What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?
But what does it really mean to be “born again”? This term was first introduced in John 3:3–7, when Jesus met with Nicodemus and explained that spiritual rebirth is necessary for anyone to enter the Kingdom of God. Yet many people who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior do not fully understand what that decision truly means. Often, people come to Christ out of fear because they do not want to go to hell. Others receive Christ because family members or church people pressured them, or because they made an emotional decision in a moment of urgency. Some do come sincerely, yet still without a clear understanding of what being born again actually involves.
Being born again is far more than simply being saved or rescued from the depths of hell. While conviction of sin and genuine repentance are essential, because Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we might have eternal life with Him (see John 3:16), that is only the beginning of what it truly means to be born again.
When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the age of eleven, my understanding was very limited. At that time, I believed I was saved primarily so I would not go to hell. I knew I was forgiven and that Heaven was my destination, yet as I grew in my walk with God, I came to realize that salvation was about receiving a completely new life in Christ.
Like I was at that stage of my life, many believers today have settled for being merely “saved” and nothing more. They do not yet realize that being born again means receiving an entirely new life, a new nature, and a new identity in Christ. It also means entering a new spiritual realm of authority, purpose, and relationship with God.
To be born again is a transformation of who you are, and this means everything changes.
What It Truly Means to Be Born Again
1. To be born again means your spirit is made alive, transformed, and regenerated.
When you are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, a radical transformation takes place within you. Your spirit, which was once dead to God, is made alive. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that you are “a new creature in Christ.” Your old nature is done away with, and a brand-new spiritual life begins. This is supernatural rebirth, and the Holy Spirit Himself does the work of transforming you, clothing you, shaping you, and empowering you to live a completely new way of life. What was once powerless and spiritually dead becomes empowered and comes alive to God.
2. To be born again means you now have direct access to Father God
Being born again gives you access to God in ways even the Old Testament prophets did not have. Many believers think they could never walk in the spiritual realm of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, or the prophets of old, but in truth, we now have greater access than they ever did.
In the Old Testament, the priests had to consecrate themselves and offer sacrifices before entering God’s presence, acting as mediators between God and the people. But when Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two, signifying that the barrier between God and man was removed forever. Now we can come boldly before the throne of grace and have fellowship with God the Father. First John 3:2 declares that "we are now the sons of God". You are no longer a distant servant; you are now a child with full access to your heavenly Father.
3. To be born again means the Holy Spirit of God lives in you.
When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, He sends His Holy Spirit to live in you, to transform your life, and to help you produce spiritual fruit such as love, joy, and peace (see Galatians 5:22–23). It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that a person experiences spiritual regeneration, or the “new birth,” and becomes a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
If we truly understood who lives inside of us, we would realize the weight of glory we carry. This is a huge reality, yet many believers walk around feeling dejected, oppressed, and lost, failing to recognize that the Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of God. We are never alone. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we carry within our body, soul, and spirit a Comforter who guides us, gives us victory, and heals our bodies. Once you understand who lives inside you, you will no longer walk in defeat.
In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God appeared as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day to the Israelites after they left Egypt. From Exodus 25 to Exodus 40, and again in 1 Kings 8, when Solomon built the temple, God’s Spirit dwelt in a physical structure. Today, we are God’s temple. According to 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, our bodies are the temple of God. This is extraordinary. Do you know who lives within you?
Yet many believers pray as if God is far away, using repetitive and forceful prayers like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. But He is in you through the Holy Spirit and is always present, whether we are awake or asleep. Psalm 139:1-2 and Deuteronomy 6:6-8 remind us that He is with us when we lie down and when we rise. He is ever-present.
4. To be born again means you have supernatural access to the Kingdom of God and real Kingdom authority.
When you are born again, you are vested with Kingdom authority, and you exercise Kingdom influence by walking in that authority (see Matthew 16:18–19). In Matthew 12:28, Jesus shows us that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to cast out demonic spirits and advance God’s Kingdom. As believers, we also have access to God to demonstrate His Kingdom, power, and authority on earth, taking dominion over the forces of darkness that plague humanity.
Creative miracles take place, bodies are healed, and hardened hearts are transformed. One of Jesus’ disciples was even supernaturally transported to another location. Some may call these “superhero powers,” but these manifestations occur solely according to God’s will and purpose, and that is to build His Kingdom and overcome the kingdom of darkness in this fallen world. Do these things still happen today? Absolutely, and far more often than is ever reported or heard of.
My friends, how do you view your salvation today? What do you truly believe happened when you received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Yes, one must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is just as important that your relationship with the heavenly Father is nurtured, that you operate in Kingdom authority, and that you walk in victory, carrying the weight of His presence as a living temple. Once you understand this, the way you walk, talk, and live on this earth will change.
A Call to Salvation
For those who have not yet received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and have read this message, you must understand that repentance is required. Sin separates us from God, and to be united with Him in the Spirit, you must acknowledge that you have sinned and believe that Jesus Christ died in your place to take the punishment for your sins. If you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I need a Savior. I believe that You came to earth, took the form of a man, and died on the cross in my place, taking the sins of the world, including mine, so that I could be saved from everlasting death and judgment.
I believe that You rose again from the dead and that You will come again. I invite Your Holy Spirit to live in me, to make my life new, and to change me from the inside out. I believe that You can transform me and make me a new creation. I desire to have fellowship with the Father, to walk closely with Him, and be His friend. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for living in me. Thank You, Father, that I can walk and talk with You freely. Amen.
Once you believe this in your heart, you are now officially a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Holy Spirit lives in you. You are now a child of God! There is great joy and celebration in Heaven. I encourage you, if you are not attending a Bible-believing church, to join one that teaches the Word of God in truth, power, and without compromise, and that believes in being born again.
Welcome to the family of God!
Author: Kimberly A.S. Williams