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A growing conviction about sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A desire to obey His Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love for other believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A desire to become more like Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These things do not earn salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are evidence that God is working in us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tree does not become alive because it produces fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It produces fruit because it is alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same way, good works do not make us spiritually alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They begin to appear because God has given us new life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Must Be Born Again<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus did not present the new birth as an optional step for especially devoted Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou must be born again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every person needs the same Savior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The religious person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rebellious person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person raised in church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person who has never opened a Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person who appears good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person whose life is broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all come to God the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being born again is not about turning over a new leaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is receiving new life from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that new life begins when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Question for You<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone asked you, \u201cWhat does it mean to be born again?\u201d how would you explain it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take some time this week to read John 3 and think about Jesus\u2019 conversation with Nicodemus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you have questions about salvation, you are welcome to leave them in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? The phrase \u201cborn again\u201d is familiar to many Christians. But what does it actually mean? Jesus used those words while speaking with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious leader, and a man who knew the Scriptures. He was respected. He was educated. He […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-salvation-series"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=501"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":502,"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501\/revisions\/502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torimont.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}