True Salvation Is Being Born Again (Born of God)
True Salvation Is Not Repeating a Prayer but Repenting, and Being Born Again of God/from Above.
Genuine salvation is to be born AGAIN. Just as in the natural birth process, spiritual rebirth is painful. The man or woman is being BORN again of God. It is a painful experience when one is confronted with their sin. When the baby leaves the birth canal of its mother, the baby cries from the shock of the new environment. There is a pain as the baby leaves the comfort it was used to for the new life. It is the same for anyone who has experienced genuine salvation and rebirth.
As the sinner is confronted with the depth of their sin when the Holy Spirit convicts them, there is pain. There is the pain of knowing they have offended God and the pain of finally seeing their true nature as depraved sinners. This pain pushes the new convert to cry out for mercy: “Lord save me!” The sinner repents and regrets their sins, asks for mercy, and makes a decision to believe and follow Christ the Savior. That is true salvation. As the sinner cries out for mercy and believes in the Lord Jesus as salvation, they are pushed out of God’s birth canal and birthed anew.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, 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?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:3-6
“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.” John 1:12-13
Any conversion experience that has no conviction of sin and no true repentance is not a conversion. Repeating a prayer after someone is not repentance. Yes, sometimes it may begin there depending on where they hear the gospel, but there must still be a personal conviction of sin and repentance that happens; otherwise, the person is not born again. Most conversions are not genuine, and that’s why those people do not produce fruit in keeping with repentance but only become religious.
If one claims to have been saved but never felt sorrow for their personal sin and repented, it is possible they only believed in religion and a false Jesus and not the Savior. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. Joining a church or doing religious activities is not salvation. To be saved is to be rescued from sin just like a drowning man is rescued from the sea; the person must cry out for mercy from the depths of the heart.
Once this person has repented, they leave everything of their old life and follow Christ. The old man is dead, and the new life begins.
We see these examples in scripture as well. Here are a few conversion experiences from those who encountered Jesus or heard the gospel from the Apostles:
1. Apostle Peter:
“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”… And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” Luke 5:8, 10, 11
2. The Tax Collector:
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:13-14
3. The First Converts on the Day of Pentecost (5,000 Souls):
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:37-38
4. Apostle Paul:
“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6
5. The Philippian Jailer:
“Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.” Acts 16:29-33
6. The Corinthian Converts
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
7. The Thessalonian Converts
“Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10
8. Cornelius and Family:
“So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God…While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” Acts 10:33, 44
Are you born again? Have you repented and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ?
I would like to invite you to read the following passages and see how the Disciples of Jesus Christ presented the gospel message in the book of Acts. Is this what you have believed? If you believe what they preached, do what they commanded: repent, believe in the Lord Jesus for the remission/forgiveness of your sins, and be baptized.
- Acts 2:14-40, Peter Preaching at Pentecost
- Acts 3:11-26, Peter in Jerusalem
- Acts 4:5-12, Peter speaking to Jewish leaders
- Acts 5:29-32, Peter speaking to Jewish leaders
- Acts 7:1-60, Stephen talking to the Jews
- Acts 8:26-40, Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
- Acts 10:23-48, Peter talking to Cornelius
- Acts 13:6-15, Paul in front of Serigus Paulus
- Acts 13:16-41, Paul speaking in the synagogue in Psidian Antioch
- Acts 14:8-18, Paul speaking to Greeks in Lystra
- Acts 16:25-34, Paul speaking to the Jailer
- Acts 17:16-34, Paul speaking to the Greeks in Athens
- Acts 22:1-29, Paul giving his testimony to Jewish people
- Acts 24:10-21, Paul speaking to Felix
- Acts 26:1-19, Paul giving his testimony to Agrippa.
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Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in Heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.
To find out how to be born again click here
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