How To Be Born Again

Everywhere in this world we find heartache, strife, sickness, poverty, injustice and a host of other ills. Why can't men live in peace and enjoy the good things in this earth? The Bible (God's book to mankind) gives us the answer to these questions and tells us how to be born again and what that means. He tells us in His Book that all the troubles in the world are due to either my sin or someone else's. All of mankind is sinful, thus separated from the holiness of God.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

What exactly is sin? If you asked ten different people, you might get ten different answers. Some might say that sin is "doing something wrong or breaking the law", while others might say that sin is "hurting another person or taking an innocent life." Still others might deny the very existence of sin, saying that there is no such thing as right or wrong-- in short, that there are no real absolutes in this world. However, most people agree (regardless of culture) that there are certain actions that are wrong, and should be punishable by fines, imprisonment or even death.

Even the person who "doesn't believe in right or wrong" would have a hard time observing a maniac rape and murder a small child, and say that what happened to them was not a crime.

Sin is a terminal disease that eats away at the very heart of this planet. It destroys individual people, families, cultures, even the earth itself. Our world is defiled by it, yet most people cannot even give a definition of the word, or grasp the true gravity of the situation. What is sin? Surely sin is more that ten different opinions from ten different people. Is there any final authority on this subject?

The Bible says that sin is a heart condition. It is a condition of rebellion against God, which stems from pride. The Bible even refers to pride as "original sin." The Hebrew definition of the word sin means "to miss the mark." God created us to be like Him, but our pride and rebellion make us fall far short of that purpose. Our actions, though they may be "sinful" are really only the fruit of our rebellion against God. Our outward actions merely mirror our true inner condition. It is our true inner condition that God is concerned with. He knows the "real you" better than you yourself do, because he sees "the inner man" and all your secret thoughts and motives.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8

Though one may lead a "good life" on the outside, God looks on the heart. It is the nature of man to look on the outward, but outward appearances can be deceiving.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Matt. 23:27-28

We cannot deal with our sin by "cleaning ourselves up" the outside, when our problem is a heart condition. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." John 8:34 We are all slaves to our sinful nature, and we can only be cleansed from within.

Since sin is the root cause of all our troubles, we must deal with our sin first if we want less troubles in our lives. How do we get rid of sin? God tells us in His Word that by nature we are "...dead in trespasses and sin;" (Ephesians 2:1) and that we are "...alienated from the life of God..." (Ephesians 4:18). Just as a body without physical life is declared physically dead, so anyone who is separated from God is described in the Bible as spiritually dead. As long as we remain spiritually dead, we cannot know God.

We all need a new life. We need to be cleansed from sin and it's penalty (which is death) and restored to fellowship with God who made us all. That is what Jesus Christ (God's Son) meant when He said we "must be born again" (John 3:7). "...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Without the experience of the "new birth" we have no hope of enjoying the glories of heaven nor escaping the terrors of hell. Have you been born again?

The "new birth" is not a religion, not living up to a creed, not a set of rituals, nor joining a church or denomination. It's a transformation. Our old nature is changed and we receive a new one. Old things pass away and all things become new in Christ. We receive a new heart, new desires, new ideas, and a new direction because of this new nature. A birth is the coming into being of a new life which has the nature of its parents. When you were born the first time, you were made a partaker of the nature of natural man. When you are born again, you become a partaker of the divine nature (II Peter 1:4). God can become your heavenly Father.

The greatest attribute of God is that He is a God of love. He loves you and me. He loves all sinners and wants to save every one of us from hell and the terrible results of our sin. His Word tells us, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (II Corinthians 5:21). God hates sin because of what it produces-- war, sickness, poverty, etc., but God loves the sinner.

God sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, so that we might have new, everlasting life. The Bible tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). By His death and resurrection, Jesus paid for our salvation. He broke the power of sin and death, making it possible for us to have everlasting life. The life of God raised Jesus from the dead and He was the first born Son into the kingdom of God.

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:12-18).

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was nailed to a cross by ungodly men for no sin of His own. He was an innocent man-- the only man who was ever perfect and sinless. He never sinned, yet He took your sins and mine by taking an unjust death. Because He did this willingly, He was raised from the dead by His Father and given life and authority over the powers of darkness. God now imparts that same life and authority to all those who come receiving His provision for their sin. "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7)

We must accept God's Word that says we all are sinners and know that it is sin that separates us from God and repent or "turn away" from that sin. Until we each acknowledge, and ask forgiveness for our own guilt, we will never be free from it. It will eventually lead us right into hell.

