BGEA: What is your definition of a born-again Christian?

A friend of mine talks a lot about being a born-again Christian. I'm not sure exactly what she means. What is your definition of a born-again Christian? — Mrs. B.R.

A born-again Christian is someone who has repented of their sins and turned to Christ for their salvation, and as a result has become part of God's family forever. All this takes place as God's Spirit works in our lives.

You see, by nature we aren't members of God's family, and we don't have any right to inherit eternal life. The reason is because of our sin. We have rebelled against God, and because of that, the Bible says, we are "separated from the life of God ... due to the hardening of (our) hearts" (Ephesians 4:18). No, you may not see yourself as a bad person (and you probably aren't)—but in God's eyes even one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven.

But Jesus Christ came to save us and to make us part of His family forever! He did this by dying for our sins on the cross and by conquering death through His resurrection. You see, as a human being you were born into a family—and nothing can ever change that. But when we come to Christ we are spiritually reborn into another family—the family of God. The Bible says to Christ's followers, "You have been born again ... through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

My prayer is that you too may be born again and become part of God's family. By a simple prayer of faith, tell God that you know you are a sinner, and you are sorry for your sins. Then ask Christ to come into your life and save you. When you do, God will come to live within you by His Spirit, and you will be born again.

7 Comments

Leanne says 5.2.2013, 1:55 p.m.

You omitted the most important fact of becoming born spiritually: The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That is the believer's evidence, God's Spirit living within you. You can't convince yourself of this, as it's not a conversion or a mental assent.

Chip says 2.23.2013, 7:40 p.m.

Born again literally means to be born of God, becoming a child of God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, God's Son, John 1:12-13, The Word who became flesh, John 1:14. Spiritual birth is an act of God, giving eternal life to the believer.

Larry says 2.3.2013, 06:33 a.m.

Being born again is not a process but something that happenes immediately upon receiving Christs forgiveness for our sins. Jesus once told a man, "because you don't believe I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins - your sin is your unbelief

Leah says 1.28.2013, 07:03 a.m.

One can repent but not follow God's commandments does that mean you are a born again? God gave us his ten commandments and to me if you follow all those commandments it means you have repented. If only I could see one I could become a born again

Brandon says 1.20.2013, 6:27 p.m.

Wouldn't you say that being born again is also a process? I mean, many people reject Christ through sinning right after they ask Him to be in their lives. Don't we need to continually accept Christ?

How one is born again says 9.14.2010, 05:36 a.m.

It is true we are born again through the living and enduring word of God(1 Peter 1:23). But what does"through the living and enduring word of God" mean,exactly? Does it not mean we are born again as directed by God through his word? This being the case, we can know for sure how one is born again by following the instructions of God's word. The same question was asked some 2000 years ago on the day of Pentecost, "men and brethren what shall we do?"(Acts 2;37). "Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts.2:38). As one can see by this verse,Two things, the gift of the Holy Ghost, here, is likely, the remission of sins, and that baptism is not counted as works. If baptism is of works, then the remission of sins can not be a gift as stated in Acts2:38."It is the gift of God: Not of works" (Ephesians2:8,9,). We can also rest assured that these directions for the remission of sins are still in effect for the present,"For the promise is unto you,and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call,(Acts.2:39). Without the word of God we wouldn't know the way of salvation, and it is imperative that we are seeking God through his word. Otherwise we are seeking salvation through ourselves by our own means.This is what's troublesome about the instructions of saying a simple prayer of of faith.

amira says 8.12.2010, 10:55 p.m.

I'm looking for the sermon about being born-again .God bless us all.