                           BORN AGAIN
                       What does it mean?

.     Many of us do not seem to have a clear idea of what a CHRISTIAN really 
is. Generally, we think there is a set of rules which, if kept faithfully, 
will make a person a CHRISTIAN. Some of us feel that if our good deeds 
outweigh our bad deeds, God will "let" us into heaven. 
.     In the BIBLE certain words are used in connection with being a CHRISTIAN 
that should be defined so everyone will know exactly what it means to become a 
CHRISTIAN. 
.     Have you ever heard the word CONVERTED? This means to "turn around." We 
are going in one direction and by what the BIBLE calls REPENTANCE, we turn and 
go in the opposite direction. By nature EVERYONE is going the wrong way - the 
way of sin - and we must be "turned around", or CONVERTED. There are two BIBLE 
verses that show this very clearly. JEREMIAH 10:23 says, "I know that the way 
of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." 
And Matthew 18:3 tells us, "Except ye be CONVERTED, and become as little 
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 
.     Sometimes we talk about being SAVED. What does this mean? To be saved 
means to be rescued from what we are in our old sinful nature, and to be made 
what God wants us to be, so that before HIM we are without sin. JESUS said 
that He came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (LUKE 19:10). His part 
in redemption was to pay the price of sin, and our part is to place our 
confidence and trust in HIM as our personal SAVIOR. When we do this, we can 
claim GOD'S promise that "In (Him) we have redemption ... even the forgiveness 
of sins." (Ephesians 1:7) 
.     Another phrase found in the Bible is that of being BORN AGAIN. In the 
third chapter of JOHN, JESUS said, "Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see 
the kingdom of God" (verse 3). What did JESUS mean by that? 
.     We respond and act like human beings because we received a human nature 
from our parents. So, to have the nature that acts according to the will of 
God, we must be BORN into HIS family and receive HIS nature. This is exactly 
what happens when we are BORN AGAIN. We are placed into God's family; we are 
made HIS children. The BIBLE says it this way: "Therefore if any man be in 
CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things 
become new" (II Corinthians 5:17) 
.     Now, let's discuss the words RECEIVING CHRIST. To receive something 
means to take, to accept, to trust in, or to believe. In the CHRISTIAN life it 
means to accept SOMEONE; and that ONE, of course, is JESUS CHRIST, God's Son. 
You heard the invitation of the Lord, "Come unto me, all ye that travail and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28), you turned from 
your sinful way (repentance) and you received JESUS CHRIST as your PERSONAL 
Savior. 
.     It is amazing how many take second best. We have asked some, "Are you a 
CHRISTIAN? Are you SAVED? Have you ever been BORN AGAIN? Have you ever 
RECEIVED CHRIST?" And they have answered, "Well, I belong to a church ... I do 
as many good things as I can ... I think I am as good as anybody ... I must be 
saved!" 
.     Going to church, being good and doing good deeds are fine, but these 
things do not give ETERNAL LIFE. The Bible teaches that to be SAVED - to be a 
CHRISTIAN, to be BORN AGAIN, to be CONVERTED - YOU MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST 
AS SAVIOR from YOUR sin. HE is the ONE who died for us (Romans 5:6). HE is the 
ONE who LIVES in heaven and speaks to GOD on our behalf EVERY day (I Timothy 
2:5). 
.     Suppose an angel should SUDDENLY stand before you and ask, "Are you 
ready to meet GOD?" What would YOUR answer be? 
.     If you are not CERTAIN, invite JESUS CHRIST into your heart and life 
RIGHT NOW. Make CERTAIN that YOU know what it means to be a CHRISTIAN. 
.     You can pray a prayer RIGHT NOW to do just THAT, by repeating the 
following prayer and meaning it in your heart. It doesn't matter if you close 
your eyes or not, God only wants your heart to be true: 
.     "Lord Jesus, come into my life and my heart. I do now acknowledge my 
sins and accept you as my personal savior. I acknowledge you as the Living Son 
of God, and Lord. I hereby commit my life to you for eternity." 

Computers for Christ

