Are you born again?

One blazing hot Monday afternoon, I went to visit a dear brother in his room. We had a lengthy conversation on various things- from academic work to ministry. We discussed God's Word and I "Xendered" some messages to him. Then, we prayed. It was such an enjoyable time of fellowship.

Just as I was about to depart, I sensed the need to witness to this chubby gentleman who was also present most of the time I was there. He even made interesting quips to our conversation. In my mind, he was saved. But I had to ask to be sure. For me, if I meet you for the first time and I do not know you and I do not know when next I will meet you again, I will take advantage of that moment to preach the Gospel to you.

So as I was about to leave, the brother I visited was getting ready to see me off. I turned to the chubby gentleman and asked, "Are you born again?" He said, "I don't understand."

"Whoa!" I thought to myself, "I don't understand that he doesn't understand." I paused for about 5 seconds and continued, "Do you know a man named Nicodemus?"

He thought for a moment and said, "No."

"Whoa!" I thought to myself again, "Then he really needs to be born again."

So, beginning from Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus in John chapter 3, I explained to him that he must be born again in order to be born again.

Before you continue reading, are you born again? If you are not born again, then according to Jesus Christ, you cannot see the Kingdom of God, neither can you enter the Kingdom of God.

After my encounter with this chubby gentleman, my resolve to tell the Gospel has been heightened because the dear brother I visited assumed that his friend was born again. They were friends but one was born again and the other wasn't. No wonder Jesus said that on that day, two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other will be left. Don't be deceived. I earnestly implore you: if you are born again, don't assume that those around you who also talk religious jargon or go to Church are born again. Deliberately share the Gospel with them. Find out from them, face-to-face, "My friend, are you really born again? Are you saved? Have you believed in the Name of Jesus for your salvation?"

Now more than ever, we must preach the Gospel. The end is nearer now than we first believed and God is not willing that any should perish (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

Back to the room: after sharing the Gospel with the chubby gentleman, I asked him, "So, are you born again?" After giving it some thought, he said, "No." 

I said to him, "Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth..." then he butt in, "Me kraa, I have to go for confession oo..." I was taken aback so I asked him, "Confession?" Then he explained that he was a Catholic and that he had to confess his sins to the priest. At that instance, my fury knew no limits but I simmered down within and smiled, saying, "The Bible says without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. No amount of confession can take away your sin. Jesus was God's perfect sacrifice to take away your sins.  You are already forgiven of all your sins. When you believe in that finished work of Jesus on the cross, then you receive forgiveness for your sins."

Once again I began, "Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Notice that you are confessing the Lordship of Jesus of your life- you are not confessing your sins. Confessing His Lordship over your life brings about a new ownership and dominion in your life. I keep saying that there are only three people you can live for: Jesus, yourself or the devil. When you confess Jesus as the Lord of your life, He now reigns supreme over your life. If you take this bold step right now, you will be born again."

He accepted to receive Jesus as the Lord of his life and his Saviour as I led him in a prayer of salvation. 

Gloryyyyy!!!

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I want to share briefly with you the content of my message to him on being born again, and if after reading, you realize that you need to be born again, then ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and your Saviour- He will make you a new creature by His Spirit.

I would like for you to have a look at the book of John chapter 3, beginning from verse one to verse nineteen.

Now, Jesus said except a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Then He went on to say that if you are not born again, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Then he went on to say that "you MUST be born again." It is not a suggestion. Neither is it an option. It is a command, an instruction, a sovereign declaration of Almighty God. You MUST be born again.

We discover from John chapter 3 that Jesus was obviously not talking about entering your mother's womb a second time to be born. Rather, he was speaking about a spiritual rebirth. How does this come about? More importantly, why is it even necessary?

Well, throughout the Scriptures, we see that man has not been the same as he was when God originally created him. As a human being, you are a spirit, having a soul and living in a body. The real you is your spirit. Your soul consists of your emotions, your will and your intellect, and of course, your body is the physical part of you with which you contact this material world.

Now, when Adam sinned by disobeying God's command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and of evil, the Bible says death came upon all men (Romans 5:12). First, he himself died (spiritually, leading to the tendency for his flesh to also die). When he died (spiritually), his spiritual senses became unresponsive to God. He lost contact with God. He could not fellowship with God anymore as he used to.

Then, when you were born into this world, you inherited this nature of sin from your great great great great great great grandparents (Adam and Eve).

As such, you were also separated from God by birth, by that sin. That sin was imputed to you. You, as a result, had tendencies to sin, simply because of that nature within you. The Bible says you were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).

But thanks be unto God for His Son Jesus Christ! He was born of a virgin. As a result, he was not corrupted with the nature of sin that we had.

So He lived on earth, ministered to the House of Israel during that period, raised up twelve disciples, performed incredible miracles and fulfilled his ultimate work- taking away the sins of the whole world. He was the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

He was beaten brutally, cursed, scourged, and crucified on a cross. As he hung on that God-forsaken cross, the sins of the world were laid on him. Jesus called God Father all through His time on earth but on the cross, he cried, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" He called Him God because at that point the sins of the world were upon Him and He was alienated from God.

His blood didn't just atone for our sins: it blotted them out and signed a new covenant between Him and God. 

It didn't end there! Jesus was buried after His death. He was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:11).

That is the same Spirit that engineers your rebirth (see Titus 3:5-6).

So, the Bible says that those who receive Him (Jesus) become sons of God (John 1:12). Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1).

To be born of God, you must receive the life of God and you only receive from Him by faith. Believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and you will be born again, a new creature, with the life and nature of God. Righteousness will be imparted to your spirit and you will have eternal life.

If you want to be born again, you can pray as follows:

"O Lord God, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I am a sinner in need of your saving grace. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross to pay for my sins and that you raised Him from the dead for my justification. I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord over my life. From today, I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Saviour. Please cleanse me with the precious blood of Jesus Christ from all sin. Thank You for saving me. I am born again! I am a new creature in Christ Jesus! Hallelujah!"

God bless you! If you just prayed that prayer, you are born again! Gloryyyyyy!!! 

The next important thing is for you to grow in this faith. Please get a Bible and start reading the Gospel of John. Also, locate a Christ-centered to attend.

You can also send an e-mail to fiankosamuel@gmail.com or call/text 0265044415.