Editing Born again (section)

{{Short description|Evangelical Christian term}}
{{About|the Christian term|other uses|Born Again (disambiguation){{!}}Born Again}}
{{Redirect|New birth|other uses|New Birth (disambiguation){{!}}New Birth}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

To be '''born again''', or to experience the '''new birth''', is a phrase, particularly in [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] [[Christianity]], that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a [[Regeneration (theology)|regeneration]] of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by the operation of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]], and it occurs when one is baptized in water (John 3:5, Titus 3:5). While all Christians are familiar with the concept from the Bible, it is a core doctrine of the denominations of the [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]], [[Moravian Church|Moravian]], [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Baptists|Baptist]], [[Plymouth Brethren]] and [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] churches along with evangelical Christian denominations. These Churches stress [[Jesus]]'s words in the [[Gospels]]: "Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’" (John 3:7).<ref>{{bibleverse|John|3:6–7}}</ref> (In some English translations, the phrase "born again" is rendered as "born from above".<ref>{{Cite web |title=John 3:7 - Jesus and Nicodemus |url=https://biblehub.com/john/3-7.htm |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Bible Hub}}</ref>) Their doctrines also hold that to be "born again" and thus "[[salvation in Christianity|saved]]", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.<ref name="Joyner2007"/><ref name="Cathcart1883">{{cite book |last1=Cathcart |first1=William |title=The Baptist Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of the Doctrines, Ordinances ... of the General History of the Baptist Denomination in All Lands, with Numerous Biographical Sketches...& a Supplement |date=1883 |publisher=L. H. Everts |page=834 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="CYMF2018"/><ref name="Wood1965"/><ref name="Bornstein">{{Cite book |last=Bornstein |first=Erica |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQM1kPlOFBkC&q=personal+relationship+with+jesus+christ+born+again&pg=PA81 |title=The spirit of development: Protestant NGOs, morality, and economics in Zimbabwe |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0804753364 |quote=A senior staff member in World Vision's California office elaborated on the importance of being "born again," emphasizing a fundamental "relationship" between individuals and Jesus Christ: "...the importance of a personal relationship with Christ [is] that it's not just a matter of going to Christ or being baptized when you are an infant. We believe that people need to be regenerated. They need a spiritual rebirth. The need to be born again.{{nbsp}}[...] You must be born again before you can see, or enter, the Kingdom of Heaven." |access-date=30 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Lever">{{Cite book |last=Lever |first=A. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1fWE9H8zJYC&q=personal+relationship+with+jesus+christ+born+again&pg=PA291 |title=And God Said... |year=2007 |publisher=Xulon Press |isbn=978-1604771152 |quote=From speaking to other Christians I know that the distinction of a born again believer is a personal experience of God that leads to a personal relationship with Him. |access-date=30 July 2011}}</ref>

The term ''born again'' has its origin in the [[New Testament]]. In the [[First Epistle of Peter]], [[First Epistle of Peter#Authorship|the author]] describes the new birth as taking place from the seed which is the Word of God.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Born Again – The New Birth occurs only from accepting God's seed, which is His full and unaltered Word. |url=https://unmodifiedword.com/resources/born-again/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925065559/https://unmodifiedword.com/resources/born-again/ |archive-date=2022-09-25 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=UnmodifiedWord.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|1 Peter|1:23}}</ref> In the [[Gospel of Luke]], [[Jesus]] himself refers to the Word of God as the seed.<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|8:11}}</ref>

In contemporary Christian usage and apart from evangelicalism, the term is distinct from similar terms which are sometimes used in [[Christianity]] in reference to a person who is, or is becoming, a Christian. This usage of the term is usually linked to [[baptism]] with water and the related doctrine of [[baptismal regeneration]]. Individuals who profess to be "born again" (meaning born in the "Holy Spirit") often state that they have a "personal relationship with [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus Christ]]".<ref name="Price">{{Cite book |last=Price |first=Robert M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEYaWhQnd0QC&q=personal+relationship+with+jesus+christ+born+again&pg=PA53 |title=Beyond Born Again: Toward Evangelical Maturity |publisher=[[Wildside Press]] |year=1993 |isbn=978-1434477484 |quote=I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.|access-date=30 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Bornstein"/><ref name="Lever"/>