"The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9)

God wants to give us His power over sin. We cannot conquer sin without that power. God wants to give us life for death, beauty for ashes, health for sickness, joy for grief, peace for strife, love for hate. God's Word says, "...I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Do you want abundant life? This abundant life comes only as we are born again and as we follow on and receive all that God promises us.

It isn't always easy following God, but nothing worthwhile ever was. You may be ridiculed and persecuted. You will face many temptations to fall back into your old nature. But you can be assured that God is with you, and He will give you power to overcome every one of them.

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." Phil 3:7-9

You can pray right now and ask God to come into your heart and receive the new birth. Simply talk to Him as you would talk to another person. You might pray a prayer similar to this:

God, I do not know you personally, but I want to know you. I believe that
Your Word, the Bible is true. I repent for hardening my heart toward you,
and delighting myself in things you hate. I don't want to go to hell; I really
want to be free of my sin. Come into my heart and cleanse me of the guilt
of my sins and give me the power to overcome those sins. I want to be Your
child and learn of Your ways. Keep me from evil and save my soul. Amen

If you said that prayer and meant it from your heart, you are now a child of God. You will need to do four things faithfully every day so you will grow in God.

You need to read and study God's Word (the Bible) every day. This is how you will learn about God's ways and how to overcome your problems and troubles. His Word brings strength to your spiritual nature. If you do not have a Bible, make your first prayer request to God to supply you with one.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15).

"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:10-17).

We must fellowship and talk to God if we are to hear His guidance and learn of His nature. We are promised that all of our needs shall be met if we will only ask the Father in the name of Jesus.

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14: 13-15)

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God , and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

(1.) Seek out a good Bible-believing church and share your decision to follow Christ with the body of believers there and ask to be water baptized. This will seal your commitment to Christ (See BIBLE ANSWERS for more about water baptism).

Ask the Lord to show you the people you are to pray and fellowship with on a daily basis. He does not want you to be alone in your Christian walk. We all need one another's prayers, encouragement, and love to grow in God.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Ask God to cleanse you of all sin and impure thoughts and motives. Satan, our enemy, will try to break our fellowship with God by getting us back into sin or trying to get us angry at God. Guard against this by resisting the devil daily.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).

If you received the Lord into your heart, welcome to the family of God! If you need help in this new life, e-mail us at ChristUnlimited@bible.com, or write us at:

I always like to see a good presentation of the gospel. This is not exactly the four spiritual laws, but it is concise and pretty much gets to the point.

I think Jonathon Edwards sermon where he speaks of the knock on the door of the heart contains an excellent presentation of the calling of God's love to us and his requirement that we respond.

"O thou poor distressed soul! whoever thou art, consider that Christ mentions thy very case when he calls to them who labor and are heavy laden! How he repeatedly promises you rest if you come to him! In the 28th verse he says, "I will give you rest." And in the 29th verse, "Ye shall find rest to your souls." This is what you want. This is the thing you have been so long in vain seeking after. O how sweet would rest be to you, if you could but obtain it! Come to Christ, and you shall obtain it. And hear how Christ, to encourage you, represents himself as a lamb! He tells you, that he is meek and lowly in heart, and are you afraid to come to such a one! And again, Rev. 3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him and he with me." Christ condescends not only to call you to him, but he comes to you; he comes to your door, and there knocks. He might send an officer and seize you as a rebel and vile malefactor, but instead of that, he comes and knocks at your door, and seeks that you would receive him into your house, as your Friend and Savior. And he not only knocks at your door, but he stands there waiting, while you are backward and unwilling. And not only so, but he makes promises what he will do for you, if you will admit him, what privileges he will admit you to; he will sup with you, and you with him. And again, Rev. 22:16,17. "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely." How does Christ here graciously set before you his own winning attractive excellency! And how does he condescend to declare to you not only his own invitation, but the invitation of the Spirit and the bride, if by any means he might encourage you to come! And how does he invite every one that will, that they may "take of the water of life freely," that they may take it as a free gift, however precious it be, and though it be the Water of life."

Charles Spurgeon was known occasionally to preach with such conviction.

Which crybaby had the other thread pulled?

Jean, the above comment is not directed to you since I have no reaso to think it would have been you.

Jean, you did post a Q&A regarding God predestining all sins committed by all men. Quite franky, I think the verses cited are at best inconclusive as to that argument when read in context.

I did find the reference to Ephesians 1:11 interesting. It certainly does lead a reasonable person to conclude that Paul's conversion was predestined by God, but then I have been consistent in acknowledging that there have been specific instancs where it that has been the case.

