What does it mean to be born again? What does it entail, what does it feel like? (If you happen to be astrally/spiritually sensitive, what does it look like?)

Does one have to be a Christian to be born again? Are all Christians born again? What are the requirements for being born again? Is being born again the same as being saved?

(Thank Anita for this one guys )

“Now (de – therefore, this is an indication that these events are closely related), there was a man named Nicodemus, a member of the Judean ruling council.” (Yahuowchanan/John 3:1)

“He came to Yahushua at night and said, ‘Master (rabbi), we know (oida/oikeios) you came from (erchomai) God (theos), a teacher (didaskalos). For no man (oudeis) could perform (dunamai poieo) the miraculous signs (semeion) you are doing unless (ean) God were with (meta – in the midst of, as a companion in fellowship with) him.’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:2)

“Yahushua answered and said ‘Truly, truly (amane, amane), I say (lego – affirm, maintain, teach, and advise), one cannot (ou dunamai – is unable, lacks the power, ability, and resources to) see (horao – behold, perceive, know, become acquainted with by experience, appear in, or witness) the kingdom (basileia – reign, dominion, royal power, and authority) of God unless he is born (gennao) anew from above (anothen).’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:3)

“‘By what means (pos) can a man (anthropos) have the ability, power and resources (dunamai – obtain the favorable circumstance or permission to) be born (gennao – be brought forth, delivered, and arise) when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘He cannot (me dunamai) enter (eiserchomai) a second time into his mother’s womb to be reborn.’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:4)

“Yahushua answered, ‘Most assuredly (amane – I make firm, build up, and establish; I provide the stability and confidence a child would find in the arms of a parent; I am the support, the pillar, and the upright pole; I am the firm foundation with lasting permanence; I am the right hand of God in which the nail will pierce; believe in this, trust this, rely upon this with absolute confidence, and be faithful), I tell (lego – teach and affirm) the truth (amane) no one can enter (ou dunamai – no person has the ability, power, or resources to obtain the favorable circumstances or permission to) enter (eiserchomai – reach, come in and experience) the kingdom of God unless he is born (gennao) of water (hydor) and the Spirit (Pneuma).” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:5)

“Flesh (sarx – carnality, the body, man’s animal nature) gives birth to (gennao – brings forth and delivers) flesh, but the Spirit (Pneuma) gives birth to (gennao – brings forth and delivers) Spirit.” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:6)

“You should not be surprised (thaumazo – be amazed, marvel and wonder in admiration) at My saying (lego – affirmation, exhortation, and teaching), ‘You must be born (gennao – brought forth and delivered) from above (anothen).’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:7)

“The Spirit (Pneuma) blows like the wind and breathes life (pneo) wherever (hopou – referring to circumstance and reason) He desires and determines (thelo – based upon will, intent, mind, choice, love and relationship). You are endowed with the faculty to hear (akouo – pay attention to, understand, believe in, respond to, receive, and conform to) the voice (phone – calling, spoken words, language), pay attention to, understand, believe in, respond to, receive, and conform to (akouo) His voice, calling, spoken words, and language (phone). You do not know the household of God (oikeios), His origin or source (pothen – the author or giver), or what place He comes into being or appears and becomes known (erchomai – comes forth, manifests himself, establishes, influences, and arises) or where He is going (hupago – leading, bringing together, and withdrawing to). In this manner (houto – thus, likewise) he who lives and is to be (esti/eimi – to have eternal life), each and everyone is born (gennao –brought forth and delivered) by the Spirit (Pneuma).’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:8)

“Nicodemus said, ‘How (pos – in what manner or way) can (dunamai – the resource, ability, and power of) Him, Her, and this (houtos) exist and happen (ginomai)?’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:9)

“Yahushua answered, ‘You are Israel’s teacher. Do you not understand (ginosko – recognize and perceive, acknowledge familiarity with) Him, Her and this (houtos)?” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:10)

