The term “born again” or “born again Christian” is a common term used and heard everywhere in conversations. In the Philippines, it commonly refers to Christians who are non-Catholics, in general. It refers to Christians who are Protestants, evangelicals, charismatics and the like.
But in the Bible, what does “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” (or born from above) in order to see or enter the kingdom of God.
The Minority “Born Again” View
For some Christians, they interpret “born again” to mean as that time in the future at the second coming of Christ (at the resurrection) when those who belong to Christ will be changed into spirit beings — from mortal to immortal. That, for them is to be “born again.” It is something in the future, yet to happen, at the resurrection, at Christ’s second coming. Of course, not all Christians believe in this interpretation of John 3. This is a minority view.
The Common “Born Again” View
For Christians in general, “born again” refers to that point in time in their lives when they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. It’s that point in time when they were “saved,” when they believed and/or when they got baptized. This is the general understanding of many evangelicals or “born again Christians” when they talk about being “born again.” To them, it simply means a time when one is considered a Christian. It’s that point in time when they “accepted Christ” and were “saved.” It’s that time when they got “converted.” I have no problem with this common understanding and use of this “born again” terminology in general.
The Broader “Born Again” View
But there’s something more that really intrigued and fascinated me when I first learned about it from a great theologian. It has broadened my understanding of what it means to be “born again.” According to theologian 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.”
For Torrance, we became “born again” when Christ was born in Bethlehem (the incarnation) and when he rose again from the tomb (resurrection). As our representative and substitute—in his vicarious humanity—all of humanity has been implicated in Christ’s incarnation and resurrection. That’s when we were “born again” according to Torrance.
Born Again: Objective and Subjective Truth
I now therefore understand the term “born again” not only in the subjective, personal sense (which the common view) but also in the objective, universal sense. Yes, objectively I was “born again” through Christ and in Christ some 2,000 years ago. And yes, subjectively and personally, I was “born again” when I “accepted Jesus Christ” as my personal Savior a few decades ago.
This is now my understanding of being born again or being born from above.
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Updated: 8/10/2019