— What is Salvation and what it means to be Born Again —
The Bible, God’s written word, is very clear how you can be sure where you will spend eternity. You can know that there is life after death, experience peace with God, be confident of a place in Heaven, and know that you are born again. God says to enter Heaven and to be saved from Hell;
“You must be born again.” “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” John 3:7; Acts 4:12
To be “born again” means to exchange spiritual death for spiritual life.
The word salvation includes the following: saved, healed, delivered, pardoned, rescued, protected, preserved, made whole, cured, set free and restored.
WHY THERE IS A NEED FOR SALVATION AND TO BE “BORN AGAIN”?
You see in the beginning God created a beautiful place for His creation to live it is called the Garden of Eden. The man and woman, Adam and Eve, were created by God to walk in a place of honor with Him and to be His representatives in this world. They walked and talked with the creator God and had provision for their every need. They had health, joy, peace, love, harmony, abundance, safety, security, and they did not know shame.
Genesis 1:26 - 27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 2:8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there He put the man whom He had formed.
Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not
ashamed.
God made a single condition to assess their faith and trust in His plan for them He said:
Genesis 2:16 -17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
God’s plan for Adam and Eve was based upon mutual respect, honesty, trust, and integrity.
Adam and Eve were expected to have confidence in what God said; similarly, He expects you and me to have confidence in His Word. If Adam and Eve would choose to believe what God had instructed them to eat, and would trust in the integrity of His Word, then they would live and prosper with Him forever. However, if they violated His trust and disbelieved His Word; then the process of deterioration would begin, and the end result would be their death.
Satan, God’s enemy came to deceive Adam and Eve. His deception was to cause a breach of trust in Adam and Eve’s relationship with God, and to destroy the harmony and peace they enjoyed in their relationship. Satan asserted himself as the authority in the manner when he spoke to Eve; furthermore, he deliberately contradicted God.
Genesis 3:1, 4 - 7 Now the serpent (Satan) was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he (Satan) said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Then the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “You will not surely die.” “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and make themselves coverings.
From the moment that Adam and Eve ate the fruit they shared in the same violation of the trust and integrity between them and God. Their lack of trust in the integrity of what God said was later called sin. The simple rule that God made was that the person who sins would die (Ezekiel 18:4, 20). Later it was repeated in another way: The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
THE RESULT OF SIN:
SHAME ─
Shame immediately came to replace the dignity that God gave to man and woman when they violated the trust in God and His Word and were disobedient.
Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and make themselves coverings.
FEAR ─
For the first time in their lives Adam and Eve were afraid and hid themselves from the presence of God.
Genesis 3:8 -11 "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?' So he said, “I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
SEPARATION ─
The trust and confidence in their relationship with God had been broken by sin. The harmony between God and his creation had been destroyed. God specifically told them what the consequences of their action would be.
Genesis 3:11-15 And He said; “Who told you that you were naked: Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field: On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed: He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
God went on to tell Adam and Eve that as the result of their sin that they would not be allowed back into the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:23 "Therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken."
The onset of sin had entered the human race, and was the beginning of suffering disease, pain, hate, lust envy, murder, jealousy, loneliness, guilt, poverty, hunger, destruction and death. It would be in-bred and past down into all generations to come.
Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
WHAT CHRIST DID:
The human race was now contaminated by sin and the punishment for that sin was spiritual
death – separated from God. When God spoke to the serpent He made a promise to provide a solution for the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin. He would have to do for people what they could not do for themselves. Let’s look at this scripture again.
Genesis 3: 14 - 15 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field: On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed: He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Both Seed and His heel are references to Jesus, who will be born of the Virgin Mary (as the Seed of woman) to destroy the rule of the enemy over people who hear and believe the gospel.
THE SOLUTION FOR SIN WAS BORN OUT OF LOVE
John 3:16 -17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Jesus, the Son of God, born of a virgin became the substitute for humanities sin by laying down His own life. He shed His sinless blood on the cross. His death satisfied the penalty for humanities sin. His death, in our place makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven. Not only, did eye witnesses see Jesus die, and buried; but, they also saw Him alive – risen from the dead. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the supreme authority in heaven, earth, and under the earth. His death and resurrection provides a way for you to be at peace and to be reconciled to God. No longer enemies, but forgiven – friends of God and a brand new creation.
