What Is a Born Again Experience
When I tell my friends and acquaintances that I'chiliad a built-in again Christian, they quickly assume that I belong to another sect of Christianity, and I get that. I completely understand why. That is because the term " born over again" is often misunderstood. Is built-in again a new religion?
Virtually people call back that it is another religion or denomination of Christianity. Before I came into a covenant human relationship with God, I too thought the aforementioned thing and that is why I struggled to come out from where I used to belong. That although I have already received Christ in my life as Lord and Savior, I notwithstanding idea that leaving my traditional belief was big deal.
What is Born again Christianity?
And then what is built-in again Christianity, where did it come up from and how did it start? Is born again a faith? Is the term even biblical?
The classic passage where we read the words "born again"is in the Gospel of John 3:1-8 in a scene where Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jewish Sanhedrin during Jesus' time, came to Jesus one night.
John three:one-8
There was a human being of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus past night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come up from God; for no 1 can do these signs that You lot do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered and said to him,"Most convincingly, I say to you, unless ane is born once more, he cannot meet the kingdom of God."
4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a homo be born when he is erstwhile? Can he enter a second time into his mother'due south womb and exist born?"
5Jesus answered,"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of h2o and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. seven Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be built-in again.' viii The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. And then is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
When Jesus told Nicodemus that no ane can enter the kingdom of God unless he is built-in again (verse 3), Nicodemus thought that He was referring to concrete birth so he asked how a man tin can be born twice (John iii:4). Correcting Nicodemus' misunderstanding, Jesus explained it in verse five-viii that people must be reborn spiritually.
The term in the original Greek text is "gennao"(born) which means to regenerate and "anothen" (again) pregnant from above. Then the phrase "born again"literally means "built-in from above." Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he needed to be born spiritually; he needed spiritual transformation — a change of center.
What is Regeneration or the New Birth?
Built-in once again is not a religion or sect of Christianity. Regeneration is a spiritual quickening, a new nascency, a new creation. We cannot alter the old nature, or reform it or re-invigorate it just we need a new birth, the impartation of a different "kind" – God's holy nature.
2 Corinthians five:17 says, "If anyone is in Christ, he becomes a new creation and erstwhile things have passed away."
Regeneration is a change from death to life – this is a spiritual resurrection. We were born the first time physically and the second birth is a spiritual nascency. We were expressionless in our trespasses and sins but were made alive in Christ (Ephesians two:1).
Regeneration is not baptism. Baptism is a Church ordinance signifying that i is a Christian and had died with Christ, been cached, has risen, and is now living with Christ, daily (Romans 6:4). It is non reformation. Reformation is the act of the erstwhile nature of turning from certain evils while regeneration is the supernatural human activity of God; information technology is a spiritual crisis; it is a revolution; information technology is a complete correct-changeabout.
Why practice we need to be Built-in Again?
Spiritual rebirth is necessary in social club to enter God's kingdom. And this process of regeneration or spiritual rebirth is a supernatural piece of work of the Holy Spirit. Like the first birth (physical) it is an upshot and not a process, though from the first conviction of sin to regeneration may encompass many days, weeks, months or even years. Yet, the bodily birth takes place in a second, as ane passes from darkness to light. The person has a second birthday and begins a new life.
In Ephesians ii:1 Paul said that we were "dead in trespasses and sins." And when Paul wrote to the Romans he said that "we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans iii:23).
The apostle Paul isn't talking of physical death. We maybe alive and well physically but spiritually dead. As sinners, we are spiritually dead and a spiritually dead person cannot approach God nor connect with God. A spiritually dead person cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:five). Nosotros receive spiritual life past religion in the Lord Jesus. And only when we are built-in again that nosotros receive forgiveness of our sins and we enter into a relationship with God.
Who Needs to be Born Again?
The Scriptures apparently teach that all need to be born again; the language of the Savior is imperative (John 3:iii; John iii:7). At that place are no exceptions to this rule (exterior of the Savior); neither sex activity, age position nor condition exempts anyone from the necessity of the new birth (Galatians 6:fifteen). There is no substitute for the new birth; to neglect to be built-in once more is to be lost.
Like with Nicodemus, being born over again is not based on your nationality or ethnicity; information technology is personal. God'due south gift of rebirth is not through our human being endeavor or merit, but comes through God'southward mercy alone. To get a new creature is to be born again. The universal sinful status of man demands a change, the new birth for salvation.
What must I practise to exist Born Once more?
To exist born over again, showtime you demand to acknowledge that you're a sinner, confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. And then you need to place your trust in Jesus who paid the penalisation for your sins by dying on the cross, receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior.
When you receive Christ, God will give you lot the right to become a His child (John ane:12-13). You also must confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the expressionless (Romans 10:9).
The Sinner's Prayer
If you lot have never trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, would y'all consider receiving Him today and trusting Him for your salvation? Would you heed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that you are in need of a Savior who has paid the price for you through His suffering and death on the cantankerous? Would you lot accept God's gift of eternal life by praying this prayer of repentance and acceptance?
Dear God,
I thank yous for your gift of eternal life. I admit that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness and salvation because I cannot save myself. I repent of all my sins and I put my complete trust in you lonely, Lord Jesus, as my Savior. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for my sins on the cross, and that He rose from the dead to redeem me. I invite you at present Lord Jesus to come up into my heart and life. Thank you for your wonderful grace and forgiveness. I ask that you write my proper noun in the Lamb'south Book of Life.
This is my prayer in Jesus' proper name, Amen!
At present what?
If you have repented of your sins and believed in the Gospel in response to God'south invitation, welcome to the family unit of God! So at present what, y'all may inquire. You may wonder what comes next now that you are a Christian. First, God's Discussion instructs you lot to find a church that teaches the Bible where you can learn the Word of God and fellowship with other Christians.
The author of Hebrews in Hebrews 10:23-25 exhorts u.s.a. to concord fast to our confession of promise without wavering considering God is faithful. We must non forsake our assembly or gathering together like some are doing, rather we must continue to encourage ane another all the more than considering the return of the Lord is well-nigh.
Also, you should exist baptized in obedience to Jesus Christ and as a testimony to your faith. Before Jesus ascended into sky, He commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 to get and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and to instruct them to find all His commandments.
*Related Article: Do you need to be baptized in order to be saved?
This committee is not only for the disciples during Jesus' time but it is too for the followers of Jesus Christ today. To exist a disciple of Jesus is to alive the kind of life that He lived and to obey all His commands and teachings.
Are y'all willing to follow Christ and go His disciple today? When you exercise, you are non entering into a new religion or denomination. Instead, you will be entering into a new covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son, be forgiven of your sins and receive God's promise of eternal life with Him in His kingdom.
*Recommended Resource: Experiencing the New Nascence: Studies in John three; Volume Order Edition
Past Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Over the course of his career, Lloyd-Jones preached 28 sermons on John 3. Reflecting on the powerful story of Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus and what it means to be "born over again," this collection of biblical expositions highlights God's stunning love for the world—as expressed through his unique Son, Jesus Christ. 393 pages, hardcover from Crossway.
Source: https://biblical-christianity.com/tag/what-is-the-born-again-experience
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