Born Again

John 3 Amplified
3Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.

4Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born?

5Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [[a]even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.(A)

6What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are "born again". We are born of water which is when we are birthed out of our mother's womb. We are born of Spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit into our spirit. It goes deeper but I just wanted to give a general understanding.

There is a parallel between being born of the flesh and born of the Spirit that I would like to share with you. We are born as a "newborn" in both. We are babes in Christ when we first accept Him and we have to grow up into a mature adult. This takes time and a desire to do so. I am sure you have observed some people who never grow up. You know what I am talking about. They are adults but maturity is definitely lacking. The same applies to us as we grow in Christ. There are some who were born of the Spirit 20 years ago and probably even know the scriptures. They may be an adult in their age in the Lord but to see how they act gives away their maturity level.

I want for all of you to understand that being "born again" is the beginning. It is a brand new start. The beginning of the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. There is much more life to live outside of infancy. We have the victory in all things in Christ in this life now and eternally.

Philippians 3 Amplified
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

11That if possible I may attain to the [[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.