BORN OF A VIRGIN
It is important to know that Jesus born of a woman was both human and Divine. He was human because He was born of flesh and Divine because He had God, the Father’s, eternal sinless nature. The Virgin Birth prevented the passing along by birth the sin nature. We could say it this way, Jesus, the Son of God, had his Father’s DNA. He was without sin and lived in a human physical body.
Luke 1:34 - 35 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Matthew 1:23 Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated, “God with us.”
DIED FOR HUMANITIES SIN
Because God is legal and just, there could only be one answer to restore humanity back to their original of friendship with God. The answer was substitution. If someone who is innocent of sin would be willing to take the place of a the person who is guilty and assume their full punishment, then the guilty person would be free, and could be restored to unity with God as though no wrong doing had ever been done. This is what the sinless Christ did.
I Corinthians 15:3 "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures."
I Peter 2:24 "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed."
Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."
WAS WITHOUT SIN
The miracle conception of Jesus was necessary because Jesus could not be born of human seed that had been infected with sin. Not only did Christ, the substitute for sin, need to born without a sinful nature, but he also, had to be subjected to the same temptations of sin as all human beings are. He must be exactly like us, and resist what people had not been able to resist. Jesus proved that God’s original plan of free choice could work. He proved that a human person could choose God’s word, and value the integrity of His word by being tempted by Satan just as Adam and Eve had been. Jesus was led into the wilderness where Satan came to tempt Him exactly like He did Adam and Eve. Every time Satan tried to bring a question against God’s Word, Jesus rejected his suggestions and repeated what God said. Even through the most trying of circumstances, Jesus believed God’s word. Jesus Christ was unaffected by the seed of sin and He committed no sin.
I Peter 2:22 "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth."
Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are; yet without sin."
HIS DEATH SATISFIED HUMANITIES SIN
The reason why Christ death satisfies humanities sin is because Christ had no sin in himself and did not commit sin. He assumed humanities’ sins and gave His life as a ransom. Christ assumed the penalty of death and paid humanities guilt this legally absolved us of death’s penalty. Since no debt can legally be paid twice, or no crime punished twice, humanity can be restored as though no wrong has ever been done. Jesus suffered and died in our name and on our behalf; therefore, we are no longer guilty before God and will be judged for our sins. The moment we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus Christ; we pass from death to life.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Hebrews 9:11, 12, 28 "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."
I Corinthians 15:3 "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture."
OUR SINS FORGIVEN
The shame of sin that brings hurt and division between humanity and God is removed by Christ’s forgiveness. When you receive Christ’s loving forgiveness nothing can stand between you and God.
John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
I John 1:7, 9 "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
HE RISEN FROM THE DEAD
Christ’s resurrection proves to us that God has complete power over death. An essential ingredient to the Christian faith is the belief that Jesus in human form died on the cross, and then three days later He was resurrected for the dead to live forever. The Word of
God tells us that this resurrection gives us hope in God. God has a resurrection plan for every person who desires to follow in Jesus' footsteps which results in eternal life.
John 11:25 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood."
I Corinthians 15: 4 "And that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."
Romans 6:9 "Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him."
Romans 6:5 "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection."
Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
EYE WITNESS
The facts of Christ’s resurrection are attested to by hundreds of eye-witness who saw and talked with Him during multiple appearances.
John 20:18 "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.:
I Corinthians 15:5 "And that He was seen by Cephas, they by the twelve."
I Corinthians 15:6 "After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep."
I Corinthians 15:7 "After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles."
I Corinthians 15:8 "Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time."
HE IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY
In the beginning Satan deceived humanity into thinking that God did not mean what He said; thereby, asserting himself as the supreme authority. Christ’s full obedience has established his supreme authority in heaven, earth and under the earth. He is the Alpha (the beginning) and the Omega (the end).
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ―All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Philippians 2:8 - 10 "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth."
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
HE RECONCILED US TO GOD – FORGIVEN
The word ―reconcile‖ means to change from being an enemy of God to becoming His friend. This means that the separation because of sin between you and God has been broken down by Jesus Christ when you receive His forgiveness. Christ’s death makes reconciliation possible and removes the feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Romans 5:6 - 11 "For when we were still without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more them, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."
