What does born again mean?

[bbyrd009]

You speak like a 12 yrs old.

ah, ty. Took a long time :)
i was shooting for about 3 tbh

Sometimes i almost forget that even a very young teen can have access to a Christian forum, but then one like you shows up again.

wait there are others like me?

Also, I dont preach 2 Gospels, so, try to comprehend that.. bbyrd009.

oh sorry, i thought that was the accepted term there; you a preacher?

Jesus IS Christianity, while Paul is the perfect example of the Grace of God.
Paul was helping Christians be murdered before he was born again, and ended up writing all the Doctrine for the Church found in a NT, and wrote almost 75% of the NT.

ya dont say!

The cult of greasy grace? That sounds retarded.

ha well i dint make that up, and as i said i'm sure there is a more pc term, just dont know what it is. "Grace Alone" maybe? Yeh, i said that already, so i mean why go for the one you dislike the most, Behold? You a masochist or something?

I suppose You don't mean the people who have fallen from Grace, who deny it, who reject the Cross, and replace it with works that spit on the Cross.

pardon? You've changed the subject to their doctrinal opposers now, i guess?

You mean You?
Yes we are in agreement on that point.

oh lol zing huh
well fwiw youre in the right place i guess;
we all pretty much think the sun rose there too!

Ive dealt with a lot of disrespectful Grace haters, over the years.
Do you think you are a surprise to me?

Grace haters? Why do you say that? Ok with me if ppl wanna believe they wont be judged for their works or whatever; won't change the truth i guess, whatever that is, right. I never quite understood the opposition to good works myself, but it is a pretty popular argument around here. Otoh, too much of that and ppl start thinkin they should send missions or something, i guess?

Listen, if people like you didn't follow me around on a forum, then something would be wrong.
See, the "cult of water baptism", and the false "gospel of works" people, always find me.

ah boy, i gotta tell ya, i'm still not sure how we even got on that subject!
Werent we talking about something entirely diff?
So all that kinda came outta the blue for me, sorry

im sorta with you on the baptism thing anyway fwiw
at least til ppl start getting condemned over it

 

[CadyandZoe]

This interpretation is extremely unlikely for several reasons:

1. It would be a very strange way to describe the natural birth, especially since this usage does not appear elsewhere in Scripture or in ordinary speech.

2. Jesus specifically informed Nicodemus that the new birth was a birth of water and Spirit, not a natural birth. A comparison of verses 3 and 5 shows that “born again” is equivalent to “born of water and of the Spirit”.

3. If birth of water means natural birth, then Jesus either told Nicodemus to do something he had already done or to do a physical impossibility. If this were the case, Nicodemus' questioning was valid, and Jesus would not have rebuked him.

4. It seems unnecessary to say we must be born into this world since everyone obviously has been.

5. If the birth of water is actually the natural birth, why did Jesus indicate that the new birth has two components? There may be a parallel between water in the natural birth and the new birth, but the context of John 3 establishes that the birth of water itself is not the natural birth.


God Bless!

Apparently Nicodemus understood Jesus the way @Behold does: a comparison between natural birth and supernatural birth. This is why Nicodemus asked Jesus, "He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

Baptism seems to represent, death, burial, and resurrection rather than birth. Isn't that correct?

 

[Behold]

Apparently Nicodemus understood Jesus the way @Behold does: a comparison between natural birth and supernatural birth. This is why Nicodemus asked Jesus, "He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

Baptism seems to represent, death, burial, and resurrection rather than birth. Isn't that correct?

Its symbolic., and its a public confession of what has Happened to you, that happened PREVIOUSLY.
It REPRESENTS. the death of the old sinful man who is raised from this, as the New Creation.
However, its just a representation. The LITERAL is "born again".

This symbolic, can be understood like this...
If you are in the ARMY.. .. you wear a uniform that represents that you are IN the Army. However, does wearing it put you in the army?
Water baptism is like that....
See, you can wear a uniform and not be IN the army.
You can be water baptized and not be saved, not be born again.

 

[user]

Apparently Nicodemus understood Jesus the way @Behold does: a comparison between natural birth and supernatural birth. This is why Nicodemus asked Jesus, "He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

Baptism seems to represent, death, burial, and resurrection rather than birth. Isn't that correct?

Many think the "natural" realm we live in is all there is to it, and that being a Christian is just a matter of their profession of faith. However, the Spiritual realm runs parallel. And, as a result, far too many simply fail to recognize, or benefit, from it.


