Have You Really Been “Born Again”?

Are you really born again? Religious people often speak about the New Birth and “born again Christians.” What does the Bible say is involved in this spiritual rebirth? Does it require hearing, learning, and believing the gospel (faith)? What role do obedience and baptism play? What are the “water” and the “Spirit” in John 3:5? Are you really “born again?”

One of the most common expressions used by some sincere religious people is “born again”: “born-again Christians,” “born-again believers,” etc. The way the expression is used sometimes makes one wonder whether folks really understand the Bible meaning of the term.

In this study, let us consider exactly how a person is “born again”

How does a person know whether he has been born again? Is it possible to think we have been born again when we really have not been? Some will reply that, to be born again you must accept Jesus as your personal Savior. But how does this happen? What does the Bible say?

Must One Hear the Gospel?

1 Peter 1:22-25 – We are “born again” by the incorruptible seed, which is God’s word (v23), the gospel preached to you (v25). When a person is born physically, he becomes a child in a family. When one is born again, he becomes a spiritual child of God, a member of God’s family. This process is similar to the birth of animals or the reproduction of plants. Birth is the product of seed that is planted, germinates, and produces a new organism. Spiritually, the seed by which we become children of God is God’s word (cf. Luke 8:11). This is planted in men’s hearts when they hear the gospel. If they then believe and obey the gospel, they become “born again” as Christians. (Cf. James 1:18; 1 Cor. 4:15.)

Galatians 6:7 – But seed reproduces after its kind. “Whatever a man sows…” So, one must be sure that the seed (message) he hears and believes is really the true gospel. If one plants the wrong seed in his garden, he will not grow the kind of plant he wants. And if one accepts some a spiritual message that is different from the gospel, he would not really be born again, even though he might think he had been.

Must One Believe the Gospel?

John 1:12 – To have the power or right to become a child of God (“born again”), one must believe in Jesus. A popular tract entitled “Have You Been Born Again?” says, “The moment a lost sinner repents of his sins and trusts Jesus as the only One who can save Him [sic], he is born again.” But note that the Scripture does not say that believing immediately makes one a child of God. It says that believing gives one the right or power to become a child of God. I once bought a ticket to a college football game, but the weather turned out so bad I did not go. The ticket gave me the power to enter the stadium, but did not automatically make me a spectator. Other things had to happen afterward. We often receive letters saying we have been approved for charge cards (or a loan). The approval gives us the power to get the card, but that does not mean we automatically have the card. Other things have to happen. So, faith gives you the power to become a child of God, but by itself it does not automatically and immediately make you a child of God. Other things still have to happen afterward.

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Seeking the Lord: Finding God’s Will for Life

Can people seek for God and find Him and His will for our lives? What about people in Africa and other places where the gospel is little known? What must we do to seek for God? What about the attitude of our hearts? Must we believe in God and study the Bible? How important is obedience?

Lassie Come Home is a classic story about a dog who becomes lost; but because of her devotion to a boy, she overcomes many obstacles to return home. Many books and movies have been based on similar themes. The Bible is also a story about searching for things that are lost.

Scripture states that God seeks lost souls to come to Him.

Luke 15:3-6 – Jesus is like a shepherd seeking a lost sheep. He finds it and returns rejoicing.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. God seeks men by providing the means for us to be saved from sin. Then He sends His word to invite all men to come to Him for forgiveness.

Scripture also teaches the importance of people seeking for God.

Some people think that there is little or nothing people can do to find God and His will. Some teach unconditional election or predestination meaning that God chooses whomever He wants to save, then He brings them to salvation regardless of their will or choice. So, either God finds you or you will simply be lost. But there is nothing you can do to find God. Other people wonder about people where the gospel is little known. “How can people in dark Africa learn the truth and be saved?” Is God fair to condemn those who never heard the gospel? Some members of the church wonder how they can be sure they have found the truth. Some seem to think that whether or not we learn the truth is just a matter of chance: a roll of the dice. Some people are fortunate and happen across the truth, but others are not. In this study, let us consider what the Bible says about seeking God and His will.

We Should Seek to Know God’s Will.

1 Chronicles 28:8,9 – Solomon was instructed to carefully seek out God’s commands. If he would seek God, God would be found by him. Psalm 119:10,11,45 – The psalmist sought God, seeking His precepts, that he might not sin against Him. So, seeking God includes seeking to know His will so we can obey it. God has made His will know in the Scriptures. They provide us to every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17). God wants this message taught to everyone (Mark 16:15,16; 1 Timothy 2:4). So, we can know the truth if we are willing to seek it by studying and learning the Scriptures. People all over the world can find God’s will, but they must be willing to seek it. But seeking God involves more than this. (Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 2:1-6)

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Why We Need Salvation and Forgiveness of Sins

What are the consequences of sin and why do people need forgiveness by the blood of Jesus Christ? Can the gospel overcome guilt, fear, alienation, and eternal punishment? Does it offer salvation, joy, hope, and eternal life?