2 Corinthians 5:17 - 19 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
PEACE WITH GOD
The fear that had entered the human race and that had restricted their access to God has been shattered by the blood of Christ. Humanities friendship with God is restored when he or she receives salvation.
Romans 5:1 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 2:13 - 17 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
MADE US BRAND NEW CREATIONS
Christ came to restore the original image of people created in God’s image and likeness. Male and female created in God’s image with His blessings and mandates. The spiritual exchange of death – to life occurs in the believing one who is born again. At the moment of your new birth Christ exchanges your guilt for His righteousness. You are now declared
righteous and justified in the eyes of God. The simple concept of righteousness is that you now have right standing with God, and are justified - you are just—just like you have never sinned.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Romans 8:15 - 16 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
John 17: 20 - 21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Galatians 3:26 - 28 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither salve nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
These truths help us to understand why humanity needs salvation and what Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, did. He provided a way for humanity to once again be reconnected to God, the Creator, by shedding his sinless blood on our behalf. He made a way for humanity to once again be united in harmony with God.
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Eternal life means more than endless continuation of life after death. Eternal life is the God kind-of life. It is that quality of life He has inside of Him. It is the life and nature of God, the Divine nature. When a person is born again by receiving Jesus, this life is imparted to his spirit. He passes from death to life and becomes a new creation. All you have to do is believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you. Do you believe? If so, you must now do your part.
WHAT YOU MUST DO:
Adam and Eve were not controlled by God like puppets on a string. They had freedom of will; just like people of today. They could choose to be God’s friend; question or reject His ideals and words. In order for a relationship to be valid it must be two-way. A one way relationship does not constitute a friendship or a companionship. God has done His part – He sent Jesus His Son to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus has done His part – He died and paid the penalty for our sin. Now you must do your part. You cannot become a child of God by joining the church, or a religious organization, or by family traditions, or by doing good works. The only way to become a child of God is to be born again by the ―incorruptible seed of God.‖ This is the new birth.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
Do you want to respond to God’s love for you?
Do you understand that you have sinned against God?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross as your substitute so that you can have a new beginning?
Do you repent of your sins and accept Christ’s forgiveness?
Do you want to fulfill the purpose for which you were created in God’s image?
Do you want God’s own life to come and to be in you, your new life?
If so, you can receive this miraculous new beginning now.
John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
Romans 10: 9 - 10 "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 10:11 "For the Scripture says, “Whosoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:13 "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
If you have understood the Gospel and are willing to repent and believe, you are ready to pray
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I thank you for loving me and opening up my heart to understand the gospel and to believe what you have done for me. I believe that you died in my place. I understand that I was guilty of sin and deserved to die, but you died so that I could live. I believe that you are alive today. I now repent of my sins, and I ask for your forgiveness and for the blood of Jesus to cleanse me and to make me new again. I ask you for your gift of life and peace. Thank you for coming to live in me. Today, I surrender to you as my Savior and the Lord of my life. Thank you for helping me to fulfill your plan for my life. Lord, with your help, I will learn how to be your representative so that your life in me will make others want to know you too.
Thank you, Lord, that today I am your child and a new creature. Thank you that today I am accepted into your family and that I am born again. Thank you that you live in me and that this is my New Day.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Welcome to the family of God. Today you have begun a new life. The Christian life is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Your relationship will last throughout all eternity. Tell someone what Jesus has done for you. Please let us know that you have made a decision for Christ.
COMMUNICATE WITH GOD —Talk to God everyday He is your friend. Just like you would talk to a friend everyday; talk to God everyday. He cares about you and wants to hear your voice; this is called prayer.
LET GOD TALK TO YOU — through reading the Bible you will begin to discover the great love and trust that God has in you. You will learn about Jesus who now lives in you. Begin by reading in the New Testament the Gospel of John.
TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT GOD — People need to hear about God’s love and forgiveness, and by telling others about them you are being a witness for Christ.
BE WITH OTHER BELIEVERS — It is important to be with other believers that share your belief and faith. Getting involved in a church will strengthen your faith, bring encouragement to you, help you to grow spiritually, and you will learn how to serve Christ by serving others.
