[Peter Wilson]

What did Jesus mean when He said in John 3 -

3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What are the signs and how do you know for sure, that you have been "Born again"?

Peace.

[Tj3]

What did Jesus mean when He said in John 3 -

3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What are the signs and how do you know for sure, that you have been "Born again"?

Peace.

Water is used in scripture to refer to the flesh or body which is. In fact, mostly made up of water. Jesus speaks of this inm that passage when he equates water to the flesh:

John 3:4-7
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
NKJV

Being born of the Spirit is when we are born again, and the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit, having a Spiritual rebirth by receiving Christ as Saviour and having the Holy Spirit indwells you. Having been born again means that your sins have been wahsed away by the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Anyone with sin cannot enter the Kingdom of God, thus you must first be born again.

[Choux]

This is the center of the meaning of Christianity, and is often misunderstood.

It means that an individual must incorporate the loving teachings of Jesus and discard old misery generating materialistic ways so they can enter the Kingdom of God Within, and the Kingdom of God on Earth.

It is about an inner transformation of an individual... being born again of one's mind and spirit.

[Galveston1]

I think this answers the last sentence in the original post.

Rom 10:8-11
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(KJV)

[revdrgade]

The simple, but rather cryptic answer is that: you will be able to see the kingdom of God.

But that begs the question, "What does it mean to see the kingdom of God?"

Both questions have to do with almost purely spiritual matters that can only be discerned spiritually. Probably the clearest explanation is in the following:

1 Cor 2:10-16

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:

16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?"

But we have the mind of Christ.
NIV

When Adam and Eve accepted the "serpents" word and ate from the forbidden tree, they "died". But what died immediately was not their body but the spirit of God within them. When one is "born again" they receive spiritual life again and once again have a true relationship with God and not just a knowledge of Him.

The "signs" you ask for include a desire to have God as your lord and king, to seek Him and His grace and power, and the desire to serve Him out of love for His goodness and favor towards man.

Jesus pointed out that not all those who call themselves His disciples ARE His disciples.

Luke 6:46-49

46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord ,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
NIV

The best signs that we ARE His disciples are doing the works of love for others. The power of God to do good works is given by God; it is our selfish will which can keep us from maturing enough to have confidence that we really are born again.

1 John 3:16-4:1

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts , and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
NIV

[cogs]

Having been born again means that your sins have been wahsed away by the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Anyone with sin cannot enter the Kingdom of God, thus you must first be born again.

I think 'born again' can only come from repentance. Not just believing the sacrifice of jesus, cause even the devil believes it. And if you think you're without sin, is it because you believe? Or has sin actually stopped in your life? Don't you still need to repent?

The power of God to do good works is given by God; it is our selfish will which can keep us from maturing enough to have confidence that we really are born again.

1 John 3:16-4:1

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts , and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
NIV

god's commands are from his spirit to our heart and mind. If we don't follow them, we remain in our sin, unrepentant. Are we born again just because we believe in his sacrifice? How, if we remain unrepentant? And, and, how will we know god's commands, unless he tells us? Should we read the bible and try to guess? I did this for years, getting nowhere, cause of course I wasn't murdering or stealing. But I wasn't born again. When I started to listen to god, and trying to understand where he needed me to repent, then I could say that I might have a chance of being reborn, because I would be changing and maturing on a spiritual level. By the way, the devil and unrepentant will never try to go through this process. But they might believe jesus died on the cross.

[Tj3]

I think 'born again' can only come from repentance. Not just believing the sacrifice of jesus, cause even the devil believes it. And if you think you're without sin, is it because you believe? Or has sin actually stopped in your life? Don't you still need to repent?

I did not use the word believe. I said that it was receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour, and all that entails.

god's commands are from his spirit to our heart and mind. If we don't follow them, we remain in our sin, unrepentant. Are we born again just because we believe in his sacrifice?

Do you believe that obedience to the law is essential for salvation?

[cogs]

I did not use the word believe. I said that it was receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour, and all that entails.
...Do you believe that obedience to the law is essential for salvation?

Receiving jesus christ... I don't believe receiving is being born again. As far as obedience to the law: first I'd ask, what is the 'law'; and second, are we able to keep the 'law'? People would say that jesus did away with the law, but jesus said he came to fulfil the law. 2 meanings could come from this: one, that he actually did the law in the flesh (wonder how?), and two, that his work is still being done in us, as far as the law goes, fulfilling old testament prophecy, even continuously, as:
Eze 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Eze 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Why are christians still sinning? Surely as soon as you accept christ, your sins never reappear... or is it probable that we're unable to keep the 'law' and 'statutes... and... ordinances'. So 'essential to salvation', sure, as long as you're able to keep them. But if you can't, then what? Jesus paid for sins. Okay. Will we ever on earth, be able to keep statutes, law, and ordinances? How did jesus do it?

[Tj3]

receiving jesus christ... I don't believe receiving is being born again.

