JESUS SAID
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3
Jesus makes it clear that no one will enter into heaven unless they are "born again".
What does "born again" mean.? Jesus declares in, John chapter 3, that every person is first born with a physical body, but in order to enter into heaven you must have a spiritual birth. This is often referred to as being "saved" in the New Testament.
How can a person be "born again"? This is a spiritual birth so God is the only one that can make it happen. In John 6:44 Jesus says "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day". We cannot have a real "born again" experience unless God draws us. It is not enough to want to be "born again" because of friends, or family, or a desire to be a member of a church, or even because you think it would be a good thing to do. When God decides the time is right He will draw or call us to Jesus.
How does a person know when God is calling? In John 16:7-8, Jesus teaches that the "Helper" (the invisible Holy Spirit of God) would convict the world of sin. The first sign that God is calling us to be "born again" is when we realize that we are guilty of disobeying God. Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." When God makes us aware of our sin we feel guilty. God does not make us feel guilty because He likes to see us in pain. He makes us feel guilty so that we will be aware of our need for forgiveness. In John 16:13 Jesus said that the "Spirit... will guide you into all truth." So another sign that God is calling you is when you become aware of the truth. Jesus is the Truth. God is calling you to be "born again" when you understand that you need Jesus.
What if a person refuses God? Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death", that is spiritual death. If you refuse to respond to God's call you will not enter the Kingdom of God. You will be separated from God and all that is good for all of eternity. The suffering of hell is beyond our ability to describe. Thankfully that verse does not end there. It goes on to say "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." So God is calling us to be "born again" which is a spiritual gift of God.
How does a person receive this spiritual gift? John 3:16; and Romans 10:9-10 tell us that we must believe in Jesus. However, it is not enough to just believe the information that the Bible teaches about Jesus. If that were so it would be no different than believing that Abraham Lincoln was once president of the United States. This belief that the Bible speaks of is a faith in Jesus as Lord of your life. It is opening your life to Him and giving yourself to Him. When we are willing to pray sincerely and trust our lives and our eternity to Jesus then we receive His gift.
How does a person pray? Simply and sincerely call on the name of the Lord Jesus, ask for forgiveness. Proclaim your faith in Him as the Son of God, crucified and resurrected. Proclaim Him to be Lord over your life. Ask Jesus to come into your heart.
If you prayed having been motivated by God and with all sincerity, God's promise for you is eternal life (Romans 10:13). God's desire for you for the rest of your earthly life is spiritual growth and spiritual abundance. When you are "born again" you are new to spiritual things. Like a physical baby needs certain provision to grow and thrive, so a new born believer needs certain spiritual provisions to grow and thrive. Pray every day, it is easy, just be honest with God. Read the Bible, God speaks to us by His Holy Spirit through His Word. Love God and people by your actions and words. Actively seek out a church family that will assist you in growing and whom you can grow to be an assistance too. Tell others of your experience of being born again so that they might experience the blessing as well. Please contact us at Dahlgren Baptist Church. We want to be there for you.