WHY BECOME BORN AGAIN?

(Lasting Love, Hope, and Security)

Have you heard these words of hope?

        • God loves you unconditionally.
        • He wants a relationship with you.
        • He has a unique plan for your life.
        • You can find lasting hope in Jesus.

Have you heard the “Good News”?

        • Jesus died on the cross for your sins.
        • He can make you clean and whole.
        • He alone can give you eternal life.
        • He came to give you a new birth.

A NEW BIRTH

The term “born again” comes from the Bible. In John chapter 3, Jesus spoke with a religious man named Nicodemus. Although Nicodemus was a teacher of Jewish law, he had come to Jesus at night honestly seeking God. So with great love and compassion, Jesus told him he needed to become born again:

“[I tell you the truth], unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Jesus explained to Nicodemus that everyone is born physically or born from his mother’s womb (“born of water”). But everyone needs a second birth to be born spiritually from above (“born of the Spirit”).

    • The problem? We all need to be reconciled to God because we were born separated from Him, due to our sin nature.1
    • The solution? God mercifully sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. He died on the cross to forgive us and redeem us.2

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish [die] but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN

Eternal life is a free gift from God, which we could never earn. We are saved by God’s grace through our faith.3 It only takes a heartfelt prayer to become born again. We place our trust in Jesus and in His finished work on the cross,4 and ask Him to forgive us of our sins and be our personal Lord and Savior.

When we say that prayer, our spirit comes alive and God’s Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us.5 Then the Holy Spirit guides, comforts, empowers, teaches, and transforms us. He also begins working in us the fruit of the Spirit, including love, peace, joy, patience, and kindness.6

A NEW CREATION

When we become born again, we are children of the King, destined to live in His kingdom. The new believer is cleansed, forgiven, and covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.7 He or she is a “new creation”!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

In our new nature, we are no longer alienated from God, spiritually dead and without hope.8 We are accepted by God and are always welcome in His presence. We can then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, and in our relationship with Him.9

OUR SPIRITUAL THIRST

Everyone is on a spiritual journey to know the true and living God. We were born with a longing in our hearts to know Him personally. And nothing else in life can satisfy that spiritual hunger—not fame, fortune, power, romance, or money.10 Jesus says to us:

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37–38).

Are you thirsty to know God’s unconditional love? Do you want Him to fill the void in your life? He will satisfy that longing in your heart for fulfillment. He will never, never leave you or abandon you.11 And in Him alone, you can discover lasting peace and hope.

AN INVITATION

It is the greatest miracle to become born again and know God personally. The mega-message of the Bible is this: God has given us eternal life in His Son. So whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son does not have life.12

Our gracious Lord is calling you with outstretched arms. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”13 He laid down His life for you and longs to call you His friend.14 Are you ready to receive Him and eternal life?

THE “ABCs” OF SALVATION

A –  Acknowledge that you are a sinner, that all people have done things that are wrong compared to God’s standards.

B –  Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again, and that out of love He took your punishment upon Himself.

C –  Claim Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, asking Him to forgive you for your sins and trusting in His finished work on the cross.

WALKING WITH THE LORD

If you prayed to receive Christ, welcome to the family of God! To grow in your new life as you walk with the Lord, it is important to pray (talk to Him as your Friend and Savior), read the Bible regularly (listening and responding to Him as you read), and gather with other believers who know the joy of fellowship with Him.

A great place to begin reading the Bible15 is in the book of John. It presents Jesus as the divine Son of God. It also records His miraculous life, death, and resurrection.

May God richly bless you as you walk step by step with Him … born again to new life!

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1We inherited a sinful (self-centered) nature from our original ancestors, Adam and Eve. See Genesis chapter 3; see also Rom. 3:23; 5:12. 2See 1 Cor. 15:1–4. 3Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 6:23. 4Jesus Christ was crucified on a Roman cross in 33 AD, and His final words were “It is finished!” (John 19:30). 5Rom. 8:11. 6Gal. 5:22–23. 72 Cor. 5:21. 8Eph. 2:1, 12. 92 Pet. 3:18; see also Eph. 1:6. 10Eccl. 3:11; John 4:14. 11Heb. 13:5. 121 John 5:11–12. 13John 14:6. 14John 15:13. 15For a recap of solid evidence for the truth of Biblical Christianity (such as “Is the Bible the Infallible Word of God?”), see TWT apologetics pamphlets (TrueWayTracts.com).  

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States. 

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