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4 Important Steps to Becoming Born Again

March 22, 2021 By Dean 8 Comments

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It must have been as confusing to Nick as it might be in many churches today.

Nicodemus had come to Jesus for more information about Him and His ministry.

He was certain Jesus was sent by God and the works of Jesus and His teaching had to be from God. However, the response of Jesus confused him, “You must be born again.”

There are four important steps to becoming born again and why experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ is vital to spiritual growth and maturity. #Foundational #bornagain #salvation #JesusChrist

“What are you talking about,” He asked.

Jesus explained further, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

Either the look on Nick’s face or his body language asked, “Why is that?”

“Because”,  Jesus went on to say, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Let’s unpack what Jesus was saying to this “good man.”

The physical birth of a human being can only bring forth carnal living.

A person lives by the desires and appetites of their physical nature, the five senses of the human body; sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.

A person’s thoughts, emotions, and volition are animated by selfish desires and the sinful appetites of the flesh.

The Apostle Paul wrote it this way, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” Ephesians 4:17-19 NKJV).

Nicodemus believed in Jesus, and Nick was a good man.

Jesus was telling him that would not get him into the Kingdom of God. Indeed, he was not going to Heaven, even though he was a religious leader; even though he believed in Jesus and His teachings.

Why is that?

He had not been born again.

Everything he was doing religiously and all of his good works were being done out of the flesh and not out of the Spirit of God.

Nicodemus was doing all of those things to please God and to earn his way to Heaven.

He believed in Jesus but all of his righteousness was self-earned by his own good works.

He did not have true righteousness.

No man or woman can earn true righteousness through their own good works. Every human being is born with a sin nature.

Our mind, will, and emotions are not directed toward God but toward our own self-will and they are animated by the spirit of darkness.

We are literally sinners from birth.

We do not like that truth; we may even resist admitting it.

Everything within our education system, our culture, the medical science and philosophy declares otherwise.

Even most of Christian psychology teaches man is basically good.

Psychologists Freud, Rogers, Mower, Glasser, and Skinner, may adamantly declare there is good deep in the heart of a person and it can be found if we dig deep enough.

That is not what God’s Word declares.

The Psalmist wrote, “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies” (Psalm 58:3 NKJV).

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5 NKJV).

Ephesians 2:1-5 declares, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom once we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

The Apostle Paul wrote it is the condition of every man, woman, boy and girl. “There is none righteous, no not one… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23).

This is why every parent must train and discipline their children to tell the truth; to be obedient; and to be kind; to share; and to not steal.

A child left untrained and undisciplined will not naturally know responsibility, compassion for others and willingly share.

They will not know honesty, loyalty and integrity.

Human nature does not naturally go toward goodness, morality, and integrity.

The human heart is born with a propensity to the spirit of darkness and disobedience.

Have you measured yourself by the Ten Commandments, lately? Every one of us comes up terribly short. Yet, the Word of God says, “If [you] stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.”

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.”

That is very clear, true righteousness and holiness does not come from good works but from putting on the “new man.”

Good works are the result of having a new heart.

That is only possible by being born again.

Being born again does not take place just because you believe in Jesus.

The demons believe and tremble, Scripture says in James 2:19.

It doesn’t happen just because you read the Bible, go to church or lead a Bible study. You must personally experience the life-changing work of the Holy Spirit with in your heart.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6).

How can you personally experience the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, or be born again?

There are four very important steps to becoming born again.

You must follow through with all four, none can be left out.

1. Believe that Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is, the eternal Son of God; that He took your sin and guilt upon Himself and was crucified upon the cross for you; that He was buried in the grave; and that He rose again from the dead on the third day.

2. Believe and accept the truth God says, that you are helplessly and habitually a sinner and you can do nothing to change yourself and your condition. You have broken God’s Ten Commandments and you deserve hell. Left to yourself, you will be self-centered, self-willed, and rebel against God and His Law.

3. Humbly ask God for His mercy and grace, then, authentically repent of your sins. That means you admit (confess) you are indeed a sinner; you see your sin the same way God sees your sin; it is defiling, evil, corrupt, wicked and destructive. Renounce your sinfulness and turn your heart from your sin and all its pleasure and turn to God with all your heart.

