“How long will it take? Must I not grow into the new birth?” No, we are born into the kingdom of God and that makes us children and heirs. That means at any age, time, or place, if you hear the call and respond, you can be born again by the Spirit. “When may I expect to be born again?” The Scripture says, “To day if ye will hear his voice” (Hebrews 3:7). “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, it is called a birth-a new life in Christ Jesus.
So likewise, when we are born again, a new life in Christ Jesus after the Spirit comes forth. When a child is born, a new life comes forth, a new person in the flesh. This comes when we feel remorse for our sinfulness and in faith look to Jesus for forgiveness. “Then what is the new birth?” The new birth consists of a change of the heart from a life of serving self to one of serving the Lord. For God by the prophet says, “A new heart also will I give you” (Ezekiel 36:26). No, we cannot be what we are not: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Someone may say if I try and do all I can: giving to the poor, visiting the sick, and being as good as I can every day, then surely I am born again (Matthew 25:41-45). It is not praying, for Jesus says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). It is not reform or trying to live better, “for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). It is not eating of the Lord’s table, for some ate unworthily and it brought condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:29). It is not joining the church, for some slipped in unawares (Galatians 2:4). It is not baptism, for some were baptized and yet not born again (Acts 8:18-25). You may ask, “What is being born again?” Today there are a lot of misconceptions about the new birth. For Jesus says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Therefore, we ask: Friend, are you born again? Church member, are you born again? If not, then you are lost. Jesus tells us that the gates of heaven are closed to us unless we are born again. We will have a free conscience, a desire to do right, and an assurance of a home in heaven. God sees when we are ready for the new birth. God gives us the new birth when we turn to Him with remorse for our sinful life and repent. What does this mean? The new birth is not any of the following: baptism, church membership, partaking of communion, reforming one’s life, prayer, or good works.
Jesus said that the only way to be saved is to be born again.
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