Alma’s question (“Have ye spiritually been born of God?”) shows that all members of the church must have the born again experience, whether they were born into a church family or joined the Church later. He then asks four related questions that must have a positive answer for the original question to be answered affirmatively.
To have an image of Christ (v. 14) is to reflect his perfection. It is to acknowledge and emulate his divine attributes.
The Savior told Nicodemus that: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Then, in answer to how a man could be born again when he is old, he said: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:3–5). The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “It is one thing to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a change of heart to see the kingdom, and subscribe the articles of adoption to enter therein” (TPJS, 328). On an earlier occasion, the Prophet said, “Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances” (TPJS, 162).
To exercise faith in the redemption of Christ is to “bring forth works which are meet for repentance” (Alma 5:54). As taught by James in his New Testament epistle, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
Looking forward to standing before God at the judgement bar (Alma 5:15) may sound somewhat self-righteous. However, for a person to know that sins have been and will be forgiven, if he or she remains faithful, is to lose the fear of death. The Apostle Paul not only did not fear death but looked forward to it: “But if I live in the flesh, ye are the fruit of my labor. Yet what I shall choose I know not. For me to live is to do the will of Christ; and to die is my gain. Now I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (JST, Philippians 1:21–23; italics added). The Lord told Joseph Smith, the Prophet: “Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is bitter” (D&C 42:45–47). Therefore, those who are born of the water and of the Spirit may look forward to the eternal worlds and long to be there. In recounting his rebirth experience, Alma had such a longing: “Yea, me thought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there” (Alma 36:22; italics added).