Born again (Christianity)

In Christianity, the terms born again, regenerated or transformed are synonymous with spiritual rebirth — i.e., salvation. It means having a "personal" faith in Jesus Christ. The term is most frequently used by Evangelical, Fundamentalist, Pentecostal and some Mainline branches of Protestant Christianity. It is sometimes associated with non-denominational individuals, groups and churches.

Outside of Christianity, the term "born again" is occasionally used to describe beliefs characterised by renewal, resurgence or return.

Derivation of Christian use of the term

The Christian use of the term is derived from Jesus’ words to Jewish leader Nicodemus as recorded in the third chapter of the Gospel of John:

Some Christian denominations hold that a person must be born again in some sense to be a Christian and are explicit about this with their use of the words. The term is most popular in the USA, and is making inroads into other parts of the world. The meaning of born again varies among Christian traditions as how literally or symbolically they take the term and how central it is within their belief system:

• The Catholic Church associates "being born again" with baptism. It holds that "Baptism is ... the sacrament by which we are born again of water and the Holy Ghost. Noting 1 Peter 3:21 "baptism doth also now save us " (KJV) as a fundamental belief of the earliest Christians found in their writings. This is also a belief held by Eastern Christianity, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, among other Christian traditions. Some non liturgical churches like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also associate baptism with being born again.
• Most Protestant churches place less emphasis on a conversion experience and rely on the individual's personal statement of belief in and commitment to Jesus Christ as "Lord" and "Savior." While they do not deny the validity of a conversion experience, they would seldom use the term "born again" to describe the experience per se, but as a result of accepting the free gift of salvation.
• Some Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal Christians associate "being born again" with a conversion experience that involves a personal, and sometimes intense, encounter of the individual with the power of God; a moment or period when they acknowledged their response to accept God's salvation and follow Him. Some Christians in these groups may say that those without such a conversion experience, (i.e. the point where one responds to the encounter by choosing to follow God and accept His forgiveness in their life [not the powerful encounter itself]), are not "saved". In other words, since the Bible teaches that salvation comes by Faith, it is thus Faith and not the experience that makes a person born again; the experience itself is often a way in which God encourages and inspires Faith. For some of these groups, "born again" can refer to two separate experiences. One is being baptized in water by full immersion and the other being filled with the Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostals believe baptism in Jesus name is essential for the new birth and the baptism of the Spirit is manifested through the speaking of new tongues.

For believers in the third group above being 'Born Again' does not require being baptized in water submersion nor being filled with the holy spirit, for them these are extra events that are only for those who are already 'saved' and hence would be going to heaven when they die. "According to your confession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit" - Baptist pastor prior to water immersion. "... Forgive me for I am a sinner...I accept you [Jesus] as my lord and savior..." excerpt from a prayer of repentance used by mainstream and pentecostal churches to receive salvation.

In theology, the study of salvation is called soteriology. The idea of being "born again" carries with it the soteriological idea that a Christian is a "new creation," given a fresh start by the action of God, freed from a sinful past life and able to begin a "new life" in relationship with Christ via the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul described it as such:

John Wesley and Christians associated with early Methodism referred to the "born again" experience as "the New Birth." They based this on the previously cited biblical passages and including the following:

Ancient usage

According to the Gospel of John, chapter 3, Jesus originated the term "born again" while teaching Nicodemus, a rabbi of the Jewish sect known as the Pharisees. The traditional Jewish understanding of the promise of salvation was that being rooted in "the seed of Abraham" referred to physical (genetic) lineage from Abraham. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that this doctrine was in error—that one must be born a second time through spiritual rebirth. Jesus' discourse with Nicodemus established the Christian belief that all human beings—whether Jew or Gentile—must be "born again" of the spiritual seed of Christ.

The Apostle Paul further reinforced this understanding in his epistle to the Galatians, chapter 3, and in .

Recent social usage

In recent history, born again is a term that has been associated with evangelical renewal since the late 1960s, first in the United States and then later around the world. Associated perhaps initially with Jesus People and the Christian counterculture, born again came to refer to an intense conversion experience, and was increasingly used as a term to identify devout believers. By the mid 1970s, born again Christians were increasingly referred to in the mainstream media as part of the Born Again Movement. Based on most exit polls of the 2004 US presidential election, born again Christians were a major factor in the re-election of George W. Bush.

In 1976 a book titled Born Again was published by Watergate conspirator and convicted felon Charles Colson. It describes his path to faith in conjunction with his criminal imprisonment and played a significant role in solidifying "Born Again" identity as a cultural construct in the U.S. The term was sufficiently prevalent that during the year's Presidential campaign Jimmy Carter described himself as born again, notably in the first Playboy magazine interview of a U.S. Presidential candidate. Modern musicians Rev. Little Richard Penniman, Mark Farner, Dan Peek, Donna Summer, Bob Dylan., Kerry Livgren, Dave Hope, Dave Mustaine, Nicko McBrain, Roger McGuinn, Johnny Cash, Brian Welch, Keith Farley and Alice Cooper were artists whose born again conversions had an impact on modern culture. Others such as James Cash Penney, C. S. Lewis, WWE superstar Shawn Michaels, Charlie Daniels, and Mr. T are also mentioned as being born again. Former Alabama governor and US presidential candidate George Wallace became born again in the late 70s, which led him to apologize for his earlier segregationist views.

See also

• Born Again Movement (China)
• Altar call
• Baptism
• Evangelism
• Holy Spirit
• Reversion (Islam)
• Sin
• Kenosis

References

External links

• What is a born again Christian by GotQuestions.org
• Why should anyone need to be born again?
• Sermon #45: The New Birth by John Wesley
• Sermon #18: The Marks of the New Birth by John Wesley
• The Calvinist View of the Doctrine of Regeneration or The New Birth
• What is Monergistic Regeneration? (Calvinist/Reformed)