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Spiritually, it means that God brings a person to new life (that they are "born again") from a previous state of separation from God and subjection to the decay of death (Ephesians 2:5). [1] [2] Thus, in Lutheran and Roman Catholic theology, it generally means that which takes place during baptism.
One of the earliest of the Church Fathers to enunciate clearly and unambiguously the doctrine of baptismal regeneration ("the idea that salvation happens at and by water baptism duly administered") was Cyprian (c. 200 – 258): "While he attributed all the saving energy to the grace of God, he considered the 'laver of saving water' the instrument of God that makes a person '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.
Born-Again Christianity – A "spiritual rebirth" or a regeneration of the human spirit particularly in Evangelical Christianity. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by baptism in the Holy Spirit as it is not caused by baptism in water.
Monergism is the view in Christian theology which holds that the Holy Spirit is the only agent that effects the regeneration of Christians.It is contrasted with synergism; the view that there is a cooperation between the divine and the human in the regeneration process.
According to Pentecostal biblical interpretation, the Gospel of John 20:22 shows that the disciples of Jesus were already born again before the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost. They then cite biblical examples in the Book of Acts 2, 8, 10, and 19 to show that it was common in the New Testament for Spirit baptism to occur after conversion.
In Reformed sacramental theology, the sign (in the case of baptism the external washing with water) may be described in terms of the thing signified (regeneration, remission of sin, etc.), because of the close connection between them. For example, baptism may be said to save, and baptism is often called the "laver of regeneration".
The Catholic Church upholds the doctrine of sanctification, teaching that: [4] Sanctifying grace is that grace which confers on our souls a new life, that is, sharing in the life of God. Our reconciliation with God, which the redemption of Christ has merited for us, finds its accomplishments in sanctifying grace.