Have you investigated the Bible teaching about the death of Jesus? Have you allowed Him to change your life and give you hope and meaning in life?

Introduction:

Sometimes we fail to see our need for items that would really benefit us if we had them. Or we may lose our appreciation for an item when we have it.

The purpose of this study is to help us appreciate more fully a gift that all of us need but sometimes fail to appreciate. This gift is the forgiveness of sins. To help us appreciate forgiveness, let us consider the consequences of sin. Many people unnecessarily face guilt, fear, alienation, and eternal punishement. Please study with us how these problems can be solved by forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ according to the gospel, resulting in joy, hope, salvation, and eternal life.

Problem #1: Separation from God

Sin Alienates Us from God.

Genesis 2:17; 3:8 – Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from God. They could no longer bear to be in His presence, but sought to avoid Him.

Isaiah 59:1,2 – Our sins and iniquities separate us from God, so He will not hear us.

Ephesians 2:12 – People in sin (v1-3) are separated from Christ and without God in the world.

Forgiveness Restores Our Relationship to God.

Romans 5:6-10 – Though sin deserves punishment, God loves us so much He sent His Son to bear our punishment so we could be saved.

Ephesians 2:13,17-19 – Though we were separated and far from God, we can be made nigh by the blood of Christ and have access to the Father.

Colossians 1:21-23 – Our evil works make us enemies alienated from God, but through Jesus’ death we can be reconciled (made friends again).

Surely the serious consequences of sin should lead us to see our need for forgiveness. Having obtained forgiveness, we should continue to live faithfully so we can continue in God’s fellowship.

Problem #2: Alienation between Loved Ones

Sin Is a Barrier Between Loved Ones.

Husbands and wives may be alienated by mistreatment, adultery, or alcoholism. There may be bitterness, quarreling, and even divorce.

Parents and children may have conflict. Parents may be unloving, abusive, stubborn, or selfish. Or like the prodigal son, children may rebel or become involved in immoral conduct (Luke 15:11-13).

Children in a family may be alienated because of jealousy, selfishness, deceit, or hatred.

Alienation may also occur in the church or between friends. There may be religious error, lying, slander, jealousy, pride, racial prejudice, stubbornness, etc. (James 3:14-18; Gal. 2:11-14; Rom. 16:17).

Sin can cause all these tragedies between people who should love one another.

Forgiveness Reunites Loved Ones.

In these cases, we must seek to obtain forgiveness, not just from God, but also from the people we offended. And those who have been wronged, must be willing to forgive.

Luke 15:18,21 – The prodigal son confessed he had sinned both against heaven and his father.

Matthew 5:23,24 – We must seek reconciliation with those we have wronged.

Luke 17:3,4 – People who sin against others should express repentance. If they do, others must willingly forgive them. [Matthew 6:12,14,15]

Have you made your life right with those you have wronged? When people repent, do you forgive like you want God to forgive you?

Problem #3: Loss of Self-Respect

Sin Makes Us Feel Worthless and Defeated.

Sin alienates us, not only from God and from our fellow-man, but also from ourselves.

Job 42:6 – Job abhorred himself for his sin. When we fully face the consequences of our deeds, we think, “How could I do such a thing?”

Matthew 26:33-35,69-75 – Peter affirmed he would die rather than deny Jesus. Yet before the night was over, he denied Jesus three times with cursing and swearing! Such conduct gives one a sense of utter failure.

Sin makes people miserable.

Forgiveness Restores Our Sense of Worth.

1 Timothy 1:12-16 – Paul had been “the chief of sinners,” because he opposed Christ and persecuted Christians. Yet he was forgiven and became one of Jesus’ most effective servants.

The apostle Peter, when he had repented of denying Jesus, preached the first gospel sermons both to Jews and to Gentiles (Acts 2 & 10). Surely his disappointment in his sins was overcome by forgiveness and faithful service to Christ.

Matthew 20:25-28 – God does not view us as great because we have authority, fame, power, pleasure, or possessions. Rather we are great because we faithfully serve God and our fellow-man.

Like a child who breaks a precious possession, we may ruin our lives by sin. Yet God can give us a new beginning – “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

Do you want this blessing? If you once had it, are you continuing to serve God faithfully?

https://gospelway.com/salvation/need_forgiveness.php