John 3:5
Jesus answered (Nicodemus), "Amen, amen, I say to
you,
no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born
of water and Spirit."
Catholic Christians believe that
they are first born again
of water and the Holy Spirit
when they receive the sacrament
of Baptism. Catholic Christians
also believe that Baptism only
begins the work of mission of
the Holy Spirit in the life of the
believer.
The person who is truly
"born again" and "Spirit-filled" is not
necessarily the one who has had
an extraordinary experience
of the Holy Spirit at some point
(though this is a blessing), but
the person who lives and
"walks" with the Holy Spirit; who has
put to death the "works of
the flesh" and manifests the "fruits
of the Spirit." This is
what it means to be a "new creation" in
Christ Jesus - "the old
things have passed away; behold,
new things have come" (2
Corinthians 5:17)