|
What is salvation and the new birth (being born again)?
Let us start by saying that the Bible calls it being “born again.”
During Jesus’ ministry
here on Earth, a Rabbi (teacher of Jewish law) named Nicodemus came to interview Jesus
at night and stated, “we
all know that God has sent you to teach us, your miracles alone are proof enough of this."
Jesus then told him, “That unless a person is born again (anew, from above) he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with and
experience) the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus then said to Jesus, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can
he enter his mother’s womb again and be born?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, unless a
man is born of water and (even) the Spirit (Holy Spirit), he cannot (ever) enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of (from)
the flesh is flesh (of the physical is physical) and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit” (John
3:2-6).
This is the new birth, what is referred to as being “born again.” Jesus Christ paid a great price
(His life) by suffering and dying on the cross to pay the price for every sin that mankind had committed up till then and
every sin humanity would commit in the future to open the way of salvation, the “new birth.”
|
 |
|
|
What part does belief have in salvation (the new birth)?
In John 3:15-16, Jesus said, "everyone who believes in Him (who cleaves to Him, trusts Him and relies on Him) may not perish but have eternal life and (actually) live forever. For God so greatly
loved the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings
to, relies on) Him shall not perish, come to destruction, be lost but have eternal everlasting
life.”
In verse 17, Jesus said, "for
God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that
the world might find salvation through Him."
How do you receive salvation (the new birth)?
In Romans 10:9-11, the Apostle Paul teaches, “if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord
and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in
and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous,
acceptable to God) and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms (his) salvation."
What
is the promise of salvation (the new birth)? It is that when anyone receives Jesus as Lord, they receive the assurance of
Romans 10:11 which says, “No man who believes in Him (adheres to, relies on
and trusts in Him) will (ever) be put
to shame or be disappointed.” And then the apostle John further confirms, “But to as many as did receive and welcome
Him, He (the Father) gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe
in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.” God becomes Father and we are His children.
|
|
|
|
|
A Prayer for Salvation (Please say this
out loud)
Heavenly Father,
I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and
be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." I do that now. I confess that Jesus is Lord,
and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.
I am now reborn! I am a Christian - a child of Almighty God!
I am saved!
By saying this prayer out loud you have been heard by God and have heard it yourself meeting God's requirement
to be saved. You are now a born-again child of God the Father through the shed blood of Jesus!
Continue with the blessing God has given you and pray each day. You'll never be the same!
Find a good Word of God church who preaches the truth of God, and become a part of that church family who will love
and care for you as you love and care for them. We need to be hooked up to each other. It increases our strength in God. It's
God's plan for us to be in an earthly family of believers.
|
|
| Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but though me. |
|
|
|
|
|