The Natural Realm - Gospel Message:
1.) Death,
2.) Burial and
3.) Resurrection of Jesus Christ.


The Spiritual Realm Parallel - Gospel Message:
1.) Repentance (dying out to sin, self and the world)
2.) Baptism in the Precious Name of Jesus for the remission of sin, and
3.) Being born again - the infilling of the Holy Ghost "the Bible way", and rising to walk in the newness of life in Christ.


Peter applied this very same "Death, Burial, Resurrection" doctrine when asked, point blank, What shall we do to be saved...

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.


"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2)

God Bless!

 

[user]

Its symbolic., and its a public confession of what has Happened to you, that happened PREVIOUSLY.
It REPRESENTS. the death of the old sinful man who is raised from this, as the New Creation.
However, its just a representation. The LITERAL is "born again".

This symbolic, can be understood like this...
If you are in the ARMY.. .. you wear a uniform that represents that you are IN the Army. However, does wearing it put you in the army?
Water baptism is like that....
See, you can wear a uniform and not be IN the army.
You can be water baptized and not be saved, not be born again.

Actually water baptism is for the remission of sin...

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If our sin is not remitted, there is no rebirth - No Born Again.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

God Bless!

 

[OzSpen]

Yes I agree. Jesus told Nicodemus born again is "of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:5).

Water = baptism
Spirit = Holy Spirit.

God Bless!

user,

On the surface, that seems reasonable. However, further exegesis comes to a different conclusion.

• ‘Born of water and the Spirit’ (John 3:5). What does it mean? If we look in the context, could we get a hint? ‘Flesh gives birth to the flesh’ (v 6) could point to water as physical birth vs spiritual birth. The meaning of the phrase has generated lots of possible meanings, such as:

• It describes two births, physical vs spiritual birth. But there are no ancient sources that present the view that natural birth is from water. But the context is talking about one birth, ‘from above’, ‘born again’.

• Some think ‘water’ refers to Christian baptism. Such a view would not be relevant to Nicodemus (see John 3:10 and Jesus’ taking the Jews to task that they didn’t know what he was talking about). There is the added problem that baptismal regeneration (necessity of baptism for salvation) is not taught elsewhere in the NT – except in the non-canonical Mark 16:16. There is no believe + baptism to be saved. John 3:16 is clear: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’. So here in John 3, we have confirmation that salvation is available to ‘whoever believes in [Jesus]’ and they ‘shall not perish but have eternal life’. It does not state that salvation is for those who believe and are baptised.

• Some want this ‘water’ to refer to John the Baptist’s baptism, a baptism of repentance.

• ‘Jesus is arguing against the ritual washings of the Essenes’ – a conservative group that promoted rituals. This is the group associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

• The most satisfactory conclusion, in my view, is that ‘born of water and the Spirit’ is influenced by three factors:

(1) It is a parallel meaning to ‘born from above’ and so only one birth is in view – the born again, new birth.

(2) A unity of water-spirit;

(3) Jesus criticises Nicodemus (in 3:10) for not understanding these things, especially since he was ‘Israel’s teacher’. Note, Ezekiel 36:25-27. Nicodemus should have known this Scripture that demonstrates cleansing from impurity and transformation of the heart.

Therefore, ‘born of water and spirit’ (drop the capital S) points to ‘a new begetting, a new birth that cleanses and renews, the eschatological cleansing and renewal promised by the Old Testament prophets’ (Carson 1991:195; many of the above points are based on Carson 1991:191-195).

Oz

Carson, D A 1991. The Gospel according to John. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press / Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

 

[OzSpen]

Actually water baptism is for the remission of sin...

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If our sin is not remitted, there is no rebirth - No Born Again.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

God Bless!

user,

In Acts 2:38, do you understand the meaning of the Greek preposition in the phrase, εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν? What does
εἰς = eis mean?

This phrase is often translated,

• 'for the forgiveness of your sins' (ESV);
• 'for the forgiveness of your sins' (NIV);
• 'so that your sins may be forgiven' (NRSV).

Oz

 

[bbyrd009]

Its symbolic., and its a public confession of what has Happened to you, that happened PREVIOUSLY.
It REPRESENTS. the death of the old sinful man who is raised from this, as the New Creation.
However, its just a representation. The LITERAL is "born again".

