EVERY PERSON MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

THE IMPERATIVE OF THE NEW BIRTH
Text: John 3:1-7
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

A PRAYER FOR THE PERSON WHO READS THIS!

Father God in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, grant that the mind and heart of the person reading this will be open to receive the truths presented in this article. I come against every evil spirit that would blind the minds of the one/s reading this now and I proclaim that in the most powerful name of JESUS CHRIST, salvation is being experienced by many who read this presentation. Thank you FATHER in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!

The New Birth is Not an Option but is Mandatory. A reality that needs to be experienced by every person as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. To be Born Again is the one thing needed for every person to know that he or she is going to heaven and be in the presence of God Almighty for all eternity in Glory! This is God’s Plan and Will for every person. Man must decide as to whether he wants to be Born Again or not. His choice has eternal consequences that will affect his eternal destiny – either heaven or hell. The Lord Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction (Hell), and many are those who enter by it. 14 For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that lead to life (Heaven), and few are those who find it.” The Lord Jesus Christ also taught in Matthew 25:41 that hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Read also Revelations 20:10; Rev. 21:8; Mark 9:43 to 48). The Lord Jesus Christ taught more on hell than on heaven in the New Testament. It is safe to heed, listen to the warnings of Holy Scriptures about the reality of hell. It is wise to follow, do and obey what the Scriptures teach about the reality of hell. Not to hearken and heed the warnings is folly, foolishness and plain stupidity (Proverbs 1:7). Therefore, heed, listen to the Words of Jesus Christ in John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

There are Three Questions that Needs to be Asked and Answered by Man:
I. Why is there a need to be Born Again?Three Answers:
(1) John 3:3 - to be able TO SEE the kingdom of God;
(2) John 3:5 - to be able TO ENTER the kingdom of God;
(3) Romans 10:9 – to make Jesus Christ LORD of one’s life

If Jesus Christ is not Lord, then the Devil/Satan will be lord of a person’s life whether he realizes it or not, believes it or not, knows it or not.

Fact: Is Jesus Christ my Lord, if not, the Devil/Satan is and will be my lord.
John 10:10 The thief (Satan/Devil) comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; (Jesus Christ) came that they (men) might have life, and might have it more abundantly.
Revelations 12:9 ….. Who is called the Devil, and Satan, who DECEIVES the whole world (of men & women). If a person is TO SEE & ENTER the Kingdom of God, that person MUST BE BORN AGAIN. And if that person is to live for God in this world, then that person MUST confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD (Romans 10:9).

II. What does it mean to be Born Again?

Answer: John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Man is a Tripartite being, that is, a Trichotomy (3 parts) according to Scriptures (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). First, a spirit being with a soul living in a physical body.

Born of water refers to Physical Birth. When a mother gets pregnant, God allows water to be formed in her womb for two reasons: water serves as protection for her baby while the baby is in her womb for 9 months. When the time comes for the baby to be brought into this world, the bag of water breaks and the water itself helps the mother to bring the baby into this world. This speaks of PHYSICAL BIRTH (verse 5).

Verse 6 is very plain and clear. It speaks of the need of a person to experience SPIRITUAL BIRTH.

Physical Birth happens only once in a person’s life. So it is with Spiritual Birth, once only.

We then have to answer the 3rd Question: HOW CAN A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN? But before we give the answer, we need to know and understand the SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF MAN AS GOD SEES MAN or A PERSON.

FIVE (5) ABSOLUTE TRUTHS THAT IS TRUE TO EVERY PERSON AS GOD LOOKS AT MAN ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURES.

These truths are true regardless of one’s social, economic and educational status or standing in life (rich or poor, educated or uneducated, whatever color of skin a person has), every person falls under God’s All seeing/knowing Presence. Before Good News can be appreciated Bad News must be made known. The God of Holy Scriptures is Holy, Just, Righteous and His wrath is against all ungodliness of men but He is also Loving, Merciful, Forgiving, Gracious (Romans 1:18-32; Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 55:6-7; John 3:16).

1st – Man is a SINNER – Romans 3:9,10,23; Romans 5:6,8,12;
2nd – Man’s Spiritual Heart is DECEITFUL – Jeremiah 17:9;
3rd – Man’s Spiritual Heart is ROTTEN – Mark 7:21-23;
The Gospel which means Good News is also in the Old Testament found in Ezekiel 36:26-27. God wants to give man/person who is a sinner with a deceitful & rotten heart a NEW HEART by performing a SPIRITUAL HEART TRANSPLANT.
4th – Man because he is a sinner with a deceitful & rotten heart is a CHILD OF THE DEVIL – John 8:44; 1 John 3:8 & 10; But the Gospel/Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ is that a child of the devil can become a child of God (John 1:12).
5th – Man therefore is “SPIRITUALLY DEAD”- Ephesians 2:1 though physically alive. Verse 12 without Christ … having no hope… and without God in the world.

Religion, Philosophy and Higher Education has taught that man is good and is capable of attaining by and for himself a utopic existence. Religion has taught men to do good and follow, obey God’s commands, yet because of their ignorance of what Holy Scriptures teaches about the spiritual condition of man before a Just, Holy and Righteous God, they have actually given men FALSE HOPE.