“Most assuredly (amane – I make firm, build up, and establish; I provide the stability and confidence a child would find in the arms of a parent; I am the support, the pillar, and the upright pole; I am the firm foundation with lasting permanence; I am the right hand of God in which the nail will pierce; believe in this, trust this, rely upon this with absolute confidence, and be faithful), I tell (lego – teach, exhort, and affirm) the truth (amane) concerning this (hoti – cause and reason, conversation, identification, and explanation) we speak (laleo – talk about, preach, declare, and disclose the thoughts) of what and whom (hos) we know (eido - perceive, signifying the actual seeing and awareness of and the personal acquaintance with) and bear witness to (martureo – testify, affirm, and share) what and whom (hos) we have seen (horao – beheld, seen with our own eyes and perceived with our own mind, have known and experienced), but still you do not receive (lambano – grasp and take hold of, acquire, possess, or accept) our witness (martyreo – testimony).’” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:11)

“If I have spoken of (lego – affirmed and taught) the earthly (epigeios – terrestrial and human) and you do not trust (pisteuo – do not commit yourself, place confidence in, and rely upon [Me]), how then will you believe (pisteuo – trust) if I speak of the heavenly (epouranios – celestial)?” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:12)

“No one has ever ascended into (anabaino – risen up and entered) heaven (ouranos – the abode of God) except the One who descended from (katabaino – came down from) heaven—the Son of Man.” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:13)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so (houtos – likewise, in the same way and manner) the Son of Man must be lifted up, in order that (hina – so as a result) everyone who relies on (pisteuo – puts trust in and commits to) Him may have and hold on to (echo – possess and retain, wear the clothing of, be able to experience) eternal life (aionios zoe – everlasting life, life without end, never ceasing existence).” (Yahuwchanan/John 3: 14-15)

“For God so (houto – in this way and manner) loved (agapao – became fond of, pleased and content with) the world (kosmos – universe, earth, people) that He gave (didomi – delivered, bestowed as a gift, put in our place) His one and only (monogenes – unique, one of a kind) Son (huios – term of relationship and association), that whoever relies upon (pisteuo – trusts and believes in) Him shall not perish (apollumi – be destroyed, be lost, abolished, put to an end, and become dead) but have eternal life (aionios zoe).” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:16)

“For God did not send (apostello – send forth, away and out) His Son into the world to condemn (krino – judge and put asunder, evaluate) the world, but to save (sozo – heal, restore, and make whole; rescue, preserve, and keep safe; protect from destruction) the world through (dia – on account of, because of, by means of, through the agency of) Him” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:17)

"Whoever relies upon (pisteuo) Him is not separated, judged, or condemned (krino), but whoever does not rely (pisteuo) stands separated and condemned (krino) already because he has not trusted (pisteuo) in the proper name of (onoma - nature, reputation, and information regarding) God’s one and only (monogenes - unique, one of a kind) Son." (Yahuwchanan/John 3:18)

“This is the verdict (krisis – judgment, accusation, condemnation, damnation, and separation): Light (phos – that source of energy which illuminates and is manifest) has come (erchomai – made an appearance, has come forth, has become known, has influenced and has been established) into the world (kosmos), but men (anthropos - humankind) loved (agapao – welcomed and had an affinity for) the darkness (skotos – blindness, ignorance, the abode of evil spirits) instead of (mallon – rather than, more than, to a greater degree, more readily and willingly than the alternative) light (phos), because their behavior (ergon – actions, deeds, labors, business, undertakings, accomplishments, acts and thinking) were evil (poneros – wicked, morally corrupt, worthless, faulty and of no value; annoying, perilous, diseased, blind, and criminal).” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:19)

“Everyone who practices (prasso – habitually commits and publicly perpetuates) evil (phaulos – things which slight, are mean and worthless, morally base, bad and wicked) hates (miseo – detests) the Light, and will not come into (erchomai - appear before, come to know, be influenced by or be established with) the Light, concerned that his behavior and deeds (ergon) will be exposed (elegcho – reproved and rebuked, receive a conviction).” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:20)

“But whoever lives by (poieo – brings forth, commits to, bears, and practices) truth (aletheia – objectively deals with reality, lives in accordance with the facts as they are manifest in the space/time continuum) comes into (erchomai – comes forth and appears before, arises in, is influenced by and is established in) the Light, in order that it may be seen plainly (phaneroo – made manifest, declared, clearly appear and become known, be realized by teaching, plainly shown and thoroughly understood) that what he has done (ergon – undertaken and accomplished, produced which is effectual) is the work of (ergazomai – brought about by, made to happen through, is in relationship to) and is taking place in close proximity to (en) God.” (Yahuwchanan/John 3:21)

It seems one of my favorite Chaos Magic authors has the right idea in this regard:

"Each god brings its own madness. To know the god - to be accepted by it - to feel its mysteries, well you have to let that madness wash over you, and through you.....
But once you've faced a god, letting it's madness wash through you, and change you, then there is a bond which is true, beyond all human explanation or rationalisation. We forge bonds with the gods we choose and with the gods which choose us. It's a two-way exchange, the consequences of which might take years to be manifest in your life. But then, gods tend to be patient. Cthulhu dreams."
- Phil Hine, Cthulhu Madness

Your experience Anita is a precise mirror of his in the essay (with different beings of course).

