Born Again in the Anglican Church

[George4JC]

What does the term Born Again mean by those in the Anglican Church?
What is the Anglican explanation of this biblical term with scriptural support of this viewpoint?

[karen freeinchristman]

What does the term Born Again mean by those in the Anglican Church?
What is the Anglican explanation of this biblical term with scriptural support of this viewpoint?
<H4>John 3

The New Birth

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
</H4>
In the Anglican church, the phrase 'born again' can make some people cringe, but as we see in the Scripture quoted above, it is a biblical concept. I think most people refer to the phrase 'born again' in the context of what they have experienced - a spiritual re-birth that makes life from that point completely new. We see life with new eyes, we begin to experience changes in our life - how we behave and what we value. We see other people differently, too. This, in my view, is being 'born of the Spirit'. Now, some people experience this in a very sudden manner. This is probably why those people can more easily use the term 'born again'. Some people experience this very slowly and gradually. I think that is why those people cringe a bit when they hear the term. Also, it has become a caricature of someone who is very enthusiastic about their faith to the point of appearing foolish. It is an unfortunate fact that many people are so self-conscious that they hide their exuberant faith and love of God. Would that we were all fools for Christ.

[gtsecc]

Born again.
Look up recapitulation.
Scripture says Christ is the new Adam.
Go to Amazon.com and buy On the Incarnation, by Athanasius.

[Naomi4Christ]

I think to Anglicans, we believe in a new life under Christ. This comes at the point when you realise that you have given up your earthly life and have chosen to follow Christ.

Lots of passages in Romans cover this topic.

[AngCath]

We don't typically use this term in a context seperate from Holy Baptism.

[higgs2]

We don't typically use this term in a context seperate from Holy Baptism.

This is what I would say too.

[Adammi]

This isn't necessarily the Anglican perspective, but rather my personal perspective, but I think a lot of us could use a lesson in grammar.
When Jesus spoke of "being born again", it was a verb.
To be born -verb
again - adverb

Please do not use the phrase "born again" as a noun.

Sorry for my rant, but when Jesus coined this phrase it was really beautiful, but the modern church has made it into a grammatically incorrect cliche.

[IowaLutheran]

This passage can also be translated as "born from above", which is a preferred translation IMHO because it acknowledges that salvation comes from God and not from within.

[Simon_Templar]

This passage can also be translated as "born from above", which is a preferred translation IMHO because it acknowledges that salvation comes from God and not from within.
I think the dual meaning was intended, but it is clear that nicodemus understood it in terms of being "born again" from the context, as per his question about entering again into his mother's womb

[karen freeinchristman]

We don't typically use this term in a context seperate from Holy Baptism.I agree it begins with baptism (Jesus said, unless you are born again of water and the Spirit). But some people are baptised and then further on down the line they end up professing atheism. What does this say to us in relation to being born again? Additionally, when Jesus says 'unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God', if we are saying this implies that unbaptised people will not be saved, this conflicts with what some people here on this forum have argued previously. My argument is that one can experienced a spiritual re-birth even without having been baptised with water. Can one conversely experience a water re-birth (baptism) without being born again of the Spirit? :confused: (head full of questions)...

[brightmorningstar]

I think a human who comes to believe in Jesus Christ is born again. I think Naomi4Christ is spot on and Romans describes it very well.I dont really think one can be a 'born again Christian' or a 'born agian believer' if one is a believer or a Christian they are born again.

[karen freeinchristman]

I wonder what the usual term is, then, for someone who has that sudden 'born-again' feeling, where everything is seen differently, and (for example) the 'veil' is removed? Would it be called a 'conversion' event or 'baptism in the Holy Spirit'? It should have a distinct term to describe it. If 'born-again' is incorrect in describing that phenomenon, then what is the correct term?

[AngCath]

I wonder what the usual term is, then, for someone who has that sudden 'born-again' feeling, where everything is seen differently, and (for example) the 'veil' is removed? Would it be called a 'conversion' event or 'baptism in the Holy Spirit'? It should have a distinct term to describe it. If 'born-again' is incorrect in describing that phenomenon, then what is the correct term?
this is an instance of someone being inspired by the Spirit

[gtsecc]

I wonder what the usual term is, then, for someone who has that sudden 'born-again' feeling, where everything is seen differently, and (for example) the 'veil' is removed? Would it be called a 'conversion' event or 'baptism in the Holy Spirit'? It should have a distinct term to describe it. If 'born-again' is incorrect in describing that phenomenon, then what is the correct term?
Baptism is the hook.
God gives you lots of free line.
That feeling is when the line ends, and God starts reeling you in again.

