What does it mean to be born again? Let’s examine the truth in God’s Word to find the answers.
John 3:3
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:6
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
There are many scriptures in God’s word about being born again. Some believe that if you are a good person, attend church on Sundays, and do good deeds, you are saved. There is a profound difference between this belief and what is written in God’s word, The Holy Bible.
Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
There is a vast difference between who we are before being saved and born again, and who we are afterward. Our hearts, thoughts, and desires change, and we become a new person in Him. Let’s take a look at what God’s word says about the fruits of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
The bible tells us that we should know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16-20
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
I was raised and attended church my entire life. I spent many hours in a church building, attending every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night for youth group meetings. Many summers, I spent a week in church camp, which often meant being away from home with other kids from our church, as well as many different churches across the state. I have great memories of church camp, where we canoed, swam, and made crafts. The most incredible memories for me were attending chapel services, usually held outside under a pavilion. My memory of these times is priceless to me today. I have vivid memories of the worship music and feeling the presence of the Spirit of God in the services. I saw countless kids weeping at the altar, crying out to Jesus to come into their hearts. These times were profound memories in my life as a child. I remember the day that God tugged at my heart. I knelt at the wooden altar in an open-air pavilion, and it changed my life forever. As I cried out to God, asking Him to forgive me of my sins and come to live in my heart, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit and knew that He had saved me. I also reflect on my time in youth group meetings on Wednesday nights and the scriptures that we were required to memorize. One that I remember well was recited often as I faced trials and choices that had to be made while growing up as a professed follower of Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
As I reflect on the choices I have made that did not honor God, I ask myself, ‘Am I still saved?’ Yes, is the answer to that question, and I will not allow the enemy to tell me differently. You shouldn’t either. We rebuke him, in Jesus’ name! What does God’s word say?
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
I am grateful for the promises and the understanding found in God’s word.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
John 15: 1-8
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you.”
Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Where will you spend eternity? We all have a choice of who we serve. My prayer is that you choose life in Jesus Christ.
John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and desire to follow him, ask him to come into your heart, confess that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness of you sins, and confess that you believe he died for your sins and rose again on the third day for the sins of the entire world, and you will be saved.
Romans 10: 9-10
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Do not believe the lies of the enemy. Jesus desires that all come to repentance. You are worthy, in Jesus’ Name!
Walking with Jesus is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One day at a time!
Father, we come to you today and pray that you touch the hearts of everyone reading this. If they have not invited you into their lives and chosen you as their personal Lord and Savior, we ask that you draw them to yourself, and they do so now. I pray that for those of us who are saved by God’s amazing grace, we will continue to pray for one another as we seek to be more like you every day. I pray that the noise of this world doesn’t distract us from hearing your voice, as you desire that we hear you, because you have the answers, Father, and we know that without you, we are nothing. In Jesus’ Name we pray, believe, and ask these things. Amen
Romans 15:13
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Longing to hear the words from our Father, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Pick up your copy of my books, When Jesus Calls and When Jesus Leads here on my website.
Always Believe and Never Give Up!
Martha Gayle ❤