This symbolic, can be understood like this...
If you are in the ARMY.. .. you wear a uniform that represents that you are IN the Army. However, does wearing it put you in the army?
Water baptism is like that....
See, you can wear a uniform and not be IN the army.
You can be water baptized and not be saved, not be born again.

i am fairly convinced that there is a "baptism" that is not a ritual, though, although symbolic "water" is likely an essential. But i did lean toward your pov @ literal birth being the "water" baptism for the longest

 

[APAK]

The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above."

Excellent point! And this expression can also be extended to Yahshua, the Son of God when he said he 'came from above' 'sent from heaven' or was also 'born from above.' They are all idioms and local expressions used of those days. These expressions are not to be taken literally, like a person being born in/from heaven etc..It is all about the Spirit only that/who is literally from heaven....it is heavenly, divine and holy..

APAK

 

[Fred Eans]

-
It means that, as an unbeliever, you have a nature that is sinful. It means that because Adam sinned, this caused a " lost position".., where he was no longer connected to God, spiritually.
And all who were born since Adam, have this same situation... this same spiritual condition.

Our nature, is our spiritual condition... and its UNRIGHTEOUS.
We have a dead spirit, ... dead in the sense that is not a part of God's HOLY Spirit.
God is "A" Spirit.....= Holy Spirit.
We are not holy, we are sinful, sinners, and lost. "Lost" means we are disconnected from the Holy Spirit of God.
How is this resolved? God gives us His Righteousness, and it becomes OURS.
"we are made the righteousness of GOD = IN CHRIST".
"The Gift of Righteousness".

Through our FAITH .... God BIRTHS our spirit into His, and we become "ONE" with God and Christ.
How does this happen? Thru the power of the Holy Spirit.... God literally puts His Righteousness in us, and we become it, and this creates a BIRTH in our Spirit, that connects us to God's Spirit. = Born again.
This is the "new birth", or the 2nd Birth, which creates us as a "new Creation" "In Christ".
This is how we are born again. = Jesus said.."You must be born again"... John 3

What causes it?
"all that call on the name of Jesus, shall be SAVED". "Saved" means, justified in God's sight.
It means that the blood of Jesus is applied to us, which gives us a complete forgiveness that is eternal.
It causes us to be at peace with God, and it forever redeems us back into God's family.

I

 

[Fred Eans]

Excellent point! And this expression can also be extended to Yahshua, the Son of God when he said he 'came from above' 'sent from heaven' or was also 'born from above.' They are all idioms and local expressions used of those days. These expressions are not to be taken literally, like a person being born in/from heaven etc..It is all about the Spirit only that/who is literally from heaven....it is heavenly, divine and holy..

APAK

To solidify the above persons definition, when God created flesh man, it was because of Satan’s or Lucifer’s fall because of his pride. This was in the first heaven and earth age. At that time Lucifer was one of the guardians of God’s throne. Tho we do not know when and how long ago he fell, during that time, he seduced one third of God’s Children. God destroyed that first age and began this flesh age. To do this He had to create flesh man in His and the angels image. This meant only, that man would have a three part entity just as God and the angels. The three parts are as an Angel was a spiritual body, a spirit (intellect) and a soul which is his person. This means that Jesus, when He was born from above, His Spiritual body was changed to flesh, the Holy Spirit was still with Him, and His Soul was His Entity, which changed from Father to the Son while in the flesh. When we are born from above, we also changed bodies, had a Spirit (intellect), and a Soul. Since we have the same soul as we did in heaven, we are still the same entity.

 

[CharismaticLady]

Here is what i do. I follow Paul, as Paul follows Christ.
Paul said. "be a follower of ME, as i follow Christ".
What does he mean? He means that he is the Apostle to the Gentiles, and we are in the "time of the Gentiles".

One little correction. You said "time" of the Gentiles, instead of the "fullness" of the Gentiles from Romans 11.

Time of the Gentiles is a bad thing, not the spreading of the gospel.

Ezekiel 30:3
For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.

Luke 21:24
And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

 

[mailmandan]

You are still not paying attention.
Look at your verse, ...
"Baptized INTO, INTO< INTO< INTO= INTO JESUS CHRIST".

You are reading...."into water".

You are not yet seeing the baptism is INTO JESUS........not into the city water supply.
This is a baptism into the SPIRIT, not into the dunk tank.

Wake up. !

