Born Again is Not a Religion But Entering into a Personal, Saving Relationship with Jesus Christ
I've noticed that some Roman Catholics have had the misconception of the term born again. Some unprofessional hecklers from the Philippines have even gone as far as to say that to be a born again Christian means to be part of a group supposedly founded by the late Billy Graham. Did they even consider the fact that Graham himself was a close ally of the Vatican? But what does it mean to be born again? Earlier translations have used the term "born from above". However, the Good News Translation (GNT) has used the term "born again".
John 3:3-5
Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.” 4 “How can a grown man be born again?” Nicodemus asked. “He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!” 5 “I am telling you the truth,” replied Jesus, “that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 A person is born physically of human parents, but is born spiritually of the Spirit. 7 Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again. 8 The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The misconception of Nicodemus was that he said, "How can a man enter back into his mother's womb." The term "born again" is a very difficult concept to grasp. It's very hard to grasp the term when the preacher says, "You must be born again." Being born again is not about joining any organized religion but entering into a personal relationship with God. Yet, to Roman Catholics they have long believed that they are the true Church. Some Roman Catholics have gone so far as to call born again Christians as heretics.
The Greek usage is gennatha anothen or born from above. Later, we have 1 Peter 1:3, 23, where the Greek words anagennasas and anagegennamenoi. Anagennasas means having given birth again. Anagegennamenoi means having been born again. The Greek words all mean that to be born again means to be born from above.
Roman Catholics have had leaned on their infant baptism as their way of getting spiritually reborn. However, baptism is not a rite for innocent infants but for guilty sinners who realize their need for salvation. The argument can be that babies are innocent enough for baptism. The other is that the original sin must be washed away by the priest and given "new life". However, Acts 2:41 says that first they believed, and then they were baptized. The requirement for baptism is to believe first before one is baptized.
Roman Catholics have had leaned on their infant baptism as their way of getting spiritually reborn. However, baptism is not a rite for innocent infants but for guilty sinners who realize their need for salvation. The argument can be that babies are innocent enough for baptism. The other is that the original sin must be washed away by the priest and given "new life". However, Acts 2:41 says that first they believed, and then they were baptized. The requirement for baptism is to believe first before one is baptized.
Roman Catholic translations of the Bible don't have Acts 8:37 since it's usually considered a verse in question not found in some manuscripts. However, even without that verse, we can see that the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch was a believer's baptism. Verse 34 has Philip preaching the Gospel to the Ethiopian. Acts 16:31 commands one to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Repentance (metanoneia, change of mind) about one's sins and receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior are the steps how to be biblically born again. Baptism is an external rite which is done for new converts. Nobody becomes a Christian by signing a piece of paper or a dotted line. It's not about walking the aisle. It's all about receiving Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior.
The concept of being born again is all about starting all over with Jesus. The Christian life is not an add-on but a restart. Nicodemus was a learned man for many years but Jesus told him, "You must be born again." It meant that everything starts all over. It is the supernatural work of God that no priest can ever do in infant baptism. An infant is too innocent and too young to understand salvation. Children can understand the need for salvation when they can already be disciplined by mom and dad. When a person understands the fact that they're sinners then they must receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior immediately.
Unfortunately, some Roman Catholics have shown signs that they aren't truly born again as they claimed. It's ironic how many believe in salvation by works yet they act like they've got a license to sin. A truly saved person will continuously have a reverential fear of God. I've seen a lot of hypocrisies of Rome that made me think, "There's no way it's a Christian institution." I've observed how many prisoners tend to be religious Roman Catholics too. Just watching a lot of them do some penance before heading towards the death row might be the reason why Rome opposes the death penalty. I remembered getting stuck in the position of believing Roman Catholics were Christians or not because of my relatives after I got saved. I was in denial at first and looking at the rotten fruits (Matthew 7:14-20) really shows how they aren't saved. Roman Catholics hardly emphasize a real personal and saving relationship. Pope Francis is right in saying having a personal relationship with Jesus is dangerous. However, there is the true infinite value for it even if it has a high cost. To become a born again Christian has a high cost (antagonism with the world) yet the end road is indeed glorious.
Unfortunately, some Roman Catholics have shown signs that they aren't truly born again as they claimed. It's ironic how many believe in salvation by works yet they act like they've got a license to sin. A truly saved person will continuously have a reverential fear of God. I've seen a lot of hypocrisies of Rome that made me think, "There's no way it's a Christian institution." I've observed how many prisoners tend to be religious Roman Catholics too. Just watching a lot of them do some penance before heading towards the death row might be the reason why Rome opposes the death penalty. I remembered getting stuck in the position of believing Roman Catholics were Christians or not because of my relatives after I got saved. I was in denial at first and looking at the rotten fruits (Matthew 7:14-20) really shows how they aren't saved. Roman Catholics hardly emphasize a real personal and saving relationship. Pope Francis is right in saying having a personal relationship with Jesus is dangerous. However, there is the true infinite value for it even if it has a high cost. To become a born again Christian has a high cost (antagonism with the world) yet the end road is indeed glorious.
If you are a Roman Catholic and you are reading this - I hope this message strikes conviction. Being a born again Christian is not to be part of a religion but a relationship. Born again Christians join a church and do good works not to stay saved but as a result of being saved. Stop believing the priest and start reading the Bible for yourselves.