What does it mean to be born again?

I know there are God's commandments.

But what does it mean to be born again?

Does it mean to be obedient to these commandments?

Or does it mean that God has transformed your life by His Spirit, making you a new person?

Do you need faith for that or does God do it without the person (submitting? to Him)?

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB20 - 14 But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The second one, God has transformed your life by His Spirit, making you a new person.

John chapter 3 is a starting point:

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”...

...19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

need to read the whole chapter.

In the Bible, being born again is a spiritual rebirth or change of heart that involves: Recognizing your current state, Admitting and asking forgiveness for your sins, Repenting and turning away from sin, Surrendering your life to Christ, and Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
The phrase "born again" is a core doctrine in many Christian denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Moravian, Anabaptist, and Plymouth Brethren. It originated from a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, in which Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God".
Being born again is more than just changing your behavior or morals. It's about completely changing your identity and heart, and living a new life where Jesus is Lord

To be born again, does the person do something? Or is this brought about by God? Or, both?

My understanding is that a person is born again when the Spirit of God changes them, comes to dwell in them, and this by faith. I believe that faith can be a gift from God as well. But I don't believe we need to wait for it. We can have it now, by believing the truth about God and His Son, and us as individuals.

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

I am not sure which is true. They are both translations. But I get the idea.

Good question. I'd say it depends on faith and submission.

When he says: Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

It seems to be random among believers but I'm sure it has something to do with submitting to the authority of God. We don't know who or when the Holy Spirit convicts someone.

Faith must be in God otherwise your faith is misplaced in something else.

Christ spoke the word of God. So they're virtually the same thing.

You're right, the kingdom of God is here now, among us. We are in the world but not of the world.

Consider Paul. He saw the light because, in his heart, he’d thought he was doing the right thing in protecting Judaism from those who would destroy it. As a scholar of laws, he ambitiously considered himself to be the guardian of faith. Ergo, he didn’t hate the truth or the light, so God drew him nearer. This light showed him, as he later confessed, his own pride had misled him.

In saying the scales fell from his eyes, it’s not that he’d been blind to reality, it explains what the reality was. You see, it points to the scales of justice. Man’s idea of what’s fair isn’t the same as God’s. You can’t weigh the Divine by your own measure.

We know the ancient Jews held to the letter of the law without thought for the spirit of the law. Jesus showed them the Spirit.

“Being born again is more than just changing your behavior or morals. It's about completely changing your identity and heart, and living a new life where Jesus is Lord” - Im Goldy

Once Paul realized the truth of his own self, he changed from a fighter to one who was content with the Will of God. As such, he was able to accept WHO Jesus really was. Then he was “born again”. This is the resurrection. Only a Revelator of God can facilitate that, and only during His own Day. HE chooses His people.

As you say, it's not merely turning over a new leaf.

While the spiritual reality was suddenly exposed, Paul still had to go through a period of personal transformation as he navigated this new kingdom. How could he have taught Christianity to anyone if he didn’t first teach himself? Paul came back from his journeys a more temperate and wise man.....one who was able to sacrifice everything, including his life for the Cause.

Since Jesus's dispensation is over, a resurrection can only happen through a newer Revelator....the One Christians are waiting to appear. They wouldn't be waiting if they didn't know it was needed.

Zanjan,

You wrote: "Since Jesus's dispensation is over, a resurrection can only happen through a newer Revelator....the One Christians are waiting to appear. They wouldn't be waiting if they didn't know it was needed."

I am surprised that you say Jesus' dispensation is over, as we have the kingdom of Jesus God's Son.

Colossians 1:13 NASB20 - 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

Psalm 110:1-2 NASB20 - 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." 2 The LORD will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, [saying,] "Rule in the midst of Your enemies."

Hebrews 10:12-13 NASB20 - 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

Who is it that you believe will appear, if not Jesus? The Bible says Jesus will return. I don't know for sure the details, such as if He will take people to heaven or rule on the earth. My studies have not yet borne that out. It would make for a good Bible study.

Shalom.

Jacob

Every Revelator has a dispensation - a span of time (an Age) where His teachings are most effective, moving people forward in an ever-advancing civilization. He doesn't leave people to guesswork - He gives them a way to know.

When the dispensation of Moses was almost over, the lesser Prophets knew it and warned the people of the coming Judgement. God had mercy on them for awhile, to give people time to hear and respond. Jesus would be like Moses - the Lord of the Age.

"The Bible says Jesus will return" - Jacob

It says the Holy Spirit, which is the Christ will return. Nobody would know His name until that after that happened. In prophecy, Names aren't mentioned....where would be the test?

When nearing the end of the Age (dispensation), beleivers will recognize the signs, as Jesus described in detail. This period is called the "Latter Days". At any moment during this period, the return of the Promised One could happen.

Jesus explained how believers should be ready for that time, telling them the parable of the "Ten Bridesmaids" (aka torch bearers). Had they brought enough oil, they would have had enough light to see and discovered their Bridegroom.

