What does it mean to be "born again"?

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Judge Hardcastle

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As for Galatians 4, Paul is using an allegory about covenants, not defining Johannine symbolism.
Everybody being baptized in water by John during the time of Nicodemus is turning back in repentance to God according to the covenant of law. There is no unified experience of water baptism and Spirit baptism yet. They are distinct at this time. Only the covenant of law exists at this time. And turning to God according to that covenant bears children who are slaves.

Galatians 4:24
24One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves...

John's water baptism for repentance births sons who have no share in the inheritance. Because the law does not solicit the liberating power of the Holy Spirit (it's not even available to the people of God, yet). Being born of the 'water' of repentance to the law births a natural son still enslaved to the law and the flesh. That's why they have no share in the inheritance. Only sons born according to faith in the promise have a part in the inheritance.

Galatians 4:30
30...the slave woman’s son (the son born of the old covenant of law) will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son (the son born as a result of the covenant of faith in the promise).”

That's why Jesus is telling Nicodemus that you must also be born again by the Spirit to see and enter into the kingdom of God. John's baptism for repentance, as necessary as it is, is not good enough. That is Jesus' message to Nicodemus. So fitting to the person he's talking to, and the time of John's baptism he and the people of God live.

John 3:5-6
5...if anyone may not be born of water (John's baptism) and the Spirit (Jesus' baptism), he is not able to enter into the Kingdom of God; 6that which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.-

John's baptism of water is not enough. You must also be baptized with the baptism that Jesus brings, the baptism of the Spirit. That is the person who will see and enter into the kingdom and reign of God.
 
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Moonwood

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Everybody being baptized in water by John during the time of Nicodemus is turning back in repentance to God according to the covenant of law. There is no unified experience of water baptism and Spirit baptism yet. They are distinct at this time. Only the covenant of law exists at this time. And turning to God according to that covenant bears children who are slaves.

Galatians 4:24
24One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves...

John's water baptism for repentance births sons who have no share in the inheritance. Because the law does not solicit the liberating power of the Holy Spirit (it's not even available to the people of God, yet). Being born of the 'water' of repentance to the law births a natural son still enslaved to the law and the flesh. That's why they have no share in the inheritance. Only sons born according to faith in the promise have a part in the inheritance.

Galatians 4:30
30...the slave woman’s son (the son born of the old covenant of law) will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son (the son born as a result of the covenant of faith in the promise).”

That's why Jesus is telling Nicodemus that you must also be born again by the Spirit to see and enter into the kingdom of God. John's baptism for repentance, as necessary as it is, is not good enough. That is Jesus' message to Nicodemus. So fitting to the person he's talking to, and the time of John's baptism he and the people of God live.

John 3:5-6
5...if anyone may not be born of water (John's baptism) and the Spirit (Jesus' baptism), he is not able to enter into the Kingdom of God; 6that which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.-

John's baptism of water is not enough. You must also be baptized with the baptism that Jesus brings, the baptism of the Spirit. That is the person who will see and enter into the kingdom and reign of God.

I see the framework you’re building, but it depends entirely on importing Paul’s Galatians 4 allegory into John 3. John simply isn’t using covenant‑contrast language here, and Jesus isn’t interpreting John’s baptism. He is correcting Nicodemus’s misunderstanding about birth, not repentance, not covenants, and not slavery vs. inheritance.

In John 3, the categories are the ones Jesus Himself gives:
  • “born of flesh” = natural origin
  • “born of Spirit” = divine origin
That’s why Jesus immediately explains His own terms: “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” He is not contrasting repentance vs. Spirit. He is contrasting natural birth vs. Spirit‑given birth. And Nicodemus confirms the category when he asks, “Can a man enter his mother’s womb a second time?”

And to answer your question directly: in John’s Gospel, “water” consistently signifies the cleansing and renewal God gives when He brings someone into new life. It is the purifying aspect of the Spirit’s work — not a separate action, not a human ritual, and not a physical‑birth category. So no, this is not baptismal regeneration, and Hebrews 10:22 is not defining John 3; it is using priestly imagery. John’s symbolic vocabulary is consistent: “water” always points to divine cleansing and renewal, never to repentance‑effort, covenant‑effort, or physical birth.

If “water” meant repentance or John’s baptism, Jesus’s correction would make no sense. Nicodemus is not confused about repentance; he is confused about birth. Jesus answers the confusion directly by contrasting flesh‑birth with Spirit‑birth.

So the connection between “flesh” and “water and Spirit” is simply this:
  • “flesh” describes the origin of natural life
  • “water and Spirit” describe the origin of supernatural life
John is contrasting origins, not repentance vs. faith, and not baptism vs. Spirit. That’s why “water = repentance” cannot fit the dialogue: Nicodemus’s misunderstanding is about physical birth, not repentance. Jesus’s correction only works if “flesh” refers to natural birth and “water and Spirit” refer to supernatural birth.

