Being born from above represents a profound spiritual transformation, as taught by Jesus Christ in John 3:3. It signifies a new beginning, a miraculous change engineered by God through His calling of a person. This concept is entirely spiritual, not physical, aligning with the nature of the New Covenant, which emphasizes spiritual elements over physical ones. Jesus proclaimed to Nicodemus that one must be born from above, indicating a heavenly origin for this transformation. It cannot be understood through physical analogies like begettal or womb-birth, as these break down and create misunderstanding. Instead, it must be seen as a spiritual reality, where converts are treated as fully grown adults in the faith, already part of God's family and His house, though not yet in its fullness. The effect of being born from above is invisible, much like the wind, but its fruits are evident in a person's life. A convert begins to see God with greater respect, to fear Him, to bow before His will, to seriously seek Him, and to obey Him. This transformation is evidenced by changed lives, as seen in the Corinthian congregation, where obedience, attitudes, and perspectives reflected a love for Christ, God's Word, one another, and even enemies. This change is a result of a significant spiritual intervention by God, initiated by His Spirit, giving life as described in II Corinthians 3:6. Being born from above is not a physical birth but a spiritual creation, a new person underway. It involves a circumcision of the heart, a completely spiritual operation affecting the mind, heart, attitude, perspective, and obedience. God speaks to His people as adult children capable of making choices through education in His Word and by the power of His Spirit. This places the responsibility for obedience directly on the individual, answerable to Christ as Savior and government, highlighting a personal and direct accountability to Him.

The concept of being 'Born from Above' is not a new idea, as it has roots in the Old Testament, contrary to what some might believe. Jesus expressed surprise that Nicodemus, a man of significant standing in the community, did not understand this teaching, which was already present in earlier scriptures. The term 'Born from Above' is preferred as it reflects the context of a significant spiritual change initiated by God in a person's life. This change parallels the dramatic shift experienced by the Israelites when they were freed from Egyptian slavery, moving from bondage to freedom in a single day, yet still facing the question of whether they would complete their journey. The process of being 'Born from Above' encompasses the entire spiritual journey, from the initial calling by God to the final transformation. It is synonymous with regeneration, a term that indicates a new birth or spiritual renewal, covering the whole period from beginning to end. This regeneration is not an instantaneous event but a continuous process of moral and spiritual reformation, adjusting one's vision and thinking to align with the mind of God, requiring a willing response from the believer. Upon repentance and conversion, individuals are considered by God as a brand new person, with a new heart, family, values, and possessions. The Bible consistently addresses believers as whole persons, already born, functioning in daily life, and not as embryos or fetuses. Immediately upon receiving the Holy Spirit from God, we are sons of God, not waiting for a birth, but already in that state, needing time to grow into the maturity He desires. Jesus, in teaching this concept, always used the male figure of the Father as the Creator, with no mention of a mother or womb, emphasizing that the spiritual birth is directly from God. We are not in the womb of the church; we are the church, an assembly of people, not a building. Furthermore, we are already in the Kingdom of God upon receiving God's Holy Spirit, seen as citizens and full functioning adults in His eyes, not requiring another birth but awaiting a transformation from physical to spiritual glory.