Amen! 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Now in what "sense" would someone be water baptized "into" Christ? In the same sense that the Israelites were baptized "into" Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2). Not literally water baptized into the body of Moses here and there is little dispute that being "baptized into Moses" signified the open allegiance and public identification of the Israelites with Moses. Moses was formally recognized as the leader of the covenant people. Water baptism signifies our allegiance and public identification with Christ as our Savior, so it's in that sense and it's Spirit baptism (not water baptism) that places us "into the body of Christ."

 

[mailmandan]

Actually water baptism is for the remission of sin...

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.

*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).

In Acts 10:43 we read ..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45 - when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.

*So the only logical conclusion when properly harmonizing Scripture with Scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*

 

[mailmandan]

Yes I agree. Jesus told Nicodemus born again is "of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:5).

Water = baptism
Spirit = Holy Spirit.

God Bless!

To automatically read "baptism" into John 3:5 simply because it mentions "water" is unwarranted. *See post #17.

 

[APAK]

To solidify the above persons definition, when God created flesh man, it was because of Satan’s or Lucifer’s fall because of his pride. This was in the first heaven and earth age. At that time Lucifer was one of the guardians of God’s throne. Tho we do not know when and how long ago he fell, during that time, he seduced one third of God’s Children. God destroyed that first age and began this flesh age. To do this He had to create flesh man in His and the angels image. This meant only, that man would have a three part entity just as God and the angels. The three parts are as an Angel was a spiritual body, a spirit (intellect) and a soul which is his person. This means that Jesus, when He was born from above, His Spiritual body was changed to flesh, the Holy Spirit was still with Him, and His Soul was His Entity, which changed from Father to the Son while in the flesh. When we are born from above, we also changed bodies, had a Spirit (intellect), and a Soul. Since we have the same soul as we did in heaven, we are still the same entity.

Do not agree with your hypothesis and premises at all....thanks..APAK

 

[user]

user,

On the surface, that seems reasonable. However, further exegesis comes to a different conclusion.

• ‘Born of water and the Spirit’ (John 3:5). What does it mean? If we look in the context, could we get a hint? ‘Flesh gives birth to the flesh’ (v 6) could point to water as physical birth vs spiritual birth. The meaning of the phrase has generated lots of possible meanings, such as:

• It describes two births, physical vs spiritual birth. But there are no ancient sources that present the view that natural birth is from water. But the context is talking about one birth, ‘from above’, ‘born again’.

• Some think ‘water’ refers to Christian baptism. Such a view would not be relevant to Nicodemus (see John 3:10 and Jesus’ taking the Jews to task that they didn’t know what he was talking about). There is the added problem that baptismal regeneration (necessity of baptism for salvation) is not taught elsewhere in the NT – except in the non-canonical Mark 16:16. There is no believe + baptism to be saved. John 3:16 is clear: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’. So here in John 3, we have confirmation that salvation is available to ‘whoever believes in [Jesus]’ and they ‘shall not perish but have eternal life’. It does not state that salvation is for those who believe and are baptised.

• Some want this ‘water’ to refer to John the Baptist’s baptism, a baptism of repentance.

• ‘Jesus is arguing against the ritual washings of the Essenes’ – a conservative group that promoted rituals. This is the group associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

• The most satisfactory conclusion, in my view, is that ‘born of water and the Spirit’ is influenced by three factors:

(1) It is a parallel meaning to ‘born from above’ and so only one birth is in view – the born again, new birth.

(2) A unity of water-spirit;

(3) Jesus criticises Nicodemus (in 3:10) for not understanding these things, especially since he was ‘Israel’s teacher’. Note, Ezekiel 36:25-27. Nicodemus should have known this Scripture that demonstrates cleansing from impurity and transformation of the heart.

Therefore, ‘born of water and spirit’ (drop the capital S) points to ‘a new begetting, a new birth that cleanses and renews, the eschatological cleansing and renewal promised by the Old Testament prophets’ (Carson 1991:195; many of the above points are based on Carson 1991:191-195).

Oz

Carson, D A 1991. The Gospel according to John. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press / Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Thank you for your input. Here are a few New Testament scriptures other than Mark 16:16...

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Except a man be born of born or water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

1 Peter 3:20-21 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

Romans 6
3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Thanks again for your input.
Keep up the good work,
God Bless!

 

[Stranger]

-
It means that, as an unbeliever, you have a nature that is sinful. It means that because Adam sinned, this caused a " lost position".., where he was no longer connected to God, spiritually.
And all who were born since Adam, have this same situation... this same spiritual condition.

