Born again

To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelical Christianity, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by the operation of the Holy Spirit. It occurs when one accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, upon which point they are said to have "died" to their sinful state and been born into a new, saved life. While all Christians are familiar with the concept from the Bible, it is a core doctrine of the denominations of the Moravian, Methodist, Plymouth Brethren, Pentecostal and Radical Pietist churches along with other evangelical Christian denominations, such as evangelical Quakers and Baptists. These churches stress Jesus's words in the Gospels: "Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.'" (John 3:7). Their doctrines also hold that to be "born again", and thus "saved", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The term born again has its origin in the New Testament. In the First Epistle of Peter, the author describes the new birth as taking place from the seed which is the Word of God. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus himself refers to the Word of God as the seed. In contemporary Christian usage and apart from evangelicalism, the term is distinct from similar terms which are sometimes used in Christianity in reference to a person who is, or is becoming, a Christian. This usage of the term is usually linked to baptism with water and the related doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Individuals who profess to be "born again" (meaning born in the "Holy Spirit") often state that they have a "personal relationship with...