Our mission is to spread the Gospel, which when literally translated means "good news". The good news is that we can
be born again! Before I go any further, let me explain to you what this means. You may have heard the phrase before,
and not understood fully the impact this could have on your life, eternally. Some people say, "why all this fuss about being
born again? Why are so many talking about it?"
Nicodemus, who was a "ruler of the Jews" during Jesus Christ's day, came to
Him asking him for advice. Jesus' simple answer; "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God".
Some today, like Nicodemus will ask, "How can a man be born when he is old?
Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" But Jesus answers, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit
gives birth to spirit," saying again that one must experience a spiritual rebirth in order to enter heaven-- "You
must be born again."
Have you been born again? Have you experienced
this spiritual rebirth? This is the one thing, according to the Word of God, that will determine your spiritual destiny.
For those who really want to know how to be born again, here is the
answer from God's Word.
We must recognize the fact that we are sinners, that we've
violated God's laws--and we all have. God says "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God...there is none righteous,
no, not one...If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
We must repent of our sins. The Bible says "God commands
all people everywhere to repent." Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you too will perish."
It is not so difficult to repent when we pause to think of what our
sins have cost us, our friends, and our loved ones, and most of all, God.
It was for our sins--yours and mine-- that Jesus, the Son of God, left heaven
and came to earth to give up His life that we might be forgiven. "This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down
His life for us." Then Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death.
We must receive Christ into our lives as our Savior from sin. We read in the
Bible, speaking of Jesus Christ. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize
Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed
in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
The moment we open our hearts to the Lord Jesus and place
our complete trust in Him -- and Him alone -- as our Savior, God promises to forgive our sins, save our soul, and reserve
for us a home in heaven.
God says, "I write these things to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." Jesus promises "I tell you the truth, whoever hears
my word and believes in Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
You can be born again by simply praying and asking Jesus Christ to work
this miracle in your life. Although it's your heart's attitude that counts, here's a suggested prayer that might help guide
you:
God, I am willing to repent of my sins and receive Jesus as
my Savior. I do believe He died for me and was raised again to give me new spiritual life. Thank you God, for saving
me.
If you are thinking about not
making the decision, consider this final word. God isn't someone you should try to explain away or ignore. Instead, why not
reach out and commit yourself to Him completely? Pray the prayer above. Mean it.
If you truly believe, you will be born again -- just like that
-- and you will begin an exciting eternal journey, one that can take you through the pressures of this life like nothing you've
ever experienced before.
