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To the editor:
What does it mean to be truly "born again?" I ask this because I have heard over the years many who claim to be "born again" and understand it to be "asking Jesus into our hearts," "making decision for Christ," or walking an aisle and saying a prayer and all is okay.
In many cases there is no change in the type of life they live. They feel that they are okay because they were told that they were and they could have Jesus as their Savior but do not need Him as their Lord.
First we need to see the how we are "born again." Jesus gave us an explanation in the third chapter of John in verses 3-8. He told Nicodemus that "except a man born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John3:3). And when questioned about the need He explains further that "except a man be born fo water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5).
So what does it mean to be born of water? In John 15:3 Jesus says "ye are clean through the work which I have spoken unto you". Paul tell us in Eph. 5:26 that we are cleansed "with the washing of the water of the word." Then in Rom. 10:17 he tells us that "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." We need to be hearing the word of God and have an understanding of it."
Being able to understand God's word comes by the working of the Holy Spirit to change our heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezek.36:25-27). For without the changed heart we cannot understand the things of God and our carnal mind is enmity against God (Rom.8:6-8). As a result of the changed heart; He makes us receptive to God's word to convict us of sin and show us our need for repentance (1Peter 1:23, Acts 26:20, Rom. 10:9-10), we become "new creatures in Christ" (2Cor. 5.17). we become "disciples indeed" (John 8:31) and we continue in His word and keep His commandments. (John 14:21).
Being truly "born again" changes our whole outlook on life and we strive to be obedient to God and His Son and He is to us both our Saviour and Lord.
Jim Batt
Mexico