People usually go about thinking that being a Born-Again christian fulfills all the requirements of salvation, but this is a huge misunderstanding and actually being born again is just the starting point, does not guarantee the benefits of christianity. So let's take it from the original scriptures from which this terminology was taken.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3)

So what does it mean to be born again? Being born-again does not mean turning from sin, it does not mean walking in righteousness. Unbelievable!!, right?? Being born again simply means: Understanding the gospel you hear, that is all. You need to have an understanding of the message that is preached, then you have an idea/vision of what the kingdom of God is about or where the journey to the kingdom of God starts. Being born again is the believing part of Christianity, the part where you acquire the conscience of right and wrong according to the Christ and not according to the law. In other words, Acquiring the new Mindset and reinterpreting the meaning of sin and righteousness. This is the part where you know that you have been liberated from sin(The Law) and need no more to fear the things that you used to fear because they were defined as sin by the Law and hence banned you from doing them. This is the point where your guilty conscience according to the Law is taken away. Thus this is what makes you a christian.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God(John 3:5)

Now this is the Faith part of christianity, the operations and vitality of christian living. It is no longer about understanding right and wrong according to christ but the doing of that which you now understand as a christian(Born again). Being born of Water is symbolic for speaking the words of this new understanding that you have, and being born of the spirit is symbolic for acting according to this new understanding. In other words: to speak and to do... Being born of the spirit is not about receiving the gifts of the spirit; ie: speaking in tongues, prophesy, miracles, etc. Spirit here means behaviour/action, not that some spiritual entity descends upon you and influencing/controlling what you see/hear/do/etc. Born of the spirit is your own personal and deliberate effort to act according to the new understanding and words you have received. This action/behavioural part is what Paul refers to when he declares:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek(Romans 1:16).

Ie: It is no longer about what you know but rather about what you practice that leads to manifestations of the extra-ordinary/supernatural/salvation. He also encourages the church to move to this level of christian living when he encourages them to: work out their salvation with fear and trembling...(Philippians 2:12 ). This is the aspect that bears fruits in terms of building good(note: not as the world defines good) character and developing supernatural gifts.

So while the first requirement(born again) allows you to see(understand) the kingdom of God, the later requirement(born of water and the spirit) actually enables you to enter(profit from, bear fruits) into the kingdom of God.

Oya, make una clap for me nah.

This is interesting and i must say kinda contrary to how normal christians interpret "born again". When someone says he's born again he means he's given his life to christ and leaving his past sins. But the OP seems to be saying that anybody who hears the gospel is born again. This is not making much sense, it doesn't agree with well known christian teaching.

bump

To be born again (born of water and spirit) is to be baptized.

italo: To be born again (born of water and spirit) is to be baptized.

Simple.

Victor.R:
This is interesting and i must say kinda contrary to how normal christians interpret "born again". When someone says he's born again he means he's given his life to christ and leaving his past sins. But the OP seems to be saying that anybody who hears the gospel is born again. This is not making much sense, it doesn't agree with well known christian teaching.

Accepting the doctrine of christianity makes you a born again, rather than the actual practice of christian doctrine. After accepting this doctrine, it becomes part of your conscience and the means by which your judge right and wrong. Now choosing to do wrong does not take away your born-againism , because your conscience still keeps you in awareness of your wrong deeds as judged by this new doctrine.

After being born again and you need to profit from new awareness, you have to speak(water) and do(spirit) the things you are convinced of by this doctrine, hence you are born of water and spirit.

.

italo: To be born again (born of water and spirit) is to be baptized.

Naahh!!! This is the misconception.

okeyxyz:

Accepting the doctrine of christianity makes you a born again, rather than the actual practice of christian doctrine. After accepting this doctrine, it becomes part of your conscience and the means by which your judge right and wrong. Now choosing to do wrong does not take away your born-againism , because your conscience still keeps you in awareness of your wrong deeds as judged by this new doctrine.

After being born again and you need to profit from new awareness, you have to speak(water) and do(spirit) the things you are convinced of by this doctrine, hence you are born of water and spirit.

speak and do = water and spirit? see levels na!

Syncan:

speak and do = water and spirit? see levels na!

Oh boy! Just when you think you've heard it all.

Jesus dey patient o!

Okeyxyz,

Who taught you this one?

@OP

Born again is not just understanding God's word.

True, born again is a requirement to be in the kingdom of God, however, one's conduct can affect his inheriting it even after being born again.

Born again simply means the baptism by water and holy spirit. After the apostles were baptized from water(water baptism is the baptism by water), the holy spirit fell upon them at pentacost (it was then that they were baptized by the spirit.)

JMAN05: @OP

Born again is not just understanding God's word.

True, born again is a requirement to be in the kingdom of God, however, one's conduct can affect his inheriting it even after being born again.

Born again simply means the baptism by water and holy spirit. After the apostles were baptized from water(water baptism is the baptism by water), the holy spirit fell upon them at pentacost (it was then that they were baptized by the spirit.)

You are mistaken. Being born again is not a requirement to be in the kingdom of God, it only enables you to believe("see" -John 3:3) the kingdom, making you a christian. To actually use and enjoy the benefits("enter" -John 3:5) of this kingdom, then you'd have to speak(water) and do(spirit) what you have seen/understood from being born again.

Water baptism is just the practice of symbolism because symbolism was important to them back in those days. It was their measure of faith, the evidence of their belief.

We interpret spirit as an outside invisible entity with a will of it's own, but actually spirit means understanding, character or behaviour, simple. This whole misconception also carries over from the old days when they couldn't see God but could see his operations in action, thus the spirit(action) of god.

Syncan:

speak and do = water and spirit? see levels na!

Gbam!!!!

See my explanation above for further understanding.

italo:
Okeyxyz,

Who taught you this one?

The spirit teaches me all things.

okeyxyz:

Gbam!!!!

See my explanation above for further understanding.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

now oga okexyz has changed this understanding claiming its old school. I de bow for you o.

okeyxyz:

The spirit teaches me all things.

okeyxyz:

We interpret spirit as an outside invisible entity with a will of it's own, but actually spirit means understanding, character or behaviour, simple. This whole misconception also carries over from the old days when they couldn't see God but could see his operations in action, thus the spirit(action) of god.

According to you, spirit is understanding, character, or behaviour. Now you claim the spirit teaches you all things. What you are saying is that " understanding, character or behaviour, teaches you all things". Ok sir I gerrit, we are not in the same world.

Sometimes I cant help thinking that some people deliberately set out to make us laugh on nairaland.

okeyxyz:

You are mistaken. Being born again is not a requirement to be in the kingdom of God, it only enables you to believe([color=#990000]"see" -John 3:3) the kingdom, making you a christian. To actually use and enjoy the benefits("enter" -John 3:5) of this kingdom, then you'd have to speak(water) and do(spirit) what you have seen/understood from being born again.[/color]

Water baptism is just the practice of symbolism because symbolism was important to them back in those days. It was their measure of faith, the evidence of their belief.

We interpret spirit as an outside invisible entity with a will of it's own, but actually spirit means understanding, character or behaviour, simple. This whole misconception also carries over from the old days when they couldn't see God but could see his operations in action, thus the spirit(action) of god.

Baptism is symbolism. Spirit is action.

O boy!!!!!! where did you come from? I cant help but laugh. My brother your problem is too much ooo. I dont even know where to start.