How To Be Born Again

[Anthony Pritchard]

How To Be Born Again​

By a man born again in February 1979 aboard a U.S. Navy warship in the Persian Gulf​

Introduction:

Many people have questions about the new birth and what it means to be born again. I wrote this to give a clear, Scripture based explanation of what God says about it. My hope is that it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. All verses are quoted in full so the Word of God can speak for itself.

The new birth is not a religious feeling, a moral improvement, or a human decision. Yet God commands all men to repent and believe the gospel, and these acts of faith are the means by which we receive the new life He alone gives.

The Lord Jesus said plainly:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

And again:

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

To be born again is to receive a new life from God, a life that did not exist before, a life that is holy, incorruptible, and eternal.

Here is what Scripture teaches.

1. The new birth begins with the Word of God​

No one is born again by emotion, tradition, or ceremony. God uses His Word as the seed of the new life.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

The Word of God is the incorruptible seed. When it is received in the heart, believed, and embraced, God brings forth a new creation within.

2. The Spirit of God gives life through that Word​

The new birth is not self produced. It is not the result of human effort. It is the Spirit who gives life.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6

Flesh can only produce flesh. Religion can only produce religion. But the Spirit produces spirit. He creates a new man within, a new nature that is from God.

3. The new birth comes through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ​

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When a sinner hears the truth of Christ crucified and risen, and believes on Him, God gives life.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12

This receiving is not a ritual. It is believing who He is and what He has done.

The next verse makes it clear that the new birth is entirely of God:

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

Not of blood: not inherited. Not of the will of the flesh: not self produced. Not of the will of man: not conferred by another. But of God: entirely His work.

4. The new birth comes through repentance and faith​

Repentance is not self reformation. It is turning to God, acknowledging the truth about our sin, and believing His testimony about His Son.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19

Faith is not a feeling. It is believing God’s record.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36

Everlasting life is not a reward. It is the life of the new birth.

5. The new birth produces a new creature​

When God gives life, He creates something entirely new within the believer.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This new creature is not the old man improved. It is the new man created by God.

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

This new man is born of God’s seed and cannot sin.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9

This is the life God gives. It is holy because its source is holy.

6. The new birth is received by calling upon the Lord​

God has made the way simple. The sinner who believes the gospel and calls upon Christ is saved.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

This calling is the cry of faith, the turning of the heart to Christ.

7. The new birth is permanent and eternal​

What God creates cannot be destroyed. The life He gives is everlasting.

“And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

The new birth is not temporary. It is not fragile. It is the eternal life of God placed within the believer.

How to be born again​

1. Hear the Word of God.
   
2. Believe the gospel of Christ.
   
3. Turn to God in repentance.
   
4. Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
5. Receive the new life that God gives.

This is not a formula. It is the work of God in the soul. But He has promised that all who come to Christ will be received.

“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

 

[kyredneck]

How To Be Born Again

It's odd that Christ in Jn 3 didn't tell 'how' one can be born from above, He emphasized the absolute necessity of it.

He did tell how it occurs:

7 `Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
8 the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.` Jn 3

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Jn 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, except anyone be born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God."

Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!"

Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

Jesus replied to him, "Truly, I tell you emphatically, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone may not be born from above, he is not able to see the Kingdom of God”;

Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Jesus answered and said to him, 'Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;'

 

[Armchair Apologist]

How To Be Born Again​

By a man born again in February 1979 aboard a U.S. Navy warship in the Persian Gulf​

Introduction:

Many people have questions about the new birth and what it means to be born again. I wrote this to give a clear, Scripture based explanation of what God says about it. My hope is that it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. All verses are quoted in full so the Word of God can speak for itself.

The new birth is not a religious feeling, a moral improvement, or a human decision. Yet God commands all men to repent and believe the gospel, and these acts of faith are the means by which we receive the new life He alone gives.

The Lord Jesus said plainly:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

And again:

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

To be born again is to receive a new life from God, a life that did not exist before, a life that is holy, incorruptible, and eternal.

Here is what Scripture teaches.

1. The new birth begins with the Word of God​

No one is born again by emotion, tradition, or ceremony. God uses His Word as the seed of the new life.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

The Word of God is the incorruptible seed. When it is received in the heart, believed, and embraced, God brings forth a new creation within.

