SINNER TO A BORN AGAIN
Key verse: I Timothy 1:15
Bible Passage: I Timothy 1:14, 15 and 16
We all know a road map shows the way to reach to a destination from a particular place. It guides us to take the right path to reach the destination..Oh! You may think what this roadmap is going to do, to become a ‘born again’. This road map is God’s word that would take us to the right place you and I are ought to be...Yes! Hope God will speak to you through this sermon.
The Bible says in I Timothy 1:15” Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst”.
Imagine we are travelling by train from a starting point called ‘SINNER’ to a destination called’ BORN AGAIN’.
In every youth meeting it’s become a common practice for preachers to insist all young people to give up their sins... get closer to God...know that JESUS loves us more than anybody in this world...get to know more about His love ...and so on. Sometimes it means only ‘Greek and Latin’ to us, unless we really crave to get out of our sinful life. For those of you who really long to own that divine love, please don’t hesitate to buy a ticket to travel in this train down the way!!
So here we are to start are journey to ‘BORN AGAIN’.
STATION 1-‘SINNER’
What is sin?’
It is something that makes us feel bounded. We may seem to enjoy it but when it is over, the happiness you found in it does not stay.
This is where you and I are !!
To illustrate, usage of cell phone is a common thing but when we use cell phone and find ourselves in a condition to delete the call history or search history or the inbox , it is where you are trapped by this cell phone.
If we find happiness in staying all alone at home to do things that cannot be done in others’ presence that is where we are bound to sin.
There is nothing like ‘a small sin’ or ‘a big sin’...A sin is a SIN.
We need not feel guilty that we alone are sinners. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 , that ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’
No man is just right! So I encourage every youth reading this sermon to daringly take up a decision and keep moving to the next station.
STATION 2-‘ADMIT’
As we are prepared and have realised that this SIN doesn’t bring us the real joy to live our lives, the first thing that we have to do is, to admit that ‘you have sinned’...and that ‘you really want to get out of it’... Once you have done this, as said in I John 1:9 your sins are forgiven and we are cleansed and made pure. Here comes the next station.
STATION 3- ‘BELIEVE’
Next thing is we need to believe 3 things
1. Jesus died for your sins.
2. Jesus rose on the third day to bring you freedom from your sins and
3. Jesus is all powerful to free you from your sins.
That’s it ...this belief as said in
John 1:12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—you are now called his children...and this carries you to the next station .
STATION 4-‘CONFESS’
No man is perfect...and none knows what sins you have committed by ‘looking at your face’. Only God knows my dear children! Now, it’s something only between you and GOD. So, kneel down in prayer and just confess all things you have done that were unpleasing in God’s sight...that hurt your loved ones...your parents...and all who wanted you being good.
When you confess the Bible says in Proverbs 28:13 that, ‘Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy’.
So we are now HIS very dear and darling ones...How much loved we feel when we really are able to travel till here...With this hope, let’s travel to the next station and reach our destination ,i.e., ‘SALVATION’
STATION 5-‘SALVATION’
Now that you have confessed everything you felt you did wrong, you are closer to GOD and really he would come to dwell in you. Why because you are now free from sin. There is nothing that hinders your relationship with him now. Now keep this up...and the next step after this would be getting prepared to be baptised...and there you should get off your train as you have reached your destination
DESTINATION-‘BORN AGAIN’
You are born again when you get baptised.
What is this baptism?
It’s a symbolic representation of you throwing away your past sinful life behind you ,heading forward towards a Christ centred future .
It’s a mandatory one because it acts like an entrance ticket to enter into heaven as the Bible tells in II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!”
It is customised in different ways in different denominations of churches...But only thing I want to insist you is that once you are being saved never delay to go for a baptism...make it immediately.
Hope I made things clear!
WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT SALVATION?
Every place has got its own speciality...right? We too have reached a special place...and we have to know about its speciality. Let me tell you.
After you have received this salvation, you should know how it really helps you to be God’s children. Let me bring this to you in three points.
I. You are now FREE FROM SIN.
Romans 8:2 says ”because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death”. From this we know that we are free from sin and we are forgiven.
II. You are now FREE FROM CONDEMNATION
You need not see a BAD Judgement Day. You can see this in Romans 8:1 as,” Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. As, your sins on earth have been forgiven that would be the day you would be rewarded for it.
III. You will be rewarded with an ETERNAL LIFE
When we turn to GOD’S ways HE promises us an eternal life...A life after our physical death in this world as said in I John 2:25 as” And this is what he promised us eternal life”. What a wonderful thing that would be to live forever praising and worshipping JESUS in heaven along with the angels!!!
Heaven is a wonderful place...that’s what we sing and believe and long for too...when buying a ticket to heaven is very feasible and that too just only by you...why to delay to receive salvation and be born again?
Let me conclude with a true incident that happened a couple of years back...that was really heart breaking when I heard about it.
There was a pastor insisting a young man...a very loved one by everyone...at church to receive salvation and be born again. You know what that little chap replied to the pastor,”Brother ( as He calls him dearly) I know you got into all these spiritual stuffs only after enjoying your life to the fullest. I promise I would be your dear brother in doing the same and might be after ten years I would be one like you in God’s work.”His reply was amusing for everyone there for that moment and he left the place. A week after this incident it so happened that the young man happened to die in a bike accident. When the pastor was informed about this his heart broke for this young man who did not listen to his words and heed to ‘the final call’.
My dear youth who is reading this sermon...Time will wait no longer...as our Saviour is coming soon...Today, the very moment is yours...But next moment or tomorrow is only in God’s hands...and HE alone knows our future...Might be this is the final call JESUS is giving you..REPENT my dear one and get closer to God to reach the final destination, i.e., HEAVEN...the very purpose of our life here on earth.
BE BORN AGAIN...AND BE BLESSED!!!