I also noted that in Ephesians 1:13, Paul talks about Christians to whom the letter was addressed "having believed..." This seems to clearly indicate that their circumstances were far different than the circumstances of Paul's conversion. There is absolutely no indication that their faith in Christ was predestined at all. Paul certainly did not state that their salvation was predestined. If their faith was predestined, certainly Paul would have made mention of it. Based on the context, it is much more reasonable to conclude that those individuals made the decision to believe the Gospel message and accept Jesus as their Savior.

I have no problem in agreeing that some people were/are predestined to eternal life in order that God's power and sovereignity may be made known to the entire world. I also have no reason to think that it could evcen happen in these present days. On the other hand, I have every reason that apart from 'special circumstances' God has given every man grace sufficient to understand his need for a Savior and that men upon hearing the Gospel can either accept it or reject it. This is entirely Biblical, and is consistent with a loving and just God. That is not something one can say as it relates to Calvinist theology proclaimed by many Calvinists.

I'd be interested in hearing comments regarding Ephesians 1:11-14.

BTW, do Calvinists even have tracts? If so do you have an example? I would love to see one.

Here you go:

How does one seek God?

1) They must first be awakened to their desperate condition. An awakened person is one who is basically persuaded of the truths of Christianity, but who is not converted; the first thing which usually happens to a person who is converted is that they are awakened to the imminent danger of their present condition: That if they died today, they would go straight to hell. What was in his head notionally is now felt in the depths of his being and he becomes alarmed and scared. He is made aware in his own experience of the horror of his peril and of the necessity of something happening quickly. He does not love God, but realizes that Christ is going to be his judge unless his present condition is changed. He is awakened. John Gerstner says in his tape on Reformed Evangelism & Seeking: "The first stage of evangelism, genuine evangelism, of spiritual corpses is to make them intellectually and emotionally aware that they are in great danger and have that built into their deepest conviction."9

2) Reform your life. This may sound a little strange. I thought so at first until I examined more closely why this is consistently the advice of both Edwards and the Puritans. A person who is seeking salvation must not continue on in a way of any external sins. To profess to be seeking the Lord and to continue lying, cheating, or committing adultery is a sham. Solomon Stoddard writes in his excellent work A Guide to Christ: "Men that are seeking salvation, must not allow themselves to go on in a way of damnation: that terror is not sufficient that will suffer men to live in an unreformed life: if men be thoroughly scared, they will dread doing what wounds their consciences: fear of hell will make men afraid to sin."10 p. 3. Jonathan Edwards wrote: "Persons who are under awakenings, and would seek a true hope of salvation, should in the first place see, that they thoroughly renounce every wicked practice. They should search their ways, and consider what is wrong in them; what duties they have omitted, which ought to have been done; and what practices they have allowed, which ought to be forsaken; and should immediately reform, retaining no one way of sin, denying all ungodliness, omitting nothing which is required; and should see that they persevere in it, that it be not merely a temporary, short-lived restraint, but an everlasting renunciation."11

What next?

3) Meditate on your sins. Meditation on the sins of the heart and life will aid in bringing conviction to the heart for sin. "Persons ought to endeavor to be convinced of sin" is the doctrine of an unpublished Jonathan Edwards' sermon on Jeremiah 2:23. In this sermon Edwards exhorts men to think much on sins, ranging back to childhood for material: men should "ransack the secret corners" of their memories as they attempt to recall and feel particular sins. One should also seek to grow in such convictions. Edwards mentions the importance of mediatation on sins in many sermons: "Earnestly to seek humiliation. To that end they should labour to be convinced of sin. They should be much engaged in searching their own hearts, and keeping a watchful eye upon them. They should not rest in their own efforts, but earnestly seek to God to give them a right sight of themselves, and a right conviction of sin, and show them that they have deserved God's everlasting wrath...Seek that you may be brought to lie at God's feet in a sense of your own exceeding sinfulness. Seek earnestly that you may have such a sight of yourself; what an exceedingly sinful creature you are, what a wicked heart you have, and how dreadfully you have provoked God to anger; that you may see that God would be most just if he should never have mercy upon you. Labour, that all quarreling about God's dispensations towards sinners may be wholly subdued; that your heart may be abased and brought down to the dust before God; that you may see yourself in the hands of God; and that you can challenge nothing of God, but that God and his throne are blameless in the eternal damnation of sinners, and would be in your damnation. Seek that you may be brought off from all high opinion of your own worth, all trust in your own righteousness, and to see that all you do in religion is so polluted and defiled, that it is utterly unworthy of God's acceptance; and that you commit sin enough in your best duties to condemn you for ever."12

