Many people speak of being born again, referring to a decision to believe in God’s existence. What the scriptural authors refer to with the phrase is something that far exceeds a mere profession of belief in God’s existence. As James explained, the difference between a devil and a disciple of Christ is not belief in God’s existence, but in obedience to his word:
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2)
Many others believe that the process of being born again magically changes you from someone who desires to sin to someone who does not. In reality, as we will see, this is a reversal of cause and effect. It is the choice to not sin again that yields the result of being born again, not the reverse.
Unfortunately, few people at present have experienced the full meaning of being born again. Some have been taught what spiritual rebirth is and what it takes and have not experienced it simply because they are unwilling to do what is required to experience it, but most people have failed to experience it only because they have never been correctly taught what it means and what it takes.