Most of us know our physical birthday, not because we witnessed it, but because others witnessed it and recorded it. Our birth certificates record the year, the month, the day and the time of our physical birth.

In the same light, only God knows the exact time of our spiritual birth. I believe that the Book of Life in heaven will record the year, the month, the day, the hour, minute, and second of our spiritual birth, but even if it doesn’t, our all-knowing God is our witness.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

Being born again or born from above is a one time action in the past.* That one time action in the past is the moment that individuals by grace (God’s help and enabling) put our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, trusting in His merit alone as our only hope of salvation. Salvation is a gift which results in forgiveness and eternal life. Eternal life begins when we are born from above.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. I Peter 1:23

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (practice) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin (practice sin), because he is born of God. I John 3:9

Being born again means that we do not receive salvation in bits and pieces. When we are born from above, we are born into God’s family which is a one time action in the past. We become sons and daughters of God. Our adoption is complete and final. Being born again is not a process, it is a one time action in the past brought about by hearing the Word of God and submitting to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.

And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 1:2

Note: A rather large portion of professing Christianity believes that salvation comes as a result of participating in ordinances and sacraments of the church. These righteous works are said to impart Christ to the participant and are believed to be various means of grace. The Bible embraces only one means of grace which is faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Believers trust His merit alone as our only hope of salvation.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy (only given to the guilty) he saved us, by the washing (cleansing) of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified (acquitted) by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

Teaching and practicing multiple means of grace is the proverbial carrot before the horse. The participant is never able to come to assurance of salvation because his/her participation in the various means of grace ultimately decides who receives salvation, and who must continue to earn it through deeds of penance and time assigned in purgatory. This is works salvation.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

These things (the Scriptures) have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:13

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:8

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

*Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (practice) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot (practice) sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. I John 3:7-10