What is a Born Again Christian?

The term "born again" or "born again Christian" is now a common term used and heard everywhere in conversations. In the Philippines, it now commonly refers to Christians who are non-Catholics, in general. That is, Christians who are Protestants, evangelicals, charismatics and the like.

But what does the term "born again" really mean? We find a reference to it in John 3 when Christ said to Nicodemus that he needed to be born again in order to see or enter the kingdom of God.

For some Christians (a minority view), they interpret "born again" as that time in the future at the Second Coming of Christ -- at the resurrection -- when those who are Christ's will be changed into spirit-beings. That, for them is being "born again." It is something in the future, yet to happen, at the resurrection, at Christ's second coming. Only a few Christians believe this interpretation of John 3 .

In the website, Catholic Answers here is how Catholics define "born again":

"When a Catholic says that he has been "born again," he refers to the transformation that God’s grace accomplished in him during baptism. Evangelical Protestants typically mean something quite different when they talk about being "born again."

For evangelicals in general, "born again" means that time in their lives when they accepted Jesus Christ into their lives as their Savior and Lord. It could have happened during a sermon, a crusade, revival meeting or somebody personally shared the gospel to them. This is the general understanding of evangelicals or "born again Christians" when they talk about being "born again."

As I understand it then, both Catholics and evangelicals agree that "born again" means a spiritual rebirth, a regeneration. For Catholics, it happens by God's grace at baptism (I presume as a baby). But for the evangelicals, it happens at a time when they make a decision to accept Christ as adults. For them, "born again" talks about and it means conversion. Jesus was saying to Nicodemus that he needed to be converted in order to see the kingdom of God. He needed to change his outlook in life (Greek, metanoia).  He need to repent (metanoia) and believe. To be "born again" means to be converted -- not resurrected (Matthew 18:3 ).

But here's something that is really intriguing and this has really expanded my understanding of what it means to be "born again." According to Thomas F. Torrance in his book, Mediation of Christ on pages 85-86 he wrote:

"...a highlander asked me whether I was born again, and when I replied in the affirmative he asked when I had been born again. I still recall his face when I told him that I had been born again when Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and rose again from the virgin tomb, the first-born from the dead."

Let me explain. For Torrance, we became "born again" when Christ came to earth as a human being. Take note, not just during the resurrection! Rather, it also includes the incarnation. And may I add, the Atonement. Let me explain further.

You see, when "the Word became flesh", God became one with us -- humans. That is the incarnation. That is the meaning of Immanuel -- God with us. Divinity joined with humanity. The greatest miracle happened. Atonement -- at-one-ment -- happened at that point in time when Jesus became a human being (Incarnation). The Word (God) became flesh! God in the flesh! Divinity was now forever joined with humanity through Christ. Christ was now in union with all of humanity. The atonement did not only happen at the Cross at Calvary! According to Torrance, it even happened earlier at Bethlehem at Christ's birth -- when God became flesh -- the incarnation!

Through Christ and because of Christ -- in union with man -- that make humans a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17 )! That's when I was "born again!" That's how Torrance looked at it. And I kind of agree with him. Objectively then, from God's point of view, we have all been born again when Christ became human and joined us with him. That is the objective truth.

Subjectively and personally, in John 3 , Jesus was talking about our need to personally experience ("see") being "born again" in order to enter or see the kingdom of God. That is we need to change, we need to be converted, we need to be transformed, we need to change our outlook in life, we need to change our perspective -- this is the meaning of "repent" (Greek, metanoia) and may I add, believe -- in order to see or enter the Kingdom of God.