[Aymn27]

I wonder what the usual term is, then, for someone who has that sudden 'born-again' feeling, where everything is seen differently, and (for example) the 'veil' is removed? Would it be called a 'conversion' event or 'baptism in the Holy Spirit'? It should have a distinct term to describe it. If 'born-again' is incorrect in describing that phenomenon, then what is the correct term?
I go with born-again....as a RC I used to shy away from it, but I think that is truly the correct term. When a person "accepts" Christ, his/her heart is changed - as you say "the veil is lifted" - at that moment they are "born again"...of course, baptism should follow since it is a "two-prong" event - water and spirit...

[Simon_Templar]

Well, I think there are two events that people get muddled up, conversion and being born again.

Evangelicals generally assume them to be one and the same thing. Often enough traditionalists do as well.

However, being born again is when your spirit is recreated, or born again in the life of God, your old sinful 'man' is dead and buried etc.

conversion begins when the Holy Spirit begins working in your soul to renew your mind, and bring conviction of sin, etc.

Being born again is entirely a work of God. Conversion is the result of the Holy Spirit's work in you, BUT it necessarily involves a choice, an act of human will.

You can't be converted without chosing it. Now, most would argue that being born again involves choice as well, however, this is not as clear.

For most adults, being born again follows conversion, thus being born again does follow choice. However, IF we believe what the bible says, and what the church has taught about baptism, AND we believe in infant baptism, then in the case of infants, being born again would preceed conversion, and thus choice would not necesarily be involved.

[karen freeinchristman]

Well, I think there are two events that people get muddled up, conversion and being born again.

Evangelicals generally assume them to be one and the same thing. Often enough traditionalists do as well.

However, being born again is when your spirit is recreated, or born again in the life of God, your old sinful 'man' is dead and buried etc.

conversion begins when the Holy Spirit begins working in your soul to renew your mind, and bring conviction of sin, etc.

Being born again is entirely a work of God. Conversion is the result of the Holy Spirit's work in you, BUT it necessarily involves a choice, an act of human will.

You can't be converted without chosing it. Now, most would argue that being born again involves choice as well, however, this is not as clear.

For most adults, being born again follows conversion, thus being born again does follow choice. However, IF we believe what the bible says, and what the church has taught about baptism, AND we believe in infant baptism, then in the case of infants, being born again would preceed conversion, and thus choice would not necesarily be involved.
Well, since I was baptised as an infant, and then experienced conversion in my 30's, being born again did preceed conversion in my case. And I would have to say that the conversion was Spirit led, AND involved a choice on my part as well. It was kind of like that Michelangelo painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - where Adam and God touch fingertips. Both are reaching out.

[George4JC]

I think a human who comes to believe in Jesus Christ is born again. I think Naomi4Christ is spot on and Romans describes it very well.I dont really think one can be a 'born again Christian' or a 'born agian believer' if one is a believer or a Christian they are born again.
Just another question relating to the subject of "Born Again."
Were the Apostles born again before or on the day of Pentecost?
I say "perhaps" on because before Pentecost they were indeed blessed followers of Christ yet notice their great fear of the authorities of that day. Remember they hid behind locked doors. However on the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost was poured upon them and with great power and authority from the Lord they were bold, no matter what the consequences, to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ.
Remember Peter's three time denial before Pentecost.
After Pentecost he never would.

What do you think?

[karen freeinchristman]

Just another question relating to the subject of "Born Again."
Were the Apostles born again before or on the day of Pentecost?
I say "perhaps" on because before Pentecost they were indeed blessed followers of Christ yet notice their great fear of the authorities of that day. Remember they hid behind locked doors. However on the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost was poured upon them and with great power and authority from the Lord they were bold, no matter what the consequences, to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ.
Remember Peter's three time denial before Pentecost.
After Pentecost he never would.

What do you think?
Interesting question! :)

[George4JC]

Is it possible many out there today who profess themselves to be Christian may not be born again?
Many make the claim to be obedient followers of Christ but I wonder how many, "when push comes to shove", when it comes to defending their faith will cave instead of embrace their faith when the road becomes difficult.
I'm sure back in the days of the foundation of the church (and in our modern day), many chose to walk away from defending the faith in fear of the sword,
forgeting that the Lord is with us in all circumstances, as difficult as any situation may seem.
Few of us, thankfully, do not have to defend our faith to the point of giving our lives, but many forsake teachings of their faith for simply lot less more selfish reasons.