2. The Spirit of God gives life through that Word​

The new birth is not self produced. It is not the result of human effort. It is the Spirit who gives life.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6

Flesh can only produce flesh. Religion can only produce religion. But the Spirit produces spirit. He creates a new man within, a new nature that is from God.

3. The new birth comes through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ​

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When a sinner hears the truth of Christ crucified and risen, and believes on Him, God gives life.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12

This receiving is not a ritual. It is believing who He is and what He has done.

The next verse makes it clear that the new birth is entirely of God:

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

Not of blood: not inherited. Not of the will of the flesh: not self produced. Not of the will of man: not conferred by another. But of God: entirely His work.

4. The new birth comes through repentance and faith​

Repentance is not self reformation. It is turning to God, acknowledging the truth about our sin, and believing His testimony about His Son.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19

Faith is not a feeling. It is believing God’s record.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36

Everlasting life is not a reward. It is the life of the new birth.

5. The new birth produces a new creature​

When God gives life, He creates something entirely new within the believer.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This new creature is not the old man improved. It is the new man created by God.

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

This new man is born of God’s seed and cannot sin.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9

This is the life God gives. It is holy because its source is holy.

6. The new birth is received by calling upon the Lord​

God has made the way simple. The sinner who believes the gospel and calls upon Christ is saved.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

This calling is the cry of faith, the turning of the heart to Christ.

7. The new birth is permanent and eternal​

What God creates cannot be destroyed. The life He gives is everlasting.

“And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

The new birth is not temporary. It is not fragile. It is the eternal life of God placed within the believer.

How to be born again​

1. Hear the Word of God.
   
2. Believe the gospel of Christ.
   
3. Turn to God in repentance.
   
4. Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
5. Receive the new life that God gives.

This is not a formula. It is the work of God in the soul. But He has promised that all who come to Christ will be received.

“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

I am very cautious regarding any sort of "Methodology" these days. Looking at your major points here, I do not see any place where I would disagree with your presentation but the words "How to be saved" brings me to hesistate and push back just a little.

The Philippian Jailor asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" and I cannot think of any better way he could've worded it but what I do see here is our human nature at work always focusing on what "we must do" when the answer is there is nothing we can do aside from turning to God in repentance and in faith, believing the gospel! There is no doubt that Paul had been dealing with this Philippian Jailor earlier that day (or whenever it was that Paul was remanded to his custody) and I am sure that Paul stuck to the clarity of the Gospel message and this is what we ought to stick to as well!

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

I am very cautious regarding any sort of "Methodology" these days. Looking at your major points here, I do not see any place where I would disagree with your presentation but the words "How to be saved" brings me to hesistate and push back just a little.

The Philippian Jailor asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" and I cannot think of any better way he could've worded it but what I do see here is our human nature at work always focusing on what "we must do" when the answer is there is nothing we can do aside from turning to God in repentance and in faith, believing the gospel! There is no doubt that Paul had been dealing with this Philippian Jailor earlier that day (or whenever it was that Paul was remanded to his custody) and I am sure that Paul stuck to the clarity of the Gospel message and this is what we ought to stick to as well!

“Brother, I appreciate your concern, but the title How To Be Born Again is simply the language Jesus Himself used. John 3:7 ‘Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.’ My article explains the new birth exactly as Christ described it. Nothing more and nothing less.”

 

[Ben1445]

I am very cautious regarding any sort of "Methodology" these days. Looking at your major points here, I do not see any place where I would disagree with your presentation but the words "How to be saved" brings me to hesistate and push back just a little.

The Philippian Jailor asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" and I cannot think of any better way he could've worded it but what I do see here is our human nature at work always focusing on what "we must do" when the answer is there is nothing we can do aside from turning to God in repentance and in faith, believing the gospel! There is no doubt that Paul had been dealing with this Philippian Jailor earlier that day (or whenever it was that Paul was remanded to his custody) and I am sure that Paul stuck to the clarity of the Gospel message and this is what we ought to stick to as well!

But the question, “what must I do to be saved” was not corrected by Paul.
He didn’t say, “Well, actually you don’t do anything. You have to wait for God to believe for you.”
When asked, “What must I do?” the answer was “believe.”
And because that is Scripture, I don’t find it accurate to say that man doesn’t respond in any way at all.
We have been told to believe, come, take, trust, follow, submit, repent…
There is no doubt that the work of salvation is done by Jesus Christ and none of the activities that we do are saving us. But I don’t think that it is necessary to have a panic attack over saying “what someone must do” when those are the words of Scripture.
You say you believe that the Holy Spirit must do the work in people’s hearts. Don’t worry so much about what you think people will think and just let the Holy Spirit do the teaching and interpreting.

