Victor R. Claveau, MJ
For the Protestant fundamentalist being “born anew” means to be “born again.” The term “born again” has come to mean the making of a verbal declaration accepting Jesus as “personal Lord and Savior.” In order to be “born again” one must have a change of heart, a change of conscience. It’s more than just a feeling; it must mean the death of the old sinful nature, and put on the cloak of righteousness. One must become dead to sin and the devil, and become new and alive to preach the Gospel.
While such change in an individual is most desirable and commendable, it is not the actual meaning of this Scriptural passage. There is absolutely no proof that the phrase “born anew,” as understood by the followers of Jesus, has anything to do with “accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.” Certainly, every Christian must be in total submission to Jesus as Lord, but the historical references indicate that this Jesus was speaking about “baptismal regeneration.”
Accepting Jesus as “Lord and Savior” does not guarantee that we will be more Christ-like. Neither does saying, “Lord, Lord” assure anyone a place in the Kingdom of God. Doing the will of the Father is a much stronger indication. We need the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism in order to live holy lives.
Baptism is not an act of willful accomplishment that has us “accept Christ” and boast that one is “born again.” Baptism is the incorporation into the Body of Christ.
Today, John 3:5, is one of the most misunderstood passages of the New Testament, but it was not always so. Every Bible commentary written prior to the Protestant Revolt of the sixteenth century understood John 3:5 as referring to the Sacrament of Baptism. The early Fathers of the Church are unanimous on this point. There can be little doubt that the Christian readers of John, during the first fifteen centuries, would have interpreted v. 5, “born of water and the Spirit,” as a reference to Baptism.
It is through Baptism that regeneration takes place; hence Paul calls this Sacrament “the bath of regeneration” (Tit. 3:5). It is the love of God for us that has made this rebirth possible (James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:3-4), but on the part of man faith plays an important role (John 1:12.13; 1 John 5:1). Those reborn must lead new lives, the life of Christ (Rom. 6-7; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9).