What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?

Bold in Bible verses are 
for emphasis. 

The words of Jesus 
Christ are in red.

When you have faith (trust) 
that Jesus Christ, the Son 
of God, shed his sinless 
blood on the cross to 
pay for your sin debt 
and that he rose from 
the grave, then you are 
born "of God" (born 
again spiritually).  

John 

1:12 But as many as 
received him [Jesus 
Christ]to them gave 
he power to become 
the sons of God, even 
to them that believe 
on his name: 

1:13 Which were 
born, not of blood, 
nor of the will of the 
flesh [stuff we do]
nor of the will of 
man, but of God. 

1 John

5:1 Whosoever 
believeth that 
Jesus is the Christ 
[Saviour of the 
world] is born of 
God: and every 
one that loveth him 
that begat loveth 
him also that is 
begotten of him.

Now, here is what Jesus
said about being born 
again...

Jesus Christ 
explained how to be 
born again to 
Nicodemus a religious 
Pharisee and member 
of the Jewish ruling 
council, the Sanhedrin. 

John

3:2 The same came to 
Jesus by night, and said 
unto him, Rabbi, we 
know that thou art a 
teacher come from 
God: for no man can 
do these miracles that 
thou doest, except 
God be with him. 

3:3 Jesus answered 
and said unto him, 
Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, Except a 
man be born again, 
he cannot see the 
kingdom of God.

3:4 Nicodemus saith 
unto him, How can 
a man be born when 
he is old? can he 
enter the second 
time into his 
mother's womb, 
and be born?

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

3:6 That which is 
born of the flesh 
is flesh; and that 
which is born of 
the Spirit is spirit.

3:7 Marvel not that 
said unto thee, Ye 
must be born again.

Jesus told Nicodemus 
that being born again 
of God's Holy Spirit 
was like the wind. 
You cannot see the 
wind, and you don't 
know where it comes 
from or where it goes, 
but you can see the 
effects of the wind as it 
blows things around, 
i.e., leaves, tree 
branches, or waves 
on the water, etc. 

Jesus explained that 
to be born of the 
Holy Spirit was similar 
to that because you do 
not know where the 
Holy Spirit comes from 
and where He goes, but 
you can see the effects 
the Holy Spirit has on 
you once He indwells 
you at the time you 
repent of your sins and 
accept Jesus Christ as 
your personal Saviour 
and the Lord of your 
life because then you 
become a changed 
person into the 
image of Jesus. 
Jesus continues to
Nicodemus:

3:8 The wind bloweth 
where it listeth*, and 
thou hearest the 
sound thereof, but 
canst not tell whence 
it cometh, and whither 
it goeth: so is every 
one that is born of 
the Spirit. [*chooses]

After being born again 
by God's Holy Spirit 
(He will come to live 
inside of you) and you 
will become a new 
person, one that is 
transformed into 
someone who no longer 
desires to sin, but now 
desires to live a life 
in obedience to God
through his holy
word, the King 
James Bible.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man 
be in Christ, he is a 
new creature: old 
things are passed 
away; behold, all 
things are become 
new.