 

[kyredneck]

The Philippian Jailor asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

ut the question, “what must I do to be saved”

'saved is not the same as born from above'

For one thing, the 'heavenly birth' pertains to individuals only, the 'rescue' [saved] includes the households/progeny of the convert.

Acts Chapter 16

14​	And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
15​	And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

31​	And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.

Another thing, just as with one’s physical birth, one is totally passive in their spiritual birth.

 

[Ben1445]

'saved is not the same as born from above'

You do not have one without the other. To be lost is to remain dead. To be born again is to be given life and rescued from death.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

But the question, “what must I do to be saved” was not corrected by Paul.
He didn’t say, “Well, actually you don’t do anything. You have to wait for God to believe for you.”

Understood but note that I said I cannot think of any other way the Philippian jailor could've worded it nor could I think of a better response than what Paul had given. This is the word of God and I do not dare to claim that I could say it better than the way the Holy Ghost inspired Luke to write it down!!!

You may "Pray a sinner's prayer" and trust Christ but it is the power of the Gospel and the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost that brings you to this point!

 

[Ben1445]

Understood but note that I said I cannot think of any other way the Philippian jailor could've worded it nor could I think of a better response than what Paul had given. This is the word of God and I do not dare to claim that I could say it better than the way the Holy Ghost inspired Luke to write it down!!!

You may "Pray a sinner's prayer" and trust Christ but it is the power of the Gospel and the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost that brings you to this point!

Regenerating or pre-generating?

 

[DaveXR650]

Regenerating or pre-generating?

Does it matter? John chapter 3 is worth looking at closely. Verse 8 makes it clear this is not a matter in our hands. Yet, in the same chapter we are told to believe and we are told in John 3:18 that refusing to believe is the reason we will be lost. John 3:15 and 16 flat out promise that if you believe you will not perish but have eternal life. That is the connection point for us as humans and that is what we are told to do, immediately, upon hearing the gospel. Now when you believe something today that you gave no thought to (or even considered ridiculous) last week, something happened in between. Either you weighed the concepts and decided, or were influenced by new information, or were supernaturally enlightened, or actually born again. Personally, I think you need supernatural enlightenment. I do not think you are born again before you believe (with all due respect to Martyn Lloyd-Jones). But above all, you need never worry that your desire to come to Christ will in some way be outside of or exceed God's desire to save you. If the gospel appears true and worth embracing, you can bet the Holy Spirit has already been working and possibly you may even be born again. We just need to do what we are supposed to do - come to Christ and believe.

 

[Ben1445]

Does it matter? John chapter 3 is worth looking at closely. Verse 8 makes it clear this is not a matter in our hands. Yet, in the same chapter we are told to believe and we are told in John 3:18 that refusing to believe is the reason we will be lost. John 3:15 and 16 flat out promise that if you believe you will not perish but have eternal life. That is the connection point for us as humans and that is what we are told to do, immediately, upon hearing the gospel. Now when you believe something today that you gave no thought to (or even considered ridiculous) last week, something happened in between. Either you weighed the concepts and decided, or were influenced by new information, or were supernaturally enlightened, or actually born again. Personally, I think you need supernatural enlightenment. I do not think you are born again before you believe (with all due respect to Martyn Lloyd-Jones). But above all, you need never worry that your desire to come to Christ will in some way be outside of or exceed God's desire to save you. If the gospel appears true and worth embracing, you can bet the Holy Spirit has already been working and possibly you may even be born again. We just need to do what we are supposed to do - come to Christ and believe.

No doubt the Holy Spirit is active. But the Spirit striving with men is not regenerating (giving life to) a person who is still an unbeliever.

I don’t direct this next question at you specifically, @DaveXR650. I think we agree on this particular point. But as a continuation of the thought…

What would happen to a regenerated unbeliever? If someone had a heart attack after the Holy Spirit regenerated them, yet before they inevitably come to believe, what are they? Where are they?

And before anyone says this is ridiculous and not worth considering, this really is the point of the forum. We are considering what are perceived as flaws, whether they are or are not.

