Being born of the Spirit refers to the spiritual transformation that takes place when a person becomes a Christian. It is contrasted with being born of the flesh, which is our natural human birth into sin. Being born of the Spirit is made possible through faith in Jesus Christ and results in a new spiritual life as a child of God.
The need for spiritual rebirth
According to the Bible, all human beings are born spiritually dead in sin and separation from God due to the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3; Ephesians 2:1-3). Our natural inclination is towards sin and rebellion against God (Romans 3:10-18). No matter how good we try to be, our efforts fall short of God’s perfect standard (Isaiah 64:6). Sin has corrupted human nature and made us incapable of reconciling ourselves to God.
Jesus emphasized that we must be “born again” or “born from above” to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-7). Our first natural birth makes us alive physically but spiritually dead. We need a second spiritual birth that makes us alive spiritually. This spiritual rebirth is necessary because “flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6). Our natural selves are simply incapable of producing spiritual life. Only the Holy Spirit can impart spiritual life to us.
The divine initiative in rebirth
Spiritual rebirth begins with God, not man. Scripture portrays rebirth as a sovereign work of God in which we are passive recipients, not active participants (John 1:12-13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3). Theologians refer to this as regeneration or being “born again.” God awakens our spiritually dead souls and implants spiritual life within us. The Holy Spirit indwells us and applies the redemptive work of Christ to make us spiritually alive.
We do not choose or initiate this process, just as a baby plays no role in being physically conceived and born. The credit belongs fully to God who chose to show us mercy and grace. However, this divine act prompts and enables our response of repentance and faith. Those who are born of the Spirit manifest the fruit of the Spirit in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23). Good works and a changed life provide evidence of rebirth.
The means of rebirth
Spiritual rebirth is accomplished through the Word of God and the Spirit of God (1 Peter 1:23-25; Titus 3:5). The Spirit uses the Word to convict us of sin and bring us to saving faith in Christ. The apostle Peter declared, “you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). It is the gospel message about Christ proclaimed in Scripture that the Spirit uses to give us new life. The Word and the Spirit work together in the miracle of spiritual rebirth.
The results of rebirth
Several key changes occur when someone is born again of the Spirit:
- We receive new spiritual life as children of God (John 1:12-13).
- We begin a personal relationship with God the Father (Galatians 4:6-7).
- The Spirit comes to indwell us (Romans 8:9-11).
- We are freed from the power of sin (Romans 6:1-14).
- We desire to obey and please God (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
- Our minds are opened to understand spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
- We have assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13).
- We gain victory over Satan and the world (1 John 5:4-5).
Truly, being born again by the Spirit transforms someone’s entire orientation toward God. It launches us into new life in Christ and is the starting point for the process of becoming more like Jesus.
Born of the Spirit, not works
This rebirth is experienced by faith in Christ, not by adhering to rituals, sacraments or rules. Outward religious works do not automatically make someone right with God. The Pharisees followed strict religious practices but were not born of the Spirit. Jesus said even one as devout as Nicodemus needed spiritual rebirth (John 3:1-10).
Paul confirms that keeping the Jewish law is powerless to save us or make us righteous (Galatians 3:1-14). Only through Christ’s sacrifice can the law be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:1-4). Good works and obedience have an important place but only as the result and evidence of new life in Christ (James 2:14-26). We are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
A transformed mindset
When we are born again, we begin to understand spiritual truth because the Spirit enlightens our minds. Paul describes this transformation, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness…The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). With the Spirit, we can grasp God’s Word in a life-changing way.
Our desires and outlook begin to align with God’s. Behavior is changed from the inside out. This aligns with Paul’s command to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). As our mindset changes, our actions follow. The Spirit renews our mind to produce new attitudes, motivations and deeds.
An ongoing process
Although rebirth is a one-time definitive event, growing as a new creation in Christ involves lifelong maturation. At salvation we are declared righteous in God’s sight, but now we pursue practical righteousness. Peter encourage believers, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). This process of renewal and growth is the practical outworking of spiritual rebirth.
Paul says, “we…are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The Spirit’s transforming work begins at rebirth but continues throughout the Christian life. We cooperate with this process through spiritual disciplines like Bible study, prayer, fellowship and worship. Our goal is to increasingly reflect Christ.
Assurance of salvation
Since this rebirth is God’s work, He assures us in His Word that we can have certainty of our salvation. John writes, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Our confidence rests on Christ’s finished work. Evidence of being born of the Spirit assures us that something supernatural has happened within us.
As the Spirit produces His fruit in our lives, it confirms we have been made new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul says the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16). Obedience, love for others, victory over sin, and spiritual understanding provide ongoing assurance that we have been born of the Spirit.
A contrast to the flesh
Scripture contrasts life in the flesh with life in the Spirit. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires…The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6). Every person is controlled by either their sinful nature or by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). There is no neutral middle ground.
As believers, we have crucified the flesh and its desires (Galatians 5:24). We now live and walk by the Spirit, bearing His fruit. But this is an ongoing battle. Paul says, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The flesh produces sinful fruit, but the Spirit produces righteousness (Galatians 5:19-23). The flesh opposes the work of the Spirit, but the Spirit opposes the work of the flesh (Galatians 5:17).
A spiritual heritage
Those born of the flesh naturally pursue worldly pleasures and live for self. But those born of the Spirit seek after the things above where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-4). Our values, priorities, and lifestyles are different because our spiritual Father is different. We look forward to receiving our full inheritance from God when Christ returns (1 Peter 1:3-5). Until then, we live as foreigners on earth because our new family and home is in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).
The role of baptism
Water baptism is often closely associated with salvation because it signifies our spiritual rebirth and incorporation into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). However, baptism does not produce rebirth. It is only an outward sign representing the inward spiritual transformation accomplished by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. Baptism reflects publicly what has already happened privately within the believer’s heart. It gives physical expression to the spiritual reality of being born again by the Spirit through the gospel.
Conclusion
In summary, to be born of the Spirit means to undergo a spiritual transformation in which the Holy Spirit imparts new life to a person’s soul through faith in the gospel message. A believer is figuratively “born again” into God’s family as a new creation. This sovereign work of God enables us to understand spiritual truth, have intimacy with God, bear righteous fruit, and receive an eternal inheritance. Although baptism often closely accompanies being born of the Spirit, it does not produce rebirth but rather symbolizes the inner spiritual rebirth that has already occurred by God’s grace through faith in Christ.