So you separate salvation from being born again? Is this what you are saying?

as far as obedience to the law: first I'd ask, what is the 'law';

If you are saying obedience to the law is a requirement for salvation, then why don't you tell us which law you mean.

and second, are we able to keep the 'law'?

My position based upon scripture is no. That is why when we re receive Jesus as Saviour, we also receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who guides and strengthens us. If we could, we could be saved under the law. Thus my original question to you.

[cogs]

So you separate salvation from being born again? Is this what you are saying?

(I'm so glad you're staying with me) yes, because what you are calling 'salvation' is not the same as jesus' atonement on the cross.
what are we saved from? Is it the law? Jesus paid the price. So yes, he saved us from the law.

If you are saying obedience to the law is a requirement for salvation, then why don't you tell us which law you mean.

lol, I was asking you the same question, what is the law? The reason I ask, is that we would have to know what it was, in order to keep it. But, since jesus paid the price of whatever the law is, then we don't have to pay that price. But, that only means we have salvation from the ultimate death that the law requires. But I don't believe we're born again because we believe this, or accept it, or embrace it. Then we'd only be saying, 'yay, way to go, jesus. Great job'(without the following):...

My position based upon scripture is no. That is why when we re receive Jesus as Saviour, we also receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who guides and strengthens us. If we could, we could be saved under the law. Thus my original question to you.

... cont. we're on the same page, because the holy spirit is what jesus knew we would need to begin the process of purity that would ultimately lead us to the kingdom of heaven, where we would find salvation. This process begins with the seed of the holy spirit in us. That is what makes us born again, because we have to respond by repentance of whatever sin god shows us, that's in our heart. This is the beginning, or birth, of our maturity. We cannot go to 'heaven' without this process, that's why I say that even though jesus saved us from the law, he didn't save us from this process of rebirth. I know the question becomes, 'so even though jesus died for our sins, we aren't going to heaven'? No, not if you skip through life without coming to god, and repenting of what he shows you to be sin. 'what happens if I sin, do I go to 'hell''? No, that's where jesus' atonement enters (thank god). We don't have to pay the wage of sin, we can continue to get purified by god.

[Tj3]

(I'm so glad you're staying with me) yes, because what you are calling 'salvation' is not the same as jesus' atonement on the cross.

Really? Please explain and provide scriptural justification for your claim.

what are we saved from? Is it the law? Jesus paid the price. So yes, he saved us from the law.

The Apostle Paul disagrees.

Gal 3:24-25
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
NKJV

The law was to point us to Christ, showing us our sin. Jesus saved us from our sins through the blood shed on the cross.

Rev 1:5-6
Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
NKJV

Do you mind if I ask what church denomination you attend?

[cogs]

Salvation means simply saved. Yes, jesus saved us from the wages of sin. This is what I was trying to say. However, jesus did not save us from our own sin. We still sin. So although the ultimate payment for our sins was paid by jesus' atonement, his work continues through the holy spirit, in us. We still sin. We cannot avoid sin, unless, and until, we allow the holy spirit to speak god's word to us (not scripture reading), and show us where to change. This is the beginning of our birth toward maturity, where we will have salvation from sin. This step is crucial, and even though jesus did his work, this work must continue in us.

[cogs]

I don't attend a church. However, every day, I am in a class that teaches me how to follow god's word. This is only because god is living, and not
In any building.

[Tj3]

salvation means simply saved. Yes, jesus saved us from the wages of sin. This is what I was trying to say. However, jesus did not save us from our own sin.

Scripture disagrees

1 John 1:9-10
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
NKJV

we still sin. So although the ultimate payment for our sins was paid by jesus' atonement, his work continues through the holy spirit, in us. We still sin.

Yes, that is true, but Jesus' sacrifice still paid the price for all of our sin, all of our unrighteousness.

even though jesus did his work, this work must continue in us.

The continuing work is called sanctification.

[Tj3]

i don't attend a church. however, every day, i am in a class that teaches me how to follow god's word. this is only because god is living, and not
in any building.

You don't have to answer, but I would be interested in knowing who (organization/group, not individual) puts on this class. If you do not wish to post publicly, I would appreciate it if you PM it to me.

[cogs]

He's faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse, but this cleaning, or sanctification takes time. If we sin, yes, he's already forgiven us, but that doesn't mean we don't sin. Jesus' death did not stop us from sinning.
If someone wants to call purification sanctification, they can call it whatever they like. But to skip this process will not get you into heaven.
Mat 7:21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[cogs]

Lol... I was saying that in life, everyday, god is the one who holds this class, in our hearts and minds, through the holy spirit.

[Tj3]

if someone wants to call purification sanctification, they can call it whatever they like. but to skip this process will not get you into heaven.

It is sin which keeps us from heaven, and that price was paid.

[cogs]

how will you stop sinning? Will you go to heaven by sinning? Who tells you what sin you're committing? Why do you need transformation, or rebirth? Can't you go to heaven dirty, sinful, unclean?

[Tj3]

lol... i was saying that in life, everyday, god is the one who holds this class, in our hearts and minds, through the holy spirit.

Heb 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
NKJV