Galatians 4 is an allegory about covenants, not a definition of Johannine symbolism. John and Paul agree on the reality of new birth, but they describe it using different categories. John’s vocabulary is σάρξ, ψυχή, and πνεῦμα, and his contrast in John 3 is between natural life and Spirit‑given life, not between repentance and Spirit, and not between law‑sons and promise‑sons.

So while your covenant framework is interesting, it isn’t the framework Jesus uses in His conversation with Nicodemus. I’m simply keeping John’s categories inside John’s Gospel.
 
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Hillsage

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Part I.

Where we currently differ is that you’re now introducing a system of ZAO‑life, ZOE‑life, NEKROS‑death, and a tripartite anthropology that John never uses.
I am going to limit my brief post to just 'John'....just for you. hlo
First, a question to think about concerning my post.
Why, in JOHN, in the KJV only, is pneuma translated as "Holy Ghost" 4x and "the Spirit" 5x and "Wind" 1x

JOH 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining ON him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

I believe "the Spirit" that John the baptist prophesied, was to "remain ON him", also remains ON us after we receive it. And we received that baptism from Jesus AFTER our spirit was "born again/anew"...as the "holy Ghost". And 'that holy ghost' is the anointed or glorified spirit which dwells IN the new born believer.

JOH 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

I believe 'the Spirit' was "received...given" when our spirit was born again.

JOH 14:26* But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Cross Ref with; 1JO 2:27* But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth IN you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

If "YOU" ( a Plural collective noun e.g., the many membered body sg. of Christ) are abiding IN him and He is abiding IN us then "deep calleth unto deep". In this Psalm 'the spirit' which is not defined 'symbolically' with "wind", but with "water" is being referenced. I believe the spirit of Christ moves 'like water, pours' and the spirit of God 'like wind, blows'. I believe this is a separating 'tell' in scripture. I've never heard anyone teach it. I hope I'm making sense to you. Your thoughts? If none, that's OK.

JOH 19:30* When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus' body gave up his holy ghost/spirit, to the Father, but it did not give up his soul. According to JOHN.

JOH 20:22* And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive/lambano ye the Holy Ghost:

In this above verse some of the church teaches that they got born again then. Not true, Jesus wasn't crucified and it therefore wasn't even available according to JOH 7:39 above. JOH 20:22 was a prophetic word from Jesus telling them to get it with a "lambano" TAKE or receive-ing. I base that opinion according to a quote from Vines Greek dict. which says:

"Note. There is a certain distinction between lambano and dechomai (more pronounced in the earlier, classical use), in that in many instances lambano suggests a self-prompted taking, whereas dechomai more frequently indicates "a welcoming or an appropriating reception" (Grimm-Thayer)."
 

Moonwood

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I am going to limit my brief post to just 'John'....just for you. hlo
First, a question to think about concerning my post.
Why, in JOHN, in the KJV only, is pneuma translated as "Holy Ghost" 4x and "the Spirit" 5x and "Wind" 1x

JOH 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining ON him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

I believe "the Spirit" that John the baptist prophesied, was to "remain ON him", also remains ON us after we receive it. And we received that baptism from Jesus AFTER our spirit was "born again/anew"...as the "holy Ghost". And 'that holy ghost' is the anointed or glorified spirit which dwells IN the new born believer.

JOH 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

I believe 'the Spirit' was "received...given" when our spirit was born again.

JOH 14:26* But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Cross Ref with; 1JO 2:27* But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth IN you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

If "YOU" ( a Plural collective noun e.g., the many membered body sg. of Christ) are abiding IN him and He is abiding IN us then "deep calleth unto deep". In this Psalm 'the spirit' which is not defined 'symbolically' with "wind", but with "water" is being referenced. I believe the spirit of Christ moves 'like water, pours' and the spirit of God 'like wind, blows'. I believe this is a separating 'tell' in scripture. I've never heard anyone teach it. I hope I'm making sense to you. Your thoughts? If none, that's OK.

JOH 19:30* When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus' body gave up his holy ghost/spirit, to the Father, but it did not give up his soul. According to JOHN.

JOH 20:22* And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive/lambano ye the Holy Ghost:

In this above verse some of the church teaches that they got born again then. Not true, Jesus wasn't crucified and it therefore wasn't even available according to JOH 7:39 above. JOH 20:22 was a prophetic word from Jesus telling them to get it with a "lambano" TAKE or receive-ing. I base that opinion according to a quote from Vines Greek dict. which says:

"Note. There is a certain distinction between lambano and dechomai (more pronounced in the earlier, classical use), in that in many instances lambano suggests a self-prompted taking, whereas dechomai more frequently indicates "a welcoming or an appropriating reception" (Grimm-Thayer)."

