How to be Born Again
Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious man, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3)
In this article, we will look at what it means to be born again, who Jesus Christ is, what he did on the cross, why it is good news for humanity, and why we all need a savior. Get a bible and prayerfully read the verses quoted in the article to see what Jesus did for you on the cross because of his great love.
Why do I need to be born again?
All men are sinners. We are all born with a sinful nature because we are descendants of the first humans, Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve listened to and obeyed Satan in the Garden of Eden. This act of rebellion and disobedience made us all sinners (Genesis 3). The Bible says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “None is righteous” (Romans 3:10). Sin separated us from God. And because God is a perfect and holy God who abhors sin, no man can fulfill his righteousness and perfect standards by his own effort.
God by his great mercy and love made a way for us to be reconciled back to him. That way is Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God who came on earth to die in our place. Those who do not accept Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation will be separated from God eternally. This is because they have rejected God’s gift of salvation for their sins.
God gives us the chance to turn to Jesus while we are alive. He does this by presenting opportunities for us to hear the good news of what Jesus did on the cross. If we reject him and die in our fallen state, we are eternally lost and perish in hell. This is what Jesus died to save us from (eternal separation from God). He made the way.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
Who is Jesus Christ and what did he do?
Jesus is the only begotten son of God (John 3:16) and is himself God (John 1:1). Jesus was God incarnate in the flesh. Born of a virgin mother and without a sinful nature, he lived a sinless life in the body. He then gave of himself out of love to die on the cross for his creation. Jesus bore the sins of the world upon himself as a sacrificial lamb. This was all according to God’s divine plan. Jesus thus became the perfect sacrifice and ransom for our sins. He is the only sacrifice for sins that is acceptable to God (Isaiah 53:6: I Peter 2:24).
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
And whoever believes in him and his sacrifice on the cross and repents of his sins receives eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
The Bible says that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus on the cross was accursed and forsaken of God (Galatians 3:13) and faced the wrath of God that was ours because of our sins (Isaiah 53:10). It was an exchange of love. What manner of love is this that Jesus would take our punishment though he did no wrong?
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
1 John 3:1
The Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ
The “good news” called the gospel is what Jesus accomplished on the cross. The justice of God (that he must punish sin and the soul that sins must die) was satisfied by Christ’s death. For all who believe in him As a result, salvation is now available (John 19:30). Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead was evidence of his power over sin and death. “He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:25).
The gospel is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for mankind’s sins, and his resurrection on the third day, becoming a ransom for our sins, and the door and hope of eternal life through faith in him. Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me“ (John 14:6)
“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
Jesus preached that we must repent (acknowledge that we are sinners, confess our sins, and turn from them) and believe in him. When we believe in him we become new creatures as His Spirit comes to live within us giving us a new righteous nature (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus will come back again one day
This present world has an expiration date. It has an end as all temporary things do. Jesus promised while he was on earth, that one day he would return. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3)
He will come back and every eye will see him, including those who have rejected him (Revelation 1:7). He will destroy his enemies and reign on earth for 1,000 years. And after that millennial reign, all that ever lived from Adam, great and small, dead and alive will stand before God in the great white throne judgment to give an account for their lives. (Read Revelation 20:11-15)
Those who rejected Jesus and lived in sin will receive the sentence of eternal damnation in the lake of fire. However, those who were true believers and disciples of Jesus will be ushered into joy and eternal life in the new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem is the city God has prepared for those who love him (Revelation 21:2-4). There will be no more death, sorrow, pain, tears, or sin for the former things will have passed away. This is the blessed hope of all Christians. This is what awaits those who trust in Jesu, for all eternity.