Our nature, is our spiritual condition... and its UNRIGHTEOUS.
We have a dead spirit, ... dead in the sense that is not a part of God's HOLY Spirit.
God is "A" Spirit.....= Holy Spirit.
We are not holy, we are sinful, sinners, and lost. "Lost" means we are disconnected from the Holy Spirit of God.
How is this resolved? God gives us His Righteousness, and it becomes OURS.
"we are made the righteousness of GOD = IN CHRIST".
"The Gift of Righteousness".

Through our FAITH .... God BIRTHS our spirit into His, and we become "ONE" with God and Christ.
How does this happen? Thru the power of the Holy Spirit.... God literally puts His Righteousness in us, and we become it, and this creates a BIRTH in our Spirit, that connects us to God's Spirit. = Born again.
This is the "new birth", or the 2nd Birth, which creates us as a "new Creation" "In Christ".
This is how we are born again. = Jesus said.."You must be born again"... John 3

What causes it?
"all that call on the name of Jesus, shall be SAVED". "Saved" means, justified in God's sight.
It means that the blood of Jesus is applied to us, which gives us a complete forgiveness that is eternal.
It causes us to be at peace with God, and it forever redeems us back into God's family.

I agree pretty much with what you are saying. However I do see our obtaining the Righteousness of God a little differently. I do not equate it as the same thing as the New Birth.

I don't see anyone in the Old Testament being born-again. But they did receive the Righteousness of God when they believed. (Gen. 15:6) (Gen. 7:1) The New Birth would be later added to the believers salvation experience.

Because we are now on this side of the Cross and the giving of the Holy Spirit, we receive the Holy Spirit at the same time we believe, which is when God declares us righteous. But, that Righteousness we receive is by declaration only. God sees us as righteous. God counts or reckons us as righteous.

In other words, you are not righteous, but God calls you righteous. He legally does so through imputation. But that Righteousness is not given to you to maintain. We have the Holy Spirit, as a result of our born-again spirit. And that Spirit helps us in our walk of salvation.

We have become the righteousness of God, by declaration only. But we ourselves are not righteous. It is an important point I think. Just like with Noah. (Gen. 7:1) "...for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." But was he 'righteous'? (Gen. 6:8) "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." No, he wasn't. Noah found grace because he needed grace. He was a sinner.

Stranger

 

[FollowHim]

-
It means that, as an unbeliever, you have a nature that is sinful. It means that because Adam sinned, this caused a " lost position".., where he was no longer connected to God, spiritually.
And all who were born since Adam, have this same situation... this same spiritual condition.

Our nature, is our spiritual condition... and its UNRIGHTEOUS.
We have a dead spirit, ... dead in the sense that is not a part of God's HOLY Spirit.
God is "A" Spirit.....= Holy Spirit.
We are not holy, we are sinful, sinners, and lost. "Lost" means we are disconnected from the Holy Spirit of God.
How is this resolved? God gives us His Righteousness, and it becomes OURS.
"we are made the righteousness of GOD = IN CHRIST".
"The Gift of Righteousness".

Through our FAITH .... God BIRTHS our spirit into His, and we become "ONE" with God and Christ.
How does this happen? Thru the power of the Holy Spirit.... God literally puts His Righteousness in us, and we become it, and this creates a BIRTH in our Spirit, that connects us to God's Spirit. = Born again.
This is the "new birth", or the 2nd Birth, which creates us as a "new Creation" "In Christ".
This is how we are born again. = Jesus said.."You must be born again"... John 3

What causes it?
"all that call on the name of Jesus, shall be SAVED". "Saved" means, justified in God's sight.
It means that the blood of Jesus is applied to us, which gives us a complete forgiveness that is eternal.
It causes us to be at peace with God, and it forever redeems us back into God's family.

Born again, is to start life in the Holy Spirit and walk with Jesus.

Without the Holy Spirit we cannot be a believer.
Without the Holy Spirit we do not know Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God
Without the Holy Spirit we do not have communion with the Lord and cannot be guided by the Spirit.

The fruit of being born again is a repentant heart and a desire to walk righteously and abandon evil.
Some have explained this as burning down the house of sin and walking on the path of life with God.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

literally born again is defined in a few passages

Ephesians 2:1
And you He made alive (born again), who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive (born again)together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,