What does it mean to be a born again Christian? The classic passage from the Bible that answers this question is John 3:1-21. The Lord Jesus Christ is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (a ruler of the Jews). Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night. Nicodemus had questions to ask Jesus.
As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said "...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. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again...." (John 3:3-7).
The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." Nicodemus had a real need. He needed a change of his heart--a spiritual transformation. New birth, being born again, is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John 1:12,13 indicates that "born again" also carries the idea "to become children of God" through trust in the name of Jesus Christ.
The question logically comes, "Why does a person need to be born again?" The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." To the Romans in Romans 3:23, the Apostle wrote, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." So, a person needs to be born again in order to have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with God.
How does that come to be? Ephesians 2:8,9 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast." When one is "saved," he/she has been born again, spiritually renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth. Trusting in Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on the cross, is what it means to be "born again" spiritually. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation..." (2 Corinthians 5:17a).
If you have never trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, will you consider the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your heart? You need to be born again. Will you pray the prayer of repentance and become a new creation in Christ, today? "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on 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).
If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and be born again, here is a sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!
2007-01-18 16:40:37
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answer #1
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answered by Freedom 7
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Asking God to join with you, be part of your life, be the lord of your life (whatever wording you choose) is a prayer that requires no faith. It's a prayer that God is powerless to avoid answering.
He is the one who went to all the trouble to get salvation delivered to us, he won't turn around and make a game out of it. You ask for it, you get it. That's how it works.
But remember that Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is a mustard seed. It starts out so small that it's nearly imperceptible. After some years, you won't be able to deny your status, and the seed, by the way, grows without your help. I don't think you could stop it if you tried. In time, you'll feel him inside you, you'll see yourself doing things you wouldn't normally do, and you'll feel things you can't explain that seem better than the person you are.
That's your proof.
Being born again is the same as being possessed. You have an alien spirit lodged inside you, it's just that this one is beneficial.
If any part of this were not true, I'd be the first to depart. I demand evidence for something as important as this that affects the rest of my life and my life's decisions.
2007-01-18 05:55:55
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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There is something that happens inside a person that is truly born-again. Some people are aware of it immediately and for others it is a gradual awareness. Before you are born-again you look at everything in the flesh with the mind of the flesh, but when you let Jesus in your life it is like you suddenly are born in the spirit and begin to see the world and everything through your spiritual eyes. As you grow in Christ, you begin to recognize God's voice in different circumstances and ways. One way is when you read the Bible it seems the words now make sense whereas before being born again the words made no sense. We become new creatures in Christ, as the Holy Spirit makes us aware of God, convicts us of sin and guides & directs us with God's word. We also develope a desire to know God more and draw closer to Him.
2007-01-18 06:02:35
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Nobody is born again just by calling or bearing the name of the Prophet or the name of God.
You will know you are born again when you are spiritually born again by doing the Will of God with selfless love as taught in the Holy Books of the Messengers of the One True God. A true child of God is he who develops all the divine attributes in his soul.
2007-01-18 06:06:56
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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To give your life to Christ is to accept his gift of faith and to say you accept the guidelines which he has set down.
To be baptised in spirit is to be 'led' by the spirit, by the teachings of the one who blesses you. This means that one has cast off one's old teachings and/or ignorance, and embraced the cross of faith.
The cross is not necessarily a literal cross, but a symbolic cross: the burden of being a follower: reconcile with your brother, make peace with them even if they do not, 'offer no resistence to injury...Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the man who begs from you', always remember the plank that remains in your own eye, 'enter through the narrow and difficult gate', be not the riteous pharisess that passes but the pariah samaritan who stops and gives aid.
'By the light given off is a lamp recognized... by the fruits of its labor shall you know the tree.' By the labors you produce shall your nature be shown.
2007-01-18 06:03:57
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answer #5
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answered by Khnopff71 7
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When it shows on your life... the way you deal with people... the different ways of thinking that has been introduced into your life... the change that you feel inside and others notice.
2007-01-18 05:53:01
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answer #6
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answered by Cheers For All 3
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must be a sticker saying AUTHENTICATE if not then my friend u r not a true child of god
2007-01-18 05:52:47
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answer #7
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answered by => the guy <== 3
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If you read the bible and absorb and practice the principles.
2007-01-18 05:51:36
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answer #8
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answered by wilma m 6
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You'll get a certificate in the mail.
2007-01-18 05:50:53
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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