There are some who want to dissect everything, but I don’t need to be saved from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem. Salvation is not possessed without life, also described as born again or regenerate.
There is also no opportunity to be regenerated, born again, spiritually alive, and be unsaved.

 

[Ben1445]

Does it matter?

If I am already pre-generated, what difference does it make what I believe. I would already have life restored to me which must certainly be eternal life. What I think about it would not have any impact on it.

I think it matters.

 

[Ben1445]

You may "Pray a sinner's prayer" and trust Christ but it is the power of the Gospel and the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost that brings you to this point!

Brings you or forces you?
Teaches you or believes for you?
Points the way or drags you down it?

The ultimate question that shows the difference between beliefs is what you may do when you get to the point that the Holy Spirit brings you to. Does the Holy Spirit make you trust or does He allow you to reject the Saviour?

I’m not denying the work of the Holy Spirit. I’m not denying that salvation is of the Lord.
I don’t see any Scripture that indicates acceptance is of the Lord. The gift is without doubt. The acceptance is on the person. That is why we are told to believe and have faith.

 

[37818]

How to be born from God in one sentence: 1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . .

 

[DaveXR650]

What would happen to a regenerated unbeliever? If someone had a heart attack after the Holy Spirit regenerated them, yet before they inevitably come to believe, what are they? Where are they?

What would happen if you decide to believe and immediately have a heart attack, before you were born again? It really doesn't matter in itself - no one who believes in Christ is not born again and no one who is born again doesn't believe. I know where the theologies can go off in either direction of course. Does God wait, hoping that you will believe so that he can regenerate you? That doesn't seem to be what John 3 is saying. But is there some responsibility for you to choose to rationally believe - and warning of what it means if you don't? That's in John 3 also. That's why I say it doesn't matter.

 

[DaveXR650]

How to be born from God in one sentence: 1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . .

Yes, that states the true fact. It says nothing about any order in logic or time. It could just as well be that the Calvinists are right and this verse is saying that the one's who believe have been born again - which is why they believe. But I know you mean that people need to be told to believe. And you are right. Any Calvinism that denies or downplays the need for people to be told to immediately repent and believe is defective. It's just that all the Calvinists I know do exactly that. They do believe that if the Holy Spirit doesn't act nothing much will happen. And they are right. But most non-Calvinist Baptists I know also believe that too. So, that's why I say, "it really doesn't matter".

 

[JD731]

Does it matter? John chapter 3 is worth looking at closely. Verse 8 makes it clear this is not a matter in our hands. Yet, in the same chapter we are told to believe and we are told in John 3:18 that refusing to believe is the reason we will be lost. John 3:15 and 16 flat out promise that if you believe you will not perish but have eternal life. That is the connection point for us as humans and that is what we are told to do, immediately, upon hearing the gospel. Now when you believe something today that you gave no thought to (or even considered ridiculous) last week, something happened in between. Either you weighed the concepts and decided, or were influenced by new information, or were supernaturally enlightened, or actually born again. Personally, I think you need supernatural enlightenment. I do not think you are born again before you believe (with all due respect to Martyn Lloyd-Jones). But above all, you need never worry that your desire to come to Christ will in some way be outside of or exceed God's desire to save you. If the gospel appears true and worth embracing, you can bet the Holy Spirit has already been working and possibly you may even be born again. We just need to do what we are supposed to do - come to Christ and believe.

The language of the scriptures is very precise because the words are the words of God. He is not careless about their use and he makes no mistakes. A soul winner has much more liberty with the words he uses to attempt to persuade a sinner to believe in Jesus and to be saved than the preacher who is teaching his congregation how important to our own understanding the mind of God is by being as precise as is possible in teaching the doctrines of the Bible. The careful student of the word of God should examine every word and should be almost fanatical about context, should we not? We must know who or about whom the words are addressed. It is crucial.

Having said that, we use the word "lost" to refer to unsaved sinners across the board. While that is acceptable to a man who is attempting to convince a sinner of his unsaved condition and to explain who Jesus Is and what he has done for us and that he will save whoever believes his good news gospel and give them eternal life at the time they believe.

So, here is where the scriptures uses the word "lost."

