What Does Being Born Again Mean
First, the Holy Bible (the inspired word of God), clearly states:
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be BORN AGAIN.”
1st Peter 1:23 “Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
There are many hereticks out there that believe once someone becomes born again, they can’t become unborne again which is doctrine right from the devil himself. We see all the way back in Genesis 4:3 this lie spewed by the devil:
Genesis 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die”
We know what happened to Adam & Eve when they disobeyed God and sinned against Him. We know what happened to a former disciple that was abiding in Christ, sent out as a beloved Apostle to do the work of God, (His name was Judas)…etc. We have a complete study on the lie of Unconditional Eternal Security (aka Once Saved Always Saved) and will not be getting those details here. You can find that exhaustive study here.
The lie we hear from the lukewarm “Christian” is “one can’t become unborn after they are born-again”, so, we’re going to answer the following question:
Can someone be born again then become unborn again?
Born Again According to the Greek Means
One must confess and forsake all sin by a mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God.
Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso CONFESSETH and FORSAKETH them shall have mercy.”
1st John 2:3-6 “And hereby we do know that we know him, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 4 He that saith, I know him, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS (MORAL LAW) , IS A LIAR, and the truth is not in him. 5 But WHOSO KEEPETH THE WORD, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in HIM (JESUS) ought HIMSELF also so to walk, even as he (JESUS) walked.”
A new life means without sin, the old life was full of sin, we conform to His will in thought, word and deed. So, what is God’s will?
2nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.”
POLICE EXAMPLE – BREAKING THE LAW STILL
1st John 3:3-10 “And every man that hath this hope in him PURIFIETH HIMSELF, even as HE (JESUS) is pure.4 WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN TRANSGRESSED THE (MORAL) LAW: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him SINNETH NOT: WHOSOEVER SINNETH hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, EVEN AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS. 8 HE THAT COMMITTETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9 WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: WHOSOEVER DOETH NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
One can live holy and truly be born-again, however, if someone chooses to go back into willful sin, then, going back into it is an unholy act, not acceptable to Him. So that person chose with their own free will (which you don’t lose after you are born-again) ceases to be born again… They gave the gift of eternal life back. It’s true we can’t “work” our own salvation as atoning for our own sins, however, we must work righteousness to attain Biblical perfection (Matthew 5:48) in order to have our past sins covered (Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his(JESUS’) blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of SINS THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God”.
YOU ARE PURGED FROM OLD SINS (NEVER CURRENT OR FUTURE)
2nd Peter 1:9 “But he that LACKETH these things is BLIND, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord”
One must “endure ’til the end” for final salvation, meaning, one must live Holy and blameless until their last breath to receive eternal life. Jesus is a perfect, Holy, blameless Sin Offering, not a sin covering.
1Pe 1:13-17 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and HOPE TO THE END for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As OBEDIENT CHILDREN, not fashioning yourselves according to the FORMER LUSTS in your ignorance: (NOT BEING UNHOLY WHICH YOU ONCE WERE)
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so BE YE HOLY in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, BE YE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY.
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons JUDGETH according to EVERY MAN’S WORK, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear”
One must be UPRIGHT/BLAMELESS (LIVING HOLY) TO CONTINUE TO BE BORN AGAIN.
Proverbs 11 20 “They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are UPRIGHT IN THEIR WAY are His delight.”
Ephesians 1:4 “According as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLAME before him in love” ( The beginning of mankind, Gods original plan )
Ephesians 5:27 “That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, NOT HAVING SPOT, or WRINKLE, or any such thing; but that it should be HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH.”
Colossians 1:22 “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH grounded and settled, AND BE NOT MOVED AWAY from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister”
Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be BLAMELESS and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”
1st Peter 1:14 “As OBEDIENT CHILDREN, not fashioning yourselves according to the FORMER LUSTS in your ignorance: (NOT SINNING LIKE THE “OLD MAN” BEFORE BEING BORN-AGAIN)
In the Greek the word Blameless means, without blemish as a sacrifice without spot or blemish morally: without blemish, faultless, unblameable, perfect
James 1:27 “PURE RELIGION and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit (HELP DIRECTLY OR SUPPORT THOSE WHO DO) the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED (MORALLY PERFECT) FROM THE WORLD.”
Holy means, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance; separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God; sacred.
It is used of men and things in so far as they are devoted to God. Indeed the quality, as attributed to God, is often presented in a way which involves Divine demands upon the conduct of believers. These are called Hagios, “Saints,” i.e., “sanctified” or “holy” ones.
This sainthood is not an attainment, it is a current state into which God in grace calls men; yet believers are called to sanctify themselves (consistently with their calling, 2Ti 1:9), cleansing themselves from all defilement, forsaking sin, living a “holy” manner of life, 1Pe 1:15; 2Pe 3:11, and experiencing fellowship with God in His holiness. The saints are thus figuratively spoken of as “a holy temple,” 1st Cor 3:17 Eph 2:21 Eph 5:27; “a holy priesthood,” 1Pe 2:5; “a holy nation,” 1Pe 2:9.
The person that goes back into sin, isn’t living a new life, they went back living the old sinful life therefore they become unborn in the newness of life, thus, they are not born again.
1st John 3:8 HE THAT COMMITTETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.”
1st John 5:18-21 “We know that whosoever is born of God SINNETH NOT; but he that is begotten of God KEEPETH HIMSELF, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN WICKEDNESS. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
Revelation 22:11 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
1st Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, that YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS: WHO DID NO SIN, neither was guile found in his mouth”