Born Again

Born Again is a phrase given in the Bible to denote a requirement every person need to meet in order to become a follower of Christ.  It is not an option, but it is a requirement.  Once a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus and highly commented about the miracles that Jesus was performing and said Jesus’s could not have done those miracles if God was not with him.  In reply Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  Nicodemus could not understand this principle of being born again.  So he asked Jesus How can a man be born when he is old?".  Jesus explained to him what does it mean to be born again.  Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

 The above passage makes couple of things very clear.  NO ONE (poor or rich, educated or uneducated, black or white, man or woman) can see the kingdom of God UNLESS he is BORN AGAIN.  It makes it very clear and every person who wish to see the kingdom of God MUST be born again. 

 Many of us have an impression that going to church regularly, being part of a Christian parents, not having any bad habits etc will make us eligible for the kingdom of God.  These are all things that you will find in a true born again person, but none of them can substitute the process of being born again.  Following are some scriptures about the importance of being born again and the need for it.  Hope the Sprit of God will convince you through His scriptures.

 Is it possible to be born again without Jesus Christ?

No. Salvation is through a Saviour, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:21 - She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I John 5:11-13 - And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Is it for every person?

Yes, "whosoever will."

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:13 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

Why is it necessary to be born again and thereby receive salvation?

a. Because you have sinned.

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

1 John 1:10 - If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Isaiah 53:6 - We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

b. Because of your lost and fallen condition:

(1) Your sins have separated you from God.

Isaiah 59:1, 2 - Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. 

(2) Mankind is depraved and inclined towards sin.

Genesys 6:5, 6 - The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.  The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 

Psalm 53:2, 3 - God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Isaiah 64:6 - All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

(3) To be free from the penalty of your sin.

Romans 2:11-13 - For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(4) You are spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:1 - As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins

I John 5:12 - He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

How can a person be born again?

I. God's Part.

(1) Jesus Christ died in your place and for your sins so that you can be forgiven and receive that new life.

1 Corinthians 15:3 -  … Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures

Isaiah 53:5, 6 - he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Hebrews 2:9 - But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit

Hebrews 9:28 - so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

I Pet. 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Rom. 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(2) Forgive sins.

Hebrews 10:16, 17 - "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."  Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 

I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 55:7 - Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Isaiah 43:25 - "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

Isaiah 44:22 - I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

Isaiah 1:18 - "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

(3) Give Spiritual Life.

I John 5:11 - And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

I John 5:13 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

II. Your Part.

(1) Choose to be. Choose the way of Jesus instead of the way of Satan; choose to call on the Lord for salvation. Choose whom you will serve.

Josh. 24:15 - But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Rom. 10:13 - for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

(2) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Absolute trust.

John 3:16-18 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 8:24 - I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

I John 5:10 - Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

(3) Receive Him.

            John 1:12 - Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave            the right to become children of God

(4) Repent. (Be sorry for your sins - confess them - leave them.)

            Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that            times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

            Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name  of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy       Spirit.

            Luke 13:5 – I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

(5) Confess Christ openly.

Rom. 10:9, 10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

(6) Be Baptized.

            Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy       Spirit.

            Mark 16:15 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

            Matt. 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the   name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

If God has spoken to you and if you would like to accept Jesus’s invitation to be part of the Kingdom of God, please say the following prayer.  This is only a guide line for you to pray.  It is not the words that does the miracle, but it is the true heart-felt prayer that will change your life.  God does not look at your actions, but your heart.  So sincerely pray the following prayer and rest be assured that Jesus will accept you into His kingdom.

Jesus,  I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.  Amen

Now it is essential to lead a Christian life according to the commandments in the Bible.  Please get involved with a good church where they teach the truths of the Bible.  Pray everyday for God’s guidance in your life.  Stay away from sin.  Win people for Christ. 

May God Bless you.