Thinking, saying and teaching that because God is a God of Love, God will never send any person to a place called Hell. Yet, they have failed to understand Scriptures that teaches that this God who is a Loving, Merciful & Forgiving God, is also a HOLY, JUST, & RIGHTEOUS God and therefore He cannot countenance sin and must therefore Judge sinners who refuse to come to Him (God’s Way) in True Repentance of their sins and Believe on Him (Jesus Christ) ALONE who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
Acts 4:12 states: And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other NAME (Jesus Christ) under heaven that has been given among men, by which we MUST BE SAVED.

It is Jesus Christ Alone or be condemned at your own risk of rejecting God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.(John 3:16-18, 36; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 5:9-12).

III. HOW CAN A MAN/PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?

The LORD Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel of Mark 1:15 and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; Repent and Believe the Gospel.

John the Baptist also preached and taught about Repentance in Matthew 3:2 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The Apostle Peter also taught about Repentance. Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul in Acts 17:30 states: Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent. Acts 26:20b …that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

Luke 24:47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His (Jesus Christ) name to all the nations.

1st – REPENT – a turning away from a lifestyle of sin. A change of mind and will with regard to sins in ones life. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish (go to hell) but for all to come to repentance.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives us a list of sins as follows: fornication, idolatry (worship of idols), adultery, homosexuality/lesbianism, theft, greediness, drunkenness, revilers and swindlers. Ten (10) sins that people can be guilty of. If these sin/s are part of a person’s life, then the Word of God demands repentance for the person to experience forgiveness of sin/s.

Revelations 21:8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers, idolaters (worship of idols) and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Eight sin/s).

2nd – BELIEVE the Gospel. The Gospel is good news and is about the Person of the LORD Jesus Christ; His finished work of Atonement on the Cross of Calvary for all the sins of men (past, present and future); That His Precious Blood alone shed on the Cross 2,000 years ago can wash, cleanse, and blot out our sins. (John 3:16-18, 36; John 5:24;

Hebrews 9:22 and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. A person must believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) and there can be no admixture (Galatians 1:6-9) whatsoever of this Absolute Truth. There is Only One Gospel/Good News and it is all about the LORD Jesus Christ. All other ways will lead men to destruction and eternal punishment in a place called hell. (Rev. 20:10; 21:8).

3rd – RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Personal Savior & Lord. A person must realize that salvation is a Free Gift from God. It can never be merited or work for.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith (faith in Jesus Christ alone) and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God 9 not of works less any man should boast.

John 1:12 says: But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ) to them God gave the power to become the children of God even to them that believe on His name.

A Prayer for the Person who wants/desires to be Born Again!

Almighty God, I come to your throne of grace, solely and on the merit alone of the Blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. I confess & acknowledge before you that I am a sinner in need of your mercy today. I repent of all of my sins. Have mercy upon me. Wash, cleanse and blot out all my sins with the precious BLOOD of the LORD JESUS. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my LORD because I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Today, now, once and for all, I make a decision for all eternity, I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and LORD of my life (John 1:12). Thank you LORD for saving my soul. Thank you LORD for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank you LORD for the gift of eternal life (John 6:47). And thank you LORD for making me your child. In JESUS name, amen!

If you prayed this prayer sincerely with all your heart, I say to you in the name of our LORD JESUS Christ, you are now God’s child, a brother or sister in Christ, a member of God’s family. The author of this article will appreciate it very much if you will make known to him the decision you have made today. (Call, write or email) God richly bless!


WHAT A NEW CHILD OF GOD, A BELIEVER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST DO AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN?
1) Declare, proclaim, say with his/her mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD of my life (say it many times) and tell the first person that he/she meets that Jesus is LORD of his/her life (Romans 10:9). Don’t be ashamed to confess/share with others your faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:32-33);

2) Get yourself a Bible (King James Version) and begin reading & studying God’s Word daily (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Start with the Gospel of John.

The Word of God is food for the soul (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:11); Fill your heart and mind with God’s Words. It will begin to change & transform your life even your circumstances. Every truth you encounter in the Bible, seek to apply it in your life by obeying and doing what it says, God Almighty will bless you;

3) Begin to talk to the LORD in Prayer. Learn to praise & thank Him for all things (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Develop an attitude of gratitude & thanksgiving to God. Ask Him for all your needs (Matthew 7:7) and trust/believe Him to provide (Phil. 4:19);

4) Ask & trust the LORD to bring you to a Bible Preaching, Teaching and Christ-centered Church or Fellowship of True Born Again Christians (Hebrews 10:25). Introduce yourself to the Pastor of the church and let him know that you just received the LORD Jesus as your Saviour & LORD. Tell him you want to grow in faith and serve the LORD in a local church where you can belong. Fellowship with those of like faith, brothers and sisters in Christ;

5) Pray and ask God the FATHER in the name of the LORD Jesus (John 16:23-24) to fill you with His Holy Spirit as commanded in Ephesians 5:18 day by day, to empower you to live the Christian life and be an effective witness to others.


By: Rev. Emmanuel P. Salvador – Chaplain/Evangelist
Adonai Seafarers Fellowship, Inc.
Pier 9 Red Hook Marine Terminal
P O Box 310025
Brooklyn, New York 11231 USA

Email: ministerjhn33@hotmail.com
Blog at http://manny-knowthetruth.blogspot.com/
Tel. No. # 718-643-0608
Cell No. # 917-294-5154