• Old Testament (16)
• Exodus (1) a lost thing
• Leviticus (2) a lost thing
• Numbers (1) lost days
• Deuteronomy (1) lost raiment
• 1 Samuel (2) lost burrows
• 1 Kings (1) lost army
• Psalm (1) lost sheep
• Isaiah (2) lost children
• Jeremiah (1) lost sheep
• Ezekiel (4) lost hope - sick and scattered
• New Testament (16)
• Matthew (4) -lost savor -lost sheep - lost sheep - everything above that was lost
• Mark (1) - lost saltness
• Luke (7) lost savor in the salt -the hundredth lost sheep - the lost coin - the resurrected lost son - that which was lost
• John (3) lost fish and bread - the disciples of Jesus during his ministry -
• 2 Corinthians (1) - lost jews

Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, uses the word lost once and then only in the context of Jews. I would like to illustrate this one.

Chapter 4 begins with this word, which is a conclusion from the context of chapter 3. Reading chapter 3 will show that context. That whole context is about the Jews under Moses. They are the ones who are lost because they are the only people who are sheep. Paul never uses the word sheep in writing to the gentiles except the one time in Ro 8 where he quotes a passage from Psalms that is a prophecy about Israel that is coming to pass in the NT times.

Gentiles are never lost, they are unsaved. Who would have lost them? They never belonged to the Father The sheep OTOH belonged to the Father and the shepherds of Israel whom he had sent to tend to them were careless and lost them and forsook them and they were scattered upon a thousand different hills. This is the sheep to whom Jesus was sent to earth the first time to search for and rescue and save. He gave his life for his sheep but because of the voice of the false shepherd most would not hear his voice and followed the false shepherd who does not love the sheep.

If we would be careful with the words and the context of the words we would not be easily misled into false religious systems that has all things wrong like Russellism, Momonism, Calvinism and all the other isms that with their systems of redefining definitions and ignoring the context in the plan of God for redeeming mankind and renewing the heaven and the earth to what he intended.

Gentiles were not lost. Israel was lost for Israel is the family that belonged to God the Father. From 722 BC when he divided them into two nations they were one flock. After that they were two flocks but one flock were out of their land and scattered as strangers among the gentiles in their lands. The plan is to gather them back as one flock into Palestine, with the Chief Shepherd ruling over them along with the nations, having purged the world of unsaved rebels to begin this righteous one thousand year reign according to the Abrahamic, Palestinian, and Davidic covenants..

God has not failed yet and it will be done soon now. He will come for the church. Remember, it was the Israel who rejected his reign who committed the unpardonable sin but not until the time ran out. Those of this age who have heard and rejected the gospel will be blinded and God will not save them in the age to come according to 2 Thessalonians 1.

We need to believe the words.

 

[37818]

.

Yes, that states the true fact. It says nothing about any order in logic or time. It could just as well be that the Calvinists are right and this verse is saying that the one's who believe have been born again - which is why they believe. But I know you mean that people need to be told to believe. And you are right. Any Calvinism that denies or downplays the need for people to be told to immediately repent and believe is defective. It's just that all the Calvinists I know do exactly that. They do believe that if the Holy Spirit doesn't act nothing much will happen. And they are right. But most non-Calvinist Baptists I know also believe that too. So, that's why I say, "it really doesn't matter".

Not necessarily.
But necessary, 2 John 1:9, Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

 

[Ben1445]

What would happen if you decide to believe and immediately have a heart attack, before you were born again?

If you decide to believe that is believing, for all intents and purposes. I don’t mean decide to look into it soon. What I am saying is that you cannot believe and not be born again.

How to be born from God in one sentence: 1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . .

It really doesn't matter in itself - no one who believes in Christ is not born again and no one who is born again doesn't believe. I know where the theologies can go off in either direction of course. Does God wait, hoping that you will believe so that he can regenerate you? That doesn't seem to be what John 3 is saying. But is there some responsibility for you to choose to rationally believe - and warning of what it means if you don't? That's in John 3 also. That's why I say it doesn't matter.

Between you and I it doesn’t matter.

Where someone may say that man is saved whether he likes it or not (because it has nothing to do with his own will) it does matter because it becomes illogical and beyond what Scripture says.

 

[Ben1445]

They do believe that if the Holy Spirit doesn't act nothing much will happen.

The wonder is that they do believe that the Holy Spirit doesn’t act in the case of certain people.

And they are right.

And that they believe that the Holy Spirit has decided to never act upon someone at anytime in their lives makes them wrong.