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I recently decided to believe in God, Jesus and religion. Does that make me born again? Do I need to be born again? Am I supposed to be Baptized or can I just go about my life with my new-found faith?

2007-01-24 09:44:37 · 12 answers · asked by Sabine É 6 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

You're all very kind- thanks for so many complete answers. Thanks for taking me seriously :-)

2007-01-24 10:24:56 · update #1

12 answers

Congratulations on your decision to trust in Jesus!

Being "born again," really means being born of the Spirit of God. When you have placed your trust in Him and what He did for you, and do it by faith, you become a new person. you are "born again."

Jesus told a religious leader this: "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

This was reinforced by Paul the Apostle a few years later: "If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

You must believe in your heart what Jesus did, and then tell someone about it, which is what you did with your question here.

Your next step should be one of obedience. People who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior should get baptized. This does not save you, but is an obedient step, which demonstrates publicly what you have confessed. If He truly is Lord of your life, you will want to be obedient.

One of Jesus' closest associates, Peter, said this: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift." (Acts 2:38)

Therefore, that should be the next step. You can learn more at a local church, and through various resources. I've listed links where you can get some study guides about your new life in Christ below:

Fundamentals of the Faith, available at:
http://www.gbibooks.com/final.asp?id=16306

Understanding Your Faith - A Primer, available at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1600340393/qid%3D1147985337/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-2512354-5236047

Growing In Christ, available at:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=91572&netp_id=109609&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW

Again, congratulations, and welcome to the family of God!

2007-01-24 10:00:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

You have been born into this world in the flesh. Your body contains your flesh, your mind and your soul and a heart. You are not alive in your spirit until you are born-again, which means when you accept Jesus into your heart, you are accepting a new spiritual life which you never had before. Therefore you become born-again as your spirit awakens from it's dead state within your heart. You begin to see and understand through your spirit and no longer just through your physical mind.
You can be a born-again Christian without becoming baptized. An example of that was the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He got saved ( born-again) and then died without having been baptized. Baptism is a public announcement of your commitment to God and the acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
And it is usually God that gives the desire to the new born-again believer to be baptized.

2007-01-24 10:10:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Being born again means you have not just believed in Jesus but have repented of your sins and asked Him to come into your life. For your new-found faith, you need spend time developing your new relationship with Jesus, read the bible and pray. Getting into a Bible-based church will help too. Baptism is an outward sign of what has happened inside. It would help to be baptized so you know that this is a real decision to follow Jesus not something you just imagined. Find some christian friends in your area that you can spend time with and can help you grow in your new-faith.

2007-01-24 09:57:38 · answer #3 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1 0

That's a big descision. The term "born again" refers to a passage in the Gospel of John chapter 3. Jesus explains that you must be born of water and the Spirit. It's a life-changing event.

Most people have some sort of prayer in which they accept Jesus' forgiveness of their sins and invite him into your life.

I really suggest you find a church where people can nurture you, teach you, help you decide when to be baptized.

2007-01-24 09:56:09 · answer #4 · answered by rcpeabody1 5 · 0 0

Born Again = Being Baptized

Jesus, John Chapter 3

2007-01-24 09:50:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

When Adam and Eve chose to believe the serpent(devil) instead of God, they suffered what God said they would: they died! They didn't fall over and quit breathing, but they died spiritually. They could not longer see God's love for them. They could no longer see that He wishes to give us an abundant life here on earth as well as eternal life with Him. They felt "exposed" and judged(to the point that they wanted clothes to COVER themselves.

Being "born again" means having God's Holy Spirit "regenerate" "give us life" give us a new beginning back with God.
We are now His children again! And our desire is to please our Father just because He is so good and His promises to take care of us are so great.

We are re-born into His kingdom now. So we are of dual citizenship. We are part of our nation (which is also established by God) and of His kingdom which is now ruled over by Jesus the Christ.

I take it that this is your "life with my new-found faith". From now on all that is for you to do is grow up in Christ. Learn how great the love of God is for you and how much love and power He has to change all circumstances of your life as you trust Him. There will be troubles because of the world and the worldly, but God will bring you through all of them.

That is what it means to be "born again".

Gal 4:4-7
God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
(from New International Version)


2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
(from New International Version)

2007-01-24 10:13:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

being born again means you have accepted Jesus as Savior. All you have to do is pray, say you're sorry for your sins & want to change your life, ask Jesus to come into your heart & mean it. Usually people are Baptised after being born again--it symbolises death burial & resurrection to a new life in Christ. God bless

2007-01-24 09:54:53 · answer #7 · answered by wanda3s48 7 · 1 0

You should be baptized out of obedience, but it is not the baptism that saves you; it is faith in Christ.

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!

2007-01-24 11:29:36 · answer #8 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0 0

you new faith is a good start but you need to study the bible and yes be reborn of the spirit. that is give your life to Jesus, babtism is a public sign of that so if you are sincere it is a good idea. but read the bible first and pray about it.

2007-01-24 09:53:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

it doesnt matter what you practise to make yourself a real believer, i say you just go around like that trusting your faith because it's all in your heart, nothing and noone can prove it, only you can feel it. god bless you.

2007-01-24 09:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

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