Thanks for narrowing your comments to John, because that’s precisely where the category issue becomes clear. The variation in the KJV—“Holy Ghost,” “Spirit,” and “wind”—doesn’t signal multiple pneuma‑types in John. It’s simply the translators shifting English renderings of one Greek word, pneuma. John himself never distinguishes a “Holy Ghost” from “the Spirit,” nor does he build any theology on the metaphorical use of “wind” in John 3. Those distinctions arise from English translation choices, not from Johannine vocabulary.

When John the Baptist says the Spirit will “remain on” Jesus, that is a messianic identification sign, not a pattern for a two‑stage Spirit experience in believers. John never extends “on Him” to “on us,” and he never uses that language to describe a sequence in which the Spirit rests on a person, their human spirit is reborn, and then a glorified “holy ghost” dwells within them. John 7:39 likewise does not describe the moment when the human spirit is reborn. His point is simply that the eschatological gift of the Spirit awaited Jesus’ glorification. He is not outlining the mechanics of regeneration or the transformation of a human spirit into a divine one.

This is why Johannine anthropology matters. John never teaches that the believer’s spirit becomes “the Holy Ghost,” nor does he divide the human person into soul‑life, spirit‑life, water‑spirit, wind‑spirit, or any similar internal components. His categories are consistent: sarx for natural human life, pneuma for Spirit‑given life, psyche for the interior life or self, and soma for the body. The “anointing” in 1 John 2:27 is simply the Holy Spirit, not a transformed human spirit. Likewise, the imagery of water and wind in Scripture is metaphorical, not a Johannine attempt to distinguish two different kinds of divine spirit.

John 19:30 (“gave up the ghost”) is an English idiom, not a doctrinal statement about Jesus’ “holy ghost” leaving His body while His soul remained. The Greek simply says He gave up His pneuma—He died. John is not teaching a separation of Jesus’ spirit and soul at death. And in John 20:22, the distinction between lambano and dechomai comes from classical Greek, not from John’s usage. John uses the verbs interchangeably elsewhere. The breathing on the disciples is symbolic anticipation of the Spirit’s post‑glorification gift, not a command for a future “self‑taking” of the Spirit.

So the difference between us is that your system depends on distinctions John never makes—multiple pneuma‑types, Spirit‑on versus Spirit‑in sequences, a human spirit becoming a glorified “holy ghost,” water‑spirit versus wind‑spirit, and a self‑prompted taking of the Spirit. None of these categories exist in John’s Greek. John’s own framework is much simpler: one pneuma, one new birth, one eschatological gift of the Spirit after glorification, one unified human person, and one contrast—flesh versus Spirit‑given life. That’s why I keep returning to Johannine vocabulary: it sets the boundaries of the discussion.
 
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Hillsage

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Thanks for narrowing your comments to John, because that’s precisely where the category issue becomes clear. The variation in the KJV—“Holy Ghost,” “Spirit,” and “wind”—doesn’t signal multiple pneuma‑types in John. It’s simply the translators shifting English renderings of one Greek word, pneuma. John himself never distinguishes a “Holy Ghost” from “the Spirit,” nor does he build any theology on the metaphorical use of “wind” in John 3. Those distinctions arise from English translation choices, not from Johannine vocabulary.
From my last post;
"Jesus' body gave up his holy ghost/spirit, to the Father, but it did not give up his soul. According to JOHN.


JOH 20:22* And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive/lambano ye the Holy Ghost:"

I have a new 10x14" 600 page translation of the NT. It has more different Greek sources and supportive Greek scholars backing, than any translation I've ever seen. The author started studying Koine Greek with his father as a child, and continued his Koine Greek studies in college. He is in his 70's now. It's the "Expanded/Amplified/Multiple Renderings New Testament of Johathan Mitchell which was just finished in 2019. Here is verse 20 from his online presence.

JOH 20:22. And saying this, He suddenly blows on, and says to, them (or: He breathes within [them], so as to inflate them [note: same verb as used in Gen. 2:7, LXX], and is saying to them), "Receive a set-apart spirit! (or: Get [the] Holy Spirit!; take the Sacred Breath!; or: Receive a sacred attitude),

I understand you probably won't agree, but it works for me. Other than his capitalization of Holy Spirit that is.