How to be born again or saved
1. Repent, Believe, and Confess
A man asked the Apostle Paul and Silas in the bible, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” Acts 16:30-31
Apostle Paul says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9-10
We are born again and saved from our sins when we genuinely believe (in our hearts) in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross for us, repent of our former way of life (acknowledge our sins, confess our sins, and turn away from them), and confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. If you truly believe in what Jesus accomplished for you on the cross, you receive his life in exchange for yours and eternal life. You will become God’s child.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
“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
The Bible says that all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior have their names written in the Book of Life in Heaven. This is one of the books that are opened when a soul dies and in the last judgment to grant them admission into heaven (Revelation 20:12,15)
Salvation Prayer
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, pray the following prayer or something similar using your own words. It is better when you call out to God in your own words from your heart. It is with the heart that we believe and by faith we are justified:
Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe you died for my sins so that I may have eternal life. Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I am a sinner, please forgive me of all my sins (you can mention them all by name one by one sincerely asking for forgiveness). Write my name in the Book of Life. Please keep me from falling, and preserve me until the end of my earthly life. Let me be with you forever. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may be empowered to live for you. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
2. Be Baptized in water
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
Another important component of salvation is baptism by immersion in water. Jesus taught that all who believed in him should be baptized (Matthew 28:19). In the book of Acts in the Bible, we see that all who got saved immediately got baptized by immersion in water. Baptism symbolizes our being buried in death with Jesus for the washing of sins. And also being resurrected together with him to newness of life (Colossians 2:12, Romans 6:4).
3. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
“Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Act 2: 38
It is also important to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit after salvation. This is a separate gift that comes to believers after salvation. The Holy Spirit is the helper and comforter who comes to live in every believer after salvation. He gives us the power to walk with God, obey Jesus, witness for Christ, and live a holy life. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us all things, guide us into all truth, and be our comforter because he is the Spirit of Truth. (John 14:15-17, John 14:25, John 16:5-15, John 16:13-15, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16). He also helps us pray (Romans 8:26). We cannot be children of God without the Holy Spirit.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14
When Jesus was ascending to heaven after his resurrection, he told his disciples, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Holy Spirit baptism in the early Church
On the day of Pentecost, while the disciples worshipped God and waited, as Jesus had instructed them, the Holy Spirit fell upon them and filled them, and they spoke with other tongues. (read Acts 2) After this, the apostles preached the gospel with power and authority that they did not have before. This was despite the immense persecution that followed them as they preached.
You can also read about how some early believers (Cornelius and his household) were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues (Acts 10:44-46 and Acts 11:15-16). In Acts 19:1-7 Paul asks a group of converts if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. This demonstrated that one can believe and not have the Holy Spirit. It is a separate baptism. Paul then proceeded to baptize them in water, laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. In every account in the Book of Acts, the converts spoke in tongues after baptism in the Holy Ghost.
We can receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by a servant of God, or by simply asking, God and believing. Jesus said that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. But you must be a child of God first by being born again. Cornelius and his family received the Holy Spirit as they listened with open hearts of faith to the preaching of Peter.
“So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking him!” Luke 11:13
Grow as a disciple of Jesus
The Bible says if you are saved you are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, your old nature is gone and you are born again. The Holy Spirit now lives in you and will empower you to live a godly life. However, nurturing your salvation by growing in your relationship with Jesus is important. Below are 3 basic things you need to do to grow in your faith:
1. Bible Reading
Grow in your relationship with Jesus by studying the Bible, which is the word of God, daily. Read it out loud if possible. Start with the Gospels to learn the recorded teachings of Jesus Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) as this will help you learn what Jesus taught about the kingdom of God and being his disciple. And then read the rest of the New Testament and Old Testament. God’s word helps us know his will for our lives. It also makes us spiritually strong and productive in our Christian walk.
2. Prayer
Pray daily and talk with Jesus as your friend and savior and you will learn to hear his voice and obey him. Remember Jesus lives inside you now and is with you always. The Holy Spirit will help you and teach you how to pray.
3. Fellowship
Pray to be led to a Bible-believing gathering of fellow believers you can fellowship with and grow with. This is important because you are now a member of the body of Christ and the family of God. “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Please also read the following additional articles on what it means to be born again:
If you would like more guidance on how to grow in your relationship with Jesus, feel free to contact me. Click here
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