Yes. Every true Christian is born again, because Jesus said no one can see the kingdom of God without it (John 3:3). Presbyterians teach that the new birth is God’s work in us by the Holy Spirit, that we receive it through faith in Christ, and that it shows in a changed life. It is not earned, and it is not a label reserved for one kind of church.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
— John 3:3
“Are you born again?” In Kenya the question is often asked as if some churches are born again and others are not. So where do Presbyterians stand? The short answer is that being born again is not a style of church. It is what happens to every person who truly belongs to Jesus.
What Jesus Meant by “Born Again”
Nicodemus, a respected teacher of the law, came to Jesus at night. Jesus told him, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3). Nicodemus was confused: surely a grown man cannot re-enter his mother’s womb? Jesus explained that he meant a birth “of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), a new spiritual life that only God can give.
Who Does the Work? God Does
The Bible is clear that nobody gives birth to themselves. John says believers are children of God, “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13). Jesus compares the Spirit to the wind: you cannot control it, but you can see what it does (John 3:8).
This is why Reformed churches, including the PCEA, speak of regeneration. It is the Holy Spirit giving new life to a heart that was spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:4-5). God promised it long ago: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26).
How Do We Receive It?
Through faith in Jesus Christ. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Presbyterians hold that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Repentance and faith are the believer’s response to what the Spirit has already begun.
Is Baptism the Same as the New Birth?
No, and Presbyterians are careful here. Baptism is a sign and seal of God’s promise, and the PCEA baptizes believers and their children (see our article on infant baptism). But the water itself does not save. What matters is that the person baptized, or the child once grown, comes to trust Christ personally and lives by that faith. A child baptized as a baby still needs to be born again, as does an adult baptized last year.
Equally, nobody is born again merely by being born into a church family or by carrying a membership card.
What Does a Born-Again Life Look Like?
- Trust in Christ alone for forgiveness, not in your own goodness (Romans 5:1).
- New desires. You begin to love what God loves and to hate sin (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- Love for other believers (1 John 3:14).
- Fruit over time: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (Galatians 5:22-23). It grows, and some seasons are slower than others.
You do not need a dramatic story with a date and time. Some people can name the day they believed; others grew up trusting Christ and cannot. Both are born again if they now trust him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Presbyterians born again?
Yes, if they trust Christ. The new birth is for every Christian in every church; it is not a mark of one denomination.
Do I need to be born again to be saved?
Jesus said so in John 3:3. Being born again and being saved describe the same new life God gives through faith in Christ.
Can a baptized baby be born again?
God can work in a person at any age. Baptism does not guarantee the new birth, so each person must come to personal faith.
How can I know I am born again?
Look for trust in Christ, a desire to obey him, love for others and growth over time. If you are unsure, talk to a pastor or elder.
Final Thoughts
The question is not which church label you wear but whether you have been made new by Jesus. If you have, give thanks. If you are not sure, you can bring that question to him today and to a pastor or elder this week.
General doctrinal content (John 1, 3; Ezekiel 36; Romans 5; 2 Corinthians 5; Galatians 5; Ephesians 2; 1 John 3). Checked against the PCEA doctrine standard (salvation by grace alone through faith alone; baptism as sign and seal, infant baptism retained). Compiled by the Editorial Desk.