Only born-again persons will be in God's Kingdom; in terms of salvation, it is an absolute necessity to have occurred. Understanding the born-again doctrine clearly is helpful for fully appreciating what an awesome, divinely given gift we have received. It helps to establish more firmly our conversion and our faith in God. This doctrine fleshes out how we come to know God, how God perceives us, and therefore how we should perceive ourselves following our conversion. It clarifies how we should perceive our responsibilities before God after we have been set free from our bondage to satan, sin, and death. Being born again is entirely a spiritual matter, and following this event, an entirely new chapter of life opens before us. This new chapter emphasizes being spiritually minded, growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, and maturing to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In the biblical context, the question arises whether the better analogy is begotten again or born again. Does God perceive us as conceived by His Holy Spirit but unborn, growing but still in the womb of a mother? Or does God perceive us, after receiving His Holy Spirit and despite being young in the faith, as fully functioning adults? A person becomes part of the Kingdom of God by being born again, and those who are born again become sons of God. God's Kingdom, as presently configured, consists of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and all the children of God who have entered the Family of God by means of God's calling, being born again, and receiving God's Holy Spirit. God considers these sons as in Christ, and surely, Jesus Christ is in the Kingdom of God. The Scriptures clearly show that God perceives us, those having His Spirit, who are thus His children, as already part of His Kingdom. Scripture states that we are in Christ, and because we are perceived by God as in Him, we are in His Kingdom too. We have already been conveyed, translated, or transferred into His beloved Son's Kingdom. Our citizenship is already registered in heaven, the headquarters of the Kingdom of God. Nations register children after they are born, not while still in the womb.

The concept of being born from above, as distinct from a physical birth process, is central to understanding how God perceives His children. It is clear that the truth regarding whether God intends us to understand being born again or born from above cannot be determined solely from the definition of gennao or entirely from John 3. We must look at the whole picture, adding depth to our initial understanding as more is revealed. God addresses His children not as fetuses in a womb, but as adult sons and daughters, reflecting a supernatural, spiritual birth initiated and driven by Him. Scripture reveals that God calls things that do not exist as though they did, speaking of realities in His mind as if they are already accomplished. This technical use of language shows that being born from above is not a natural process like physical birth, but a divine intervention, described as a new creation in II Corinthians 5:17. Spirit beings are not born through natural means; they are created by God Himself. Each of us, through divine intervention, is called into God's family, becoming part of a new race of spirit sons, far above angels, destined to be God-beings as He is. Jesus rejected Nicodemus' physically-oriented reply to the statement, "You must be born again," because Nicodemus interpreted gennao as a birth, a new beginning, rather than a mere begettal. This spiritual birth is the official beginning, marked by receiving the Holy Spirit, transforming the mind and heart to think and judge from God's perspective with a caring concern never before possessed. It is a spiritual circumcision, prophesied earlier, making one a participant in the New Covenant, entirely immaterial and invisible, taking place in the mind without any physical component. The Bible consistently speaks of us as adult members of God's family, fully capable of judgment and making choices as disciples of Jesus Christ. A fetus, by analogy, cannot walk, listen to instruction, obey commandments, or fulfill the numerous responsibilities God commands, such as walking in love, being humble, kind, merciful, hungering for righteousness, or working out salvation. God's perception of us as co-workers, as stated in II Corinthians 6:1, does not align with the analogy of a fetus, which cannot co-work or act independently. Being born from above occurs at the moment of receiving God's Spirit, instantly making us fully-functioning adult sons of God, as Jesus was a fully-functioning Son of God, ready to take on responsibilities and begin preparations for what God is working out. Scriptures like Matthew 11:25-26 and Luke 10:21 refer to us as babes, not fetuses, indicating we are already born, though immature, as seen in I Corinthians 3:1-2 and Hebrews 5:11-14. These passages describe converted sons of God who are fully functioning, yet in need of growth. God looks upon us as already born, adopted into His Family Kingdom, a spiritual reality that defines how He perceives us. This adoption, akin to Roman practices of adopting already-grown individuals, signifies a complete legal transfer into God's family, with no blood connection, severing ties to our former family under satan. We are now free to exercise our will and judgment in alignment with God's will, bearing the name of the God family and calling Him "Abba, Father" with a warm family connection as His own children. Being born again and in His Family Kingdom does not excuse us from the trials of sanctification, the process devoted to growth toward godly purity and holiness. Obedience to God's commands during sanctification transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ, ingraining His way into our character. As already born children, we must yield to God's commands, grow in grace and knowledge, and come out of the world to be prepared for when His Kingdom comes in its fullness.