The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
—John 3:8

Being born again is an interesting subject, and there are many teachings and versions about it. Believers are often afraid that they haven’t been born again, or aren’t sure when they were born again, and repeat the prayer of repentance many times. I remember repeating it for a long time myself, just to be on the safe side. The fear comes from uncertainty about an accomplished fact, so people sometimes go to the other extreme: “all mankind has already been born again and just needs to realise it.” But fear is not overcome by theories of “absolutism”; only perfect [Christ’s] love casts out all fear. The expressions “Jesus saved everyone”, like “Jesus loves everyone”, only dilute His love instead of making it personal. “Jesus loves me” and “Jesus saved me” — that is how we receive His love.

So when and how is a person born again? Many think it happens when a person comes up to the front and says the prayer of repentance. First, there is no such prayer in the Word of God, and no one is born again through any kind of prayer. Let’s read: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” [Jhn.1:12-13] Notice: of God, not of a prayer and not of repentance. The truths of the Word of God are best understood by looking to Jesus Christ, because all truth is in Him. How was Jesus born? From above, of course, and of God, not of the will of man or the desire of the flesh. Mary asked the angel: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” [Luk.1:34-35]

That is how the new creation is born too: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you”, for it is created according to the image of Him who created it. [Col.3:10] See what Mary said afterwards: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” [Luk.1:38] In other words, the angel of the Lord preached the Good News to her, and then she said “Amen!” A person’s words are not the cause of being born again, but only the result of the faith given to him. Just as a child is born and then cries out, so the one being born again first believes and then speaks. [2 Cor.4:13] Paul writes to the Romans: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” [Rom.10:10] Notice that first one believes, and confession is only the result of faith.

Then how can I know that I am already saved? To the same Romans Paul writes: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [Rom.8:16] You see, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we have been born again. This is the so-called inner witness. A Christian may be asked: “How do you know you are saved? You haven’t even read the Bible.” And he answers: “I may not know verses from the Bible, but I know for sure that I am saved.” So if you have doubts about your salvation, you have the anointing within, the Holy Spirit, who will teach you all things and bear witness that you are children of God. And His witness is true. [1 Jhn.2:27]