4) Read and study the Scriptures. The Bible is God's word to man concerning all that pertains to life and godliness. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).
Read and meditate upon those verses which reveal sin to you and what you are like in your natural condition: Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-18. They should read and study the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and Jesus' exposition of the spiritual meaning of two of the commandments in Matthew 5:21-22 & 27-30. This may aid the sinner in seeing their guilt before God.
Read and study those verses which reveal Christ: Isaiah 53; Hebrews 9; and the gospels. We recommend that a person who is seeking read the gospel of Luke and carefully note what Christ says about following Him.
We have other specific suggestions about scriptures to read in our tract Guidance for the Seeker. Reading the Scriptures is an indespensible means of grace.

5) Pray fervently. I have given detailed instructions to the seeker for this in Guidance for the Seeker, but basically the seeker should pray that God would show him the rottenness of his heart, the wickedness of his sins, and the desperateness of his condition. He should ask the Lord to help him see sin the way God sees it and enable him to hate all sin. He should ask God to help him to see the blessedness of Christ, and to value Christ above all persons and things, and to love Christ with all his heart. He should beg God to change his heart and to enable him to repent and believe in Christ in truth. He should repeatedly beg God to have mercy on him.
All of the sinner's prayers arise out of self-love. It may be necessary to tell him of this so that the seeker does not think he is doing anything to merit his salvation and he does not grow proud of his seeking. Usually for one who is seeking in the right way, this is not a problem, but self-righteousness is a powerful force in the heart of the unconverted. Jonathan Edwards states that it is better for the sinner to "pray out of self-love than to neglect prayer out of self-love." A person's prayers may be good even though the person is evil. It is better to perform a spiritual duty from an evil motive (ie. self-love) than to not perform it from an evil motive.
The Pharisees prayed in self-righteousness and hypocritically and thought that God loved them for it. The awakened seeker knows that even his prayers are sin, and realizes that God may not listen to or answer his prayers and may damn him in the end. There is a vast difference between the two. (God hears King Ahab in I Kings 21 even though he is counted among the most wicked of men) God many times uses this means to show the sinner his depravity, heard-heartedness, and makes him more and more sensible of his lost condition.

6) Go to hear the Word of God preached. The seeker should go to the best church he can find. He should be present at morning and evening worship services. He should pray to God before he goes that God would use what is said to speak to his heart. He should ask the Lord to use the word preached to reveal his sins and the wickedness of his heart to him, to reprove and rebuke him, and to instruct him that the word might be profitable to his soul.

7) Striving has to do with the degree of fervency and diligence with which one pursues the kingdom of God. A person may seek God diligently or in a lazy and slothful manner. Christ said to "Strive to enter by the narrow door" and that "the violent take it (the kingdom of heaven) by force." Jonathan Edwards deals with this in his revival sermon Pressing into the Kingdom of God. Edwards uses the following terms to describe this violence: "This expression denotes strength of desire"; "firmness of resolution"; greatness of endeavor"; "Pressing into the kingdom of God denotes an engagedness and earnestness, that is directly about that business of getting into the kingdom of God."13 We highly recommend that seekers read

Help From Jonathan Edwards

The following things have been gleaned by studying the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and from reading and re-reading his Narrative of the Surprising Work of God.
1) The doctrine of hell is the best doctrine we can use to awaken sinners and to maintain their fears and convictions while they seek.
2) Man's sin and depravity and the law of God should be preached for conviction of sins. Joseph Alleine wrote in An Alarm to the Unconverted: "The heart is never soundly broken till thoroughly convinced of the heinousness of its original and deep-rooted depravity."15 The sinner needs to repeatedly hear that their heart is rotten and of the necessity of God changing their heart.
3) It is critical that they understand God's sovereignty in the bestowal of mercy and His just right to refuse the giving of mercy to anyone. "God has a liberty to bestow His grace upon whom He will. Mercy is God's own, and He will make choice who shall be the subjects of it. God is master of His own gifts, will bestow them on one, and deny them to others. It is just for God to deny sinners saving mercy, but if he pleases to have mercy upon some, none may prescribe who they shall be; but He may choose one, and refuse another." 16
4) God's absolute justice in the damnation of men and in their own damnation needs to be stressed. For this we have used Guidance for the Seeker and Edwards' sermon The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners.
5) They should be told that they are both unable and unwilling to believe rightly and this necessitates them seeking God for a changed heart and his saving mercy.
6) Seeking with diligence. This we have covered previously

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