4. Humbly and passionately ask God to forgive your sin and to wash your heart from all defilement and guilt. Ask Jesus Christ to come live in your heart and to take charge of your life. Surrender to Him your will and your whole life; choosing to live for Him and to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

There is a reason Jesus Christ called it being born again.

It is life transforming.

When you are born again you love the things you once hated and you hate the things you once loved. You live for the things you once avoided and you avoid the things for which you once lived.


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Comments

  1. Brian McMichan says

    January 11, 2021 at 11:07 am

    Many “believers” have not taken “the step of faith”, (washing away the “old man” in full immersion baptism, as Jesus gave the example), therefore they have not been born again*** and given the Holy Spirit, so the vast majority of “believers” in the world are led by man and their fleshly impulses. (The Greek word for baptism is “baptidzo”, Hebrew is “MIKVEH” – literally means to “dip” or to “immerse”.)

    … Baptism is to be a step of faith (a choice) so that the “old spiritual person” chooses to die …leave their old spiritual self behind in the water so that the Holy Spirit can come upon them to provide a new spiritual life.

    Baptism … whether it be in a river, a pond, a lake … or even under a shower … let the “old man” be washed away! This step of faith follows a decision made (only when a person is mature enough to decide) that yes, God our Father and Lord Jesus have freed me, I want to be anointed with His Holy Spirit and be Father’s child and become as Christ Jesus is … a joint heir.

    Taking the step of faith and receiving the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to direct your life means .. John 16:33.. in Me (Christ Jesus, the Vine) you may have [perfect] peace {and} confidence. In the world you have tribulation {and} trials {and} distress {and} frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

    As a branch of the Vine (John 15), rest in Him and moment by moment you receive all that is needed to bear His fruit …. The fruit being .. Gal 5:22 -24 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

    As a branch of the Vine, rest in Him…1 John 4:17 In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion {and} attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. …. and as He was on earth, total trust and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

    Reply
  2. Peace says

    December 6, 2020 at 3:07 pm

    I USED to be one of those who give their lives to God on Sundays and take it back on Mondays. The only difference is that I take mine back a few hours after service on that Sunday. I would sin and know I am sinning. I know the way out of the temptation to commit that sin; it is looking at me right there. But I refuse to take that path and go ahead with the sin. I would be sinning and something inside of me would tell me that I know fully well that what I am doing isn’t right. Yet, I would go ahead with it. I would deceive myself and say this Sunday would be the last Sunday I would give my life to Christ over and over again. Yet, the next Sunday, I would be present for altar call. I would give myself a timeline and deceive myself with the idea that I have this amount of time to myself to do as I like, after which I would give my life to Christ finally. Still, nothing changed. After reading this podcast, I have decided I want this to be final. No more giving my life and taking it back again. I have surrendered fully to God. I am a born again for real. I am a new creature. Remember me in your prayers to be strong to resist temptation and grow daily in Jesus Christ. Thank You

    Reply
  3. Amos Stephen says

    September 19, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    I’m bless I need more of God

    Reply
  4. Ken says

    April 26, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Becoming born again is to be born of God, or born from above. It’s solely God’s work to raise the spiritually dead sinner. We are passive in the new birth

    Reply
    • IFEANYI UZOKA says

      June 20, 2020 at 9:38 am

      How can i be born of God

      Reply
  5. John faltermeier says

    February 10, 2018 at 10:10 am

    I praise god and jesus during the day

    Reply
  6. John faltermeier says

    February 10, 2018 at 10:04 am

    Thursday l am in a mens bible at my old church and friday l am in another mens group l am just drifting through life with no purpose

    Reply
  7. John faltermeier says

    February 10, 2018 at 9:59 am

    I was left ignorant of the truth after l was baptized no bible no guidance so l sinned for a long time no amazing grace moment when l first believed no transformation of my mind no change of living desired l am not supposed to try and figure things out l sometimes complain grumble have a pityparty l want to be able to surrender my life to jesus and have a desire to live for him l have been searching for a year for a mentor l would like to set some focused
    Goals to lead me to rightousness l would like maybe to read over the same books or epistles discuss develop a strong desire to read the bible l want to be able to resist my emotionals and desires because l want to do right l want my obedience to match my faith l want to be able assured of salvation l feel l need to do something more was l not worthy enough to be saved l feel iinsecure not contennt or at peace . I am studying about revalation on tuesdays learninng about church history on wedneday

    Reply

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