The term, “born again”, comes from the book of John in the Bible. Nicodemus, one of the rulers of Israel (religiously speaking, since Israel was under Roman rule), comes to Jesus by night, because the official stance of the Sanhedrin (religious rulers) is that Jesus is a dangerous blasphemer, and anyone found consorting with him would be excommunicated.
Jesus and Nicodemus
Jesus tells him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Nicodemus then has the same question that we started with – what do you mean by “born again”?
Jesus answered him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Spiritual Experience?
So, Jesus is saying that not only are you born in the flesh, but you must be born in the Spirit as well if you want to enter the kingdom of God. Does this mean we have to have a “spiritual” experience? Any kind of spiritual experience? Today, people sometimes consider themselves “spiritual, but not religious”. That could mean pretty much anything. Many times that means they are seeking “enlightenment” and some kind of spiritual experience.
Jesus, however, is talking about being born of the Spirit of God. This is something only God can do. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate us, to change the disposition of our hearts and make us alive spiritually. We did not choose to be born the first time, and we do not choose to be born of the Spirit – some believe that God does it when we profess faith in Jesus Christ and choose to follow him. Some believe that we have to be born again in order to make that choice (i.e. God has to give us the Spirit before we can have any desire for God).
Sometimes, this is an earth-shaking experience. Paul was blinded by a great light on the road to Damascus. John Wesley speaks of how his heart was “strangely warmed”. Some people know the exact day and hour that they were reborn. But for others, it is just a realization that God is real and a desire to know him. Whatever form this rebirth may take, it is when the Spirit of God enters your heart and opens your eyes to the things of God.