It seems one of my favorite Chaos Magic authors has the right idea in this regard:

"Each god brings its own madness. To know the god - to be accepted by it - to feel its mysteries, well you have to let that madness wash over you, and through you.....
But once you've faced a god, letting it's madness wash through you, and change you, then there is a bond which is true, beyond all human explanation or rationalisation. We forge bonds with the gods we choose and with the gods which choose us. It's a two-way exchange, the consequences of which might take years to be manifest in your life. But then, gods tend to be patient. Cthulhu dreams."
- Phil Hine, Cthulhu Madness

Your experience Anita is a precise mirror of his in the essay (with different beings of course).

Mine, also, but with Athena. I think I shall have to look into Mr. Hine's work. Thanks, Nightmare.

I can see how you may like to draw comparison, but most assuredly I tell you, there was no madness washing through me or over me as described by your Phil Hine

and in terms of exchange, there is nothing that I can give to God that He needs. It is all pure grace and the only exchange that means anything that took place was done on the cross.

ya know, madness is something i fear greatly. it means to the logical side of my mind that if i was proven to be insane that my beliefs therein are all together meaningless. my spiritual side doesnt care so much as my logical side of course. and as always its a battle between my heart and mind. *shrugs

Your welcome There is a link to his website in my blog.

Heh, I hope it doesn't bore you too much - I don't update very often.

Not at all. It's always interesting to read other peoples take on things. I found some of your posts on the front page quite interesting. I shall delve it further as time allows.

What does it mean to be born again? What does it entail, what does it feel like? (If you happen to be astrally/spiritually sensitive, what does it look like?)

Does one have to be a Christian to be born again? Are all Christians born again? What are the requirements for being born again? Is being born again the same as being saved?

(Thank Anita for this one guys )

Yes, that is how one becomes a Christian... accepting Jesus the Christ as Lord and Saviour
causes one to be born again.

That experience can feel/look/sound different for each person.

Please forgive the Clintonism, but define "accept".



May I ask how it was for you?

I was in my friend's apartment when we first spoke of Jesus and the changes
that He had made in Brian's life. I didn't really know how much of the Bible I believed,
but I had the evidence in front of me that Jesus was real. I remember being amazed
that the most powerful Being in the universe was offering a position to me...
It was a bit of a surprise to me that I was suddenly willing to take that plunge and
accept Jesus as my Saviour.
As far as what happened to me then, my perspective shifted and I wanted to know
my Creator better. Hey.. I even started going to church and learning to sense
His presence.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, church folk got in the way during boot camp and I walked away.
Some years later, when I came back to Him, it was still in a quiet fashion rather than dramatic.

much more of a 'knowing' or 'sensing'. Of course, that was usually how I discerned the
non-material realm.

What does it mean to be born again? What does it entail, what does it feel like? (If you happen to be astrally/spiritually sensitive, what does it look like?)

Does one have to be a Christian to be born again? Are all Christians born again? What are the requirements for being born again? Is being born again the same as being saved?

(Thank Anita for this one guys )

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

What does it mean to be born again? What does it entail, what does it feel like?

Does one have to be a Christian to be born again? Are all Christians born again? What are the requirements for being born again? Is being born again the same as being saved?

3. While all Chritians are adopted into God's spiritual family, not all follow "God's house rules" which are love
God with your whole being and everyone else as much as yourself (the Royal Law)!

So following the "house rules" is not a requirement for being born again/saved?

Now that you're a member of God's family, you should want to do things for God out of love--not because you're afraid of "getting the boot"!

You didn't do a bunch of good things in order to get into God's family; you simply applied to be a member of His family and he accepted your application. Now that you're a member of God's family, you should want to do things for God out of love--not because you're afraid of "getting the boot"!

The only way you can lose your membership is if you "quit" of your own accord.

Yes because; something happens to ones "heart" when they are born again....