When John the Baptist says the Spirit will “remain on” Jesus, that is a messianic identification sign,

Being Messianic has nothing to do with Jesus being the "son of God". That is an error that the church is massively deceived, I believe. The term Messianic has to do with the body of Jesus having physical roots back to the fathers of Israel Abraham, Issac and Jacob. That Genealogy then follows the lineage to his Israel and Jewish Fathers roots. Jesus was the "son of David" after His soul , and Jesus was "the son of man" after his flesh/body. And at his conception with a spirit from the Holy Spirit he became manifested "the son of God".

not a pattern for a two‑stage Spirit experience in believers. John never extends “on Him” to “on us,” and he never uses that language to describe a sequence in which the Spirit rests on a person, their human spirit is reborn, and then a glorified “holy ghost” dwells within them. John 7:39 likewise does not describe the moment when the human spirit is reborn. His point is simply that the eschatological gift of the Spirit awaited Jesus’ glorification. He is not outlining the mechanics of regeneration or the transformation of a human spirit into a divine one.
"eschatological "is not Johannine vocabulary either. Even the name Johannine is even from the Greek. It's 'Latin' spelling for John's name which also wasn't John's vocabulary. And the very definition of Eschatological (which was derived from ancient Greek does not support your definition of Eschatological, per the Oxford English Bible's definition below.

"Eschatological" is an adjective that describes things relating to eschatology, the part of theology focused on death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and humankind."

I read nothing about a 'soul' being the same as 'spirit' as you were defining 'both' as the "inward thing" (singular).


This is why Johannine anthropology matters. John never teaches that the believer’s spirit becomes “the Holy Ghost,” nor does he divide the human person into soul‑life, spirit‑life, water‑spirit, wind‑spirit, or any similar internal components. His categories are consistent: sarx for natural human life, pneuma for Spirit‑given life, psyche for the interior life or self, and soma for the body.

I disagree with your definition, where does it come from? SARX is not a "human life" it is the word for "FLESH" without life, and not spirit or soul. I do admit that the definition below does consider them as the same 'one' thing, with two different names. but that's not the definition, I'm understanding you to be talking about.

Strong's 4561 sarx: flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e.(strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extens.) the body (as opposed to the soul [or spirit], or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by impl.) human nature (with its frailties [phys. or mor.] and passions), or (spec.) a human being (as such)

And John also talked about another Greek word for body, which was "SOMA".
4983 soma: the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, lit. or fig.

JOH 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body/SOMA.
JOH 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body/SOMA of Jesus had lain.


The first verse, to me, sounds like a living 'sound whole' body, and I believe it is talking about the many membered spiritual body of Christ, which we corporately are. We are all living stones and Jesus is the cornerstone.

The second verse in John speaks of his dead body minus the spirit which he sent to the Father from the cross.
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1JO 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh /SARX is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,

In this verse 'I believe' JOHN is saying that if the spirit you THOUGHT you received in some protocol of 40,000 different denominations, does not 'lead' you to confess you have the same spirit in you that Jesus had at birth then you just may have the impostor ANTICHRIST spirit instead. Anti doesn't mean AGAINST as much as it is defined to mean a replacement for the true thing. IOW a FALSE ANOINTING.

REV 18:13* And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves/SOMA, and souls of men.

This last verse in Revelation is just a bad 1x translation for SOMA IMO.


The “anointing” in 1 John 2:27 is simply the Holy Spirit, not a transformed human spirit. Likewise, the imagery of water and wind in Scripture is metaphorical, not a Johannine attempt to distinguish two different kinds of divine spirit.
Your opinion and my opinion differ, just reading all John verses.


John 19:30 (“gave up the ghost”) is an English idiom,
I don't see anywhere that John says "English idiom"? It seems to me that your idioms are allowed but mine aren't? :hmhehm

not a doctrinal statement about Jesus’ “holy ghost” leaving His body while His soul remained. The Greek simply says He gave up His pneuma—He died. John is not teaching a separation of Jesus’ spirit and soul at death. And in John 20:22, the distinction between lambano and dechomai comes from classical Greek,
I don't see it defined by John as not being a doctrinal statement either. And I simply agree with what you just said; "The Greek simply says He gave up His pneuma-He died." And "His pneuma" was the 'animating' life source for His body of flesh as well as the flesh of animals.

Whereas the soul is the 'motivating' life force of the soul (or functioning of the BRAIN e.g. mind will emotions, attitudes. All attributes of having a psyche. The root word for psychology, psychiatric, psycho. All are soul/psuche problems IMO.

Sorry for the length 'again', but I'm going to quit here @Moonwood . I have gotten pretty busy dealing with human beings in the flesh. That's why it took so long to respond. But you did have me searching for holes in my opinion. And I do thank you for that. May talk again somewhere else. It doesn't look like this thread has much steam left anyway. o_O