How To Be Born Again

[Anthony Pritchard]

How To Be Born Again​

By a man born again in February 1979 aboard a U.S. Navy warship in the Persian Gulf​

Introduction:

Many people have questions about the new birth and what it means to be born again. I wrote this to give a clear, Scripture based explanation of what God says about it. My hope is that it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. All verses are quoted in full so the Word of God can speak for itself.

The new birth is not a religious feeling, a moral improvement, or a human decision. Yet God commands all men to repent and believe the gospel, and these acts of faith are the means by which we receive the new life He alone gives.

The Lord Jesus said plainly:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

And again:

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

To be born again is to receive a new life from God, a life that did not exist before, a life that is holy, incorruptible, and eternal.

Here is what Scripture teaches.

1. The new birth begins with the Word of God​

No one is born again by emotion, tradition, or ceremony. God uses His Word as the seed of the new life.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

The Word of God is the incorruptible seed. When it is received in the heart, believed, and embraced, God brings forth a new creation within.

2. The Spirit of God gives life through that Word​

The new birth is not self produced. It is not the result of human effort. It is the Spirit who gives life.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6

Flesh can only produce flesh. Religion can only produce religion. But the Spirit produces spirit. He creates a new man within, a new nature that is from God.

3. The new birth comes through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ​

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When a sinner hears the truth of Christ crucified and risen, and believes on Him, God gives life.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12

This receiving is not a ritual. It is believing who He is and what He has done.

The next verse makes it clear that the new birth is entirely of God:

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

Not of blood: not inherited. Not of the will of the flesh: not self produced. Not of the will of man: not conferred by another. But of God: entirely His work.

4. The new birth comes through repentance and faith​

Repentance is not self reformation. It is turning to God, acknowledging the truth about our sin, and believing His testimony about His Son.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19

Faith is not a feeling. It is believing God’s record.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36

Everlasting life is not a reward. It is the life of the new birth.

5. The new birth produces a new creature​

When God gives life, He creates something entirely new within the believer.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This new creature is not the old man improved. It is the new man created by God.

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

This new man is born of God’s seed and cannot sin.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9

This is the life God gives. It is holy because its source is holy.

6. The new birth is received by calling upon the Lord​

God has made the way simple. The sinner who believes the gospel and calls upon Christ is saved.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

This calling is the cry of faith, the turning of the heart to Christ.

7. The new birth is permanent and eternal​

What God creates cannot be destroyed. The life He gives is everlasting.

“And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

The new birth is not temporary. It is not fragile. It is the eternal life of God placed within the believer.

How to be born again​

1. Hear the Word of God.
   
2. Believe the gospel of Christ.
   
3. Turn to God in repentance.
   
4. Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
5. Receive the new life that God gives.

This is not a formula. It is the work of God in the soul. But He has promised that all who come to Christ will be received.

“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

 

[kyredneck]

How To Be Born Again

It's odd that Christ in Jn 3 didn't tell 'how' one can be born from above, He emphasized the absolute necessity of it.

He did tell how it occurs:

7 `Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
8 the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.` Jn 3

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Jn 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, except anyone be born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God."

Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!"

Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

Jesus replied to him, "Truly, I tell you emphatically, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone may not be born from above, he is not able to see the Kingdom of God”;

Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Jesus answered and said to him, 'Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;'

 

[Armchair Apologist]

How To Be Born Again​

By a man born again in February 1979 aboard a U.S. Navy warship in the Persian Gulf​

Introduction:

Many people have questions about the new birth and what it means to be born again. I wrote this to give a clear, Scripture based explanation of what God says about it. My hope is that it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. All verses are quoted in full so the Word of God can speak for itself.

The new birth is not a religious feeling, a moral improvement, or a human decision. Yet God commands all men to repent and believe the gospel, and these acts of faith are the means by which we receive the new life He alone gives.

The Lord Jesus said plainly:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

And again:

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

To be born again is to receive a new life from God, a life that did not exist before, a life that is holy, incorruptible, and eternal.

Here is what Scripture teaches.

1. The new birth begins with the Word of God​

No one is born again by emotion, tradition, or ceremony. God uses His Word as the seed of the new life.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

The Word of God is the incorruptible seed. When it is received in the heart, believed, and embraced, God brings forth a new creation within.

2. The Spirit of God gives life through that Word​

The new birth is not self produced. It is not the result of human effort. It is the Spirit who gives life.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6

Flesh can only produce flesh. Religion can only produce religion. But the Spirit produces spirit. He creates a new man within, a new nature that is from God.

3. The new birth comes through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ​

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When a sinner hears the truth of Christ crucified and risen, and believes on Him, God gives life.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12

This receiving is not a ritual. It is believing who He is and what He has done.

The next verse makes it clear that the new birth is entirely of God:

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

Not of blood: not inherited. Not of the will of the flesh: not self produced. Not of the will of man: not conferred by another. But of God: entirely His work.

4. The new birth comes through repentance and faith​

Repentance is not self reformation. It is turning to God, acknowledging the truth about our sin, and believing His testimony about His Son.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19

Faith is not a feeling. It is believing God’s record.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36

Everlasting life is not a reward. It is the life of the new birth.

5. The new birth produces a new creature​

When God gives life, He creates something entirely new within the believer.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This new creature is not the old man improved. It is the new man created by God.

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

This new man is born of God’s seed and cannot sin.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9

This is the life God gives. It is holy because its source is holy.

6. The new birth is received by calling upon the Lord​

God has made the way simple. The sinner who believes the gospel and calls upon Christ is saved.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

This calling is the cry of faith, the turning of the heart to Christ.

7. The new birth is permanent and eternal​

What God creates cannot be destroyed. The life He gives is everlasting.

“And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

The new birth is not temporary. It is not fragile. It is the eternal life of God placed within the believer.

How to be born again​

1. Hear the Word of God.
   
2. Believe the gospel of Christ.
   
3. Turn to God in repentance.
   
4. Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
5. Receive the new life that God gives.

This is not a formula. It is the work of God in the soul. But He has promised that all who come to Christ will be received.

“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

I am very cautious regarding any sort of "Methodology" these days. Looking at your major points here, I do not see any place where I would disagree with your presentation but the words "How to be saved" brings me to hesistate and push back just a little.

The Philippian Jailor asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" and I cannot think of any better way he could've worded it but what I do see here is our human nature at work always focusing on what "we must do" when the answer is there is nothing we can do aside from turning to God in repentance and in faith, believing the gospel! There is no doubt that Paul had been dealing with this Philippian Jailor earlier that day (or whenever it was that Paul was remanded to his custody) and I am sure that Paul stuck to the clarity of the Gospel message and this is what we ought to stick to as well!

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

I am very cautious regarding any sort of "Methodology" these days. Looking at your major points here, I do not see any place where I would disagree with your presentation but the words "How to be saved" brings me to hesistate and push back just a little.

The Philippian Jailor asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" and I cannot think of any better way he could've worded it but what I do see here is our human nature at work always focusing on what "we must do" when the answer is there is nothing we can do aside from turning to God in repentance and in faith, believing the gospel! There is no doubt that Paul had been dealing with this Philippian Jailor earlier that day (or whenever it was that Paul was remanded to his custody) and I am sure that Paul stuck to the clarity of the Gospel message and this is what we ought to stick to as well!

“Brother, I appreciate your concern, but the title How To Be Born Again is simply the language Jesus Himself used. John 3:7 ‘Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.’ My article explains the new birth exactly as Christ described it. Nothing more and nothing less.”