Are Catholics born again

Answer 1

One must be careful to distinguish the Catholic meaning of the "born-again" experience from the Protestant understanding of it.

Catholics believe that they are "born-again" when they are baptized, and that they receive the Holy Spirit again in a special way when they are confirmed.

Catholics also know that they have been redeemed by Christ, must work out their salvation in fear and trembling, and endure till the end.

So, if a Catholic abandons his Faith then, yes, he can become (what he already is) a Born-Again and lose what the Catholic Church has. Basically, the Faith which is in line with what Christ taught, which has been carried down to us through Tradition and clarified through The Magisterium.

Answer 2

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Roman Catholic Answer.

This is a difficult question for people to understand for the simple reason that some protestants think that "born again" means something else. Of course, Catholics (who are the original and only full Christians) are born again according to Jesus' definition in the Scriptures and in the Church: they are born again in Baptism. God created man as both body and spirit, and He comes to man and save him both through matter and the spirit. The way He set salvation up was that it all starts with Baptism, that is what Jesus is talking about when He says "born again". They are NOT "born again" as defined by some protestant sects.

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An awful lot of confusion comes from St. John's Gospel 3:5 when Jesus says "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This verse, as Dave Armstrong points out, in his book The Catholic Verses is NOT self-interpreting, all Christians up until the protestant revolt understood this as Baptism, especially as the original Greek in verse 3:3, when it says "must be born again" is using a word which is better translated "born from above". If you compare the texts of John 3:5 with Titus 3:5, and even with 1 Corinthians 6:11, you will see the parallels and realize that the water is interpreted as "washing", all of these elements are in all three verses: washed, sanctified, and justified. Thus, as baptism is, in St. Peter's analogy comparable to Noah's Arc, were the eight persons were saved through water, the water of the flood symbolized baptism that now saves you also, spiritually, from sin. So to see the complete parallelism in The Bible, look at Acts 22:16 and 1 Peter 3:21.

Answer 3

Being born again refers to ones spirit, being born of the spirit, accepting and declaring before man that he is our Lord Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. That we give our lives to him to follow his foot steps, serve him and comply with his commandments.

The Bible which is the last authority in this matter states:

John 3:3 "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God"

Mathew 10:32-33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him I will confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33: But whosoever therefore shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Roman Catholic AnswerAlthough I can not answer for the answer above, it sounds like a protestant interpretation, particulary as the Bible is not the last authority, that would be God. The verse in question, John 3:3, the Greek can mean either "again" or "from above". Nicodemus takes it to mean "again, as though Jesus required a physical rebirth. This is a misunderstanding, and Jesus corrects him. (from Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, New Testament, second Catholic edition RSV) See also the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 526. The Greek expression always means "from above" elsewhere in John (see John 3:31, and John 19:11, 23). So, to answer your question, Catholics indeed believe that they must be born from above by water and the Spirit (which is Baptism); Catholics most definitely do not believe in modern evangelicals' spin on this verse.

Answer 4

I don't understand the question because Catholicism is a form of Christianity.

(Catholic note: Catholicism is NOT a "form of Christianity" Catholicism IS Christianity. As answered below, Catholics are "born again" by Jesus' definition; but if you are using the term to refer to a non-Catholic religion, then, obviously, they are not.)

RE I am Catholic. My best friend from high school is "born-again" Christian. Throughout our friendship she has perpetually implied that I am not saved. Yesterday she offended me by asking if I raised my children to be Catholic. I am not a great debater. I know what I believe in my heart. I just need to know how to handle her insinuations more clearly. I truly appreciate you your response.

Another Answer:

My Take It has been my experience that "Born again" Christians are following a basic fundamentalist view of religion.

Being a "practicing" Catholic automatically excludes you from this group as they are following a different religious path.

Born again usually means that you have turned away from what ever church you have been a part of in the past and rededicated your life in the way this "Born Again" church feels is correct.

The real messed up part is that even though Born Again churches try to present a united front, each church will have its own take on things.

As I have been through the "Born Again" church and have many Catholic friends My best advice is to back your fiend in a corner and explain that your beliefs are to you as valid as hers are to her and if she attempts to push you from your church she is just pushing you away.

Read more: (link below) That's a shame. True Christians don't sensor or try to change in anyway some elses belief by telling them they are not saved, the fact is God himself said there is a number saved which no man can count. this means no one knows who is saved and who isn't, salvation is of the lord lest any man shall boast. So don't listen to her you just read your bible and pray for her even if she doesnt want your prayers. I hope this helps you. Roman Catholic Answer Yes, tell her that Catholics are "Born again" as commanded by Christ" "Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Catholics are born again at their Baptism, to which this verse is referring. "The term is used in Catholic theology to describe the spiritual change worked by divine grace, by which a person, from having been conceived and born in sin, is regenerated into a new creature, a child of God and heir of heaven." from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

As for your friend impling that you are not saved. This answer is from Jim Blackburn on the website "Catholic Answers"

This question is answered in our tract Assurance of Salvation? , which suggests the following reply: As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5-8), but I'm also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9-10, 1 Cor. 3:12-15). Like the Apostle Paul, I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11-13.

A further reflection on the previous answers: First, we should do our best to NOT get offended when someone insinuates/states/questions or otherwise that we are not saved. It simply speaks of an ignorance (not an insult here) someone has of what we believe. We've got to receive that criticism with the love of Christ, realizing it's not a condemnation on us but it reveals that the other person doesn't know the teaching of the Catholic Church. We, of opposing theology, speak to one another with the purest intention of love, desiring salvation for each other. Many Born Again Christians are taught that Catholics aren't saved because the process for a Catholic is theologically different. There are really good reasons for that. The problem is wehaven't studied enough to know how to answer. It should challenge us to search for the teaching to grow ourselves; we'll get much further when we REALLY learn our own faith, and share with open and loving hearts. Too many Catholics don't know what the Church teaches. Just because one is raised in a church doesn't make them knowledgeable about it's depth of teaching. Sitting in a church pew doesn't cut it; studying the Word of God and the teaching of the Church with a desire to learn (as opposed to 'I went to Catholic schools for 12 years' - didn't mean you paid attention in class or wanted to learn what was taught - it does not make you an authority on Church teaching) but digging in to history, asking why the Church claims authority and what Christ left us with is necessary for true understanding. It can be hard work but it's worth it and there are SO MANY resources available to us now, it's amazing and exciting! If we discuss a subject, and it's good to do so if it can be done without anger, we'll both learn a lot. The process should be sharing what we believe and truly listening to the other share what they believe. That's love. We should be looking for truth rather than just trying to change each other's minds. Take notes and information from the other and try to understand it for yourself, not to come back and blast the other but so you know what they believe. That's education. I grew up with an impression of what the Church taught, opinions from people that rejected it, examples of Catholics that weren't living their faith but not with actual teaching. Too many Catholics don't know what the Church teaches. If they did, most wouldn't leave. I learned actual teaching and I couldn't stay away. Be blessed with questions! Look up Catholic.com - many free resources downloadable and a forum for questions, Augustine Institute - especially Symbolon, The Catechism of the Catholic Church - free online - and begin to enjoy the ACTUAL teachings of the Catholic Church!

Answer 5

Yes, Catholic believe that "unless you are born again of the water and the Spirit you can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

Answer 6

A Catholic is baptised once.