You see, there was a wedding in Cana. That was a spiritual union of hearts. So it was in Moses's Day and Jesus's Day, so it would be again on the next Day when the Holy Spirit returned.

However, if you want a Biblical prophecy about how long Christians would be given to recognize His return, refer to the verse "and they [Christian beleivers] reigned for a thousand years'.

Count forward from 1 AD. The "grace period" began in 610 CE but most ancient Christians were unaware it had started. Continue counting forward as if you know nothing. Exactly to the year, the Great Schism occured. Christianity broke in half, signaling the end of the grace period. Christianity entered its Apocalypse, which is now over. Their challenges are gone.

This is not to say a Christian can't go to heaven; it means the individual must make themself more fit to be worthy of it while still on earth. If the individual wakes up, they'll begin their search for the Promised One. We pray for their success.

Why did the angels say that He would return in the same way as that He left?

Acts 1:11 NASB20 - 11 and they said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

My understanding is that Jesus was not merely a Revelator.

Acts 1: 9
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Did He not go into the clouds? Will those clouds never part again? This has everything to do with vision.

The "clouds" are the symbol of ignorance. How clearly can you see the truth when you've placed something between you and God? These followers were grieving Jesus's passing; being crippled by sadness and unable to act, they had to wait for the Holy Spirit to visit them.

What do you mean by, "Did He not go into the clouds? Will those clouds never part again?"?

There is no symbol here.

There is no higher rank than a Revelator. The Jews were aware their prophets never held the same rank as Moses. They knew John the Baptist didn't either and so did the Christians.

A Revelator is the only person who can speak with God's voice. Bearing the Word of God, He is the Founder of an independent religion and brings a new Book.

All the Revelators of God are as one Soul - there's no difference between Them because God created Them differently than regular humans.

They reflect all the attributes of God, albeit some may not be manifest to the people of the Age. They only differ in the intensity of their Revelation, which is delivered according to the capacity of the people.

God Himself spoke to the people.

It is my belief that God did not create any religion.

The people would never comprehend God's language; that's why He created Revelators to translate for the people. They (the Revelators) all said that's what they were doing. He is the only link between man and God.

The Faith of God is one and the Revelators are one; religion is the organizational means by which man achieves the divine commission.

The people heard God speak to them.

Yes, so did I but not the way some think. It's the kind of hearing that can only be detected by the spiritual ear.

They all heard God speak to them audibly, at the same time.

Could it be that the Spirit of God is not religion?

Nowhere does God say to create or join a religion.

But He does give us His Law, His Teaching, His Instruction, His Direction.

I think about religion, or religions, or false religions. So often there is law involved.

But if it is not a commandment, or the Spirit of God confirming God's word, would it be a person's conscience rather than idolatry that should be preferred? For some people know the Law, but others all they have is their conscience or the Spirit of God.

“They all heard God speak to them audibly, at the same time. “

Does the Bible use that language? If they could hear God directly, there wouldn’t have been any need for a Revelator or to write anything down.

“To hear” means to understand, accept, and respect. In the case of God or other authority, that includes obedience.

“But He does give us His Law, His Teaching, His Instruction, His Direction. “

Anyone today can read a Book – that won’t encourage or make someone practice what’s in it. A Book won’t build a civilization. You need an organized, funded body to move the world. How far would you get without arms and legs and material means?

Religion is a school - you need teachers, students, and classes. His laws belong to a legal system – these must be executable for protection of the Faith while producing a rehabilitative effect. God loves order. Religious practice is a lifestyle; the particular religion is the supportive model community, which brings all societies together.

God thought it was so important to distinguish one school from another, He gave each a name, its own calendar, and its own theme. Yet at no time has He ever made His religions to clash or advised anyone to fight against them. Each religion was created to be supportive of the other.

I don’t think about any religion as being false – originally, they all came from the same source and were tuned to the people who practiced them. They would have been good for the whole world but the people weren’t fit to live up to their requirements.

Sects spiraled out of them through men’s disagreements. With the incorporation of local culture and notions of clergy, they wandered down a crooked road, eventually ending up as “folk” religions.

Folk religions are a mish-mash of this and that – things people borrowed from here and there because they liked them best. With true religion, you don’t pick and choose what you like best – you put God first in all things and understand His own guidance is best for you.

“For some people know the Law, but others all they have is their conscience or the Spirit of God”

You won’t have a conscience if you haven’t acquired the spiritual virtues. Humans are naturally self-centered so, we have to be taught how to become God-centered. That’s our supernatural spirit. Bits of that leak into our minds even as babies - they can tell when something done to somebody else isn't fair. That's been proven. No one has had to explain it to them.

A child is often inspired, uttering stunning bits of wisdom we couldn't see for ourselves. They can do this because their hearts are still pure and receptive. Thus, it's said that children are closer to God. It's a sobering observance.

In my religion, the “Spirit of God” is a term reserved for a Revelator. He infallibly reflects that Spirit because He has no ego to interfere. All humans have an ego. Without mastery, it would hold us back from becoming what God intended us to be.