Introduction

Hello, dear friends! It's wonderful to be gathered together here in the house of the Lord, isn't it? There's a certain warmth, a certain comfort that comes from being in the company of fellow believers. It's like coming home, isn't it? We're not just a congregation, we're a family, bound by a love that transcends the ordinary, a love that comes from our Heavenly Father, a love that was epitomized in the sacrifice of His son, our savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, we're going to be talking about a topic that's at the very heart of our faith. It's something that Jesus Himself spoke about to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John. It's a topic that's as profound as it is transformative. It has to do with rebirth, with becoming a new creation in Christ. It's about being "born again."

Let's look at the Scripture, John 3:3, "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'" This passage is a cornerstone of our faith, isn't it? It tells us that to truly see, to truly understand, to truly be a part of God's Kingdom, we need to be born again. But what does it mean to be born again? How does it transform our lives? And why is it so crucial to our faith? These are the questions we'll be addressing today.

The great preacher R.C. Ryle once said, "To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a fresh mind and heart, to see the kingdom of God in a new light." Isn't that a beautiful image? A fresh mind, a fresh heart, a new light. That's what being born again offers us. It's not just a second chance, it's a complete transformation, a complete renewal. And it's available to each and every one of us, thanks to the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for this opportunity to gather together as a family in Your name. We thank You for Your word, which guides us and gives us hope. We pray that as we discuss the meaning and significance of being born again, You would open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Help us to grasp the depth of Your love for us, and the transformative power of being born again. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

So, friends, let's begin. Let's talk about becoming born again, the blessings it brings, and the importance of believing in the birth from above. Let's allow God's word to speak to us, to challenge us, to change us. Because that's what being born again is all about, isn't it? It's about change. It's about transformation. It's about becoming a new creation in Christ. And it all starts with understanding what it means to be born again.

Becoming Born Again

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of a spiritual rebirth that is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. This rebirth is a spiritual one. It's a transformation that takes place in the heart and mind of a believer. It's a change that is so profound, so all-encompassing, that it's like starting life anew. This is the essence of what it means to be born again.

New life in Christ. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are not just adding a new dimension to our existing life. We are starting a new life altogether. Our old self, with its sinful nature and worldly desires, is put to death. In its place, a new self is born, a self that is led by the Spirit, that seeks to do God's will, and that finds joy and fulfillment in serving Him. This is the miracle of being born again.

The process of regeneration. Now, let's look at the process of this spiritual rebirth in more detail. The first aspect we need to understand is that being born again is not something we can achieve on our own. It's not a result of our efforts or our good deeds. It's a gift from God. It's His work in us, made possible by His grace and His love for us.

Ephesians 2:8 In the book of Ephesians, Paul writes, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." This tells us that our spiritual rebirth is not something we earn or deserve. It's a gift that God freely gives to us out of His love for us. All we need to do is accept this gift through faith.

Being born again involves a brand new heart. We are not just changing our behavior or our lifestyle. It's about changing our very nature. It's about letting go of our old self, with its sinful desires and selfish ambitions, and embracing a new self, a self that is guided by the Spirit, that seeks to do God's will, and that finds joy and fulfillment in serving Him.

Ezekiel 36:25-27. In the book of Ezekiel, God says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This tells us that our spiritual rebirth is not just about outward change. It's about inward change. It's about having a new heart, a heart that is soft and responsive to God's Spirit, a heart that is filled with His love and His truth.

The promise of perseverance. In the book of Philippians, Paul writes, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." This tells us that our spiritual rebirth is not a destination, but a journey. It's a journey that begins the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and continues until the day we see Him face to face.

Being born again has eternal implications. It's not just about this life, but about the life to come. It's about being part of God's eternal kingdom, about having a relationship with Him that lasts forever. In the book of John, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." This tells us that our spiritual rebirth is having a new life, a life that is not bound by the limitations of this world, a life that is eternal and everlasting.

Blessings of Being Born Again

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the teachings of our Lord, we find ourselves drawn to the blessings that being born again brings into our lives ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO