The big question is: "Have you been born again?" It is not: "Have you joined a church?" or "Are you trying to do your best?" or "Are you religious?"-but, "Are you twice born?" "Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
Physical life begins with a birth; likewise, spiritual life begins with a birth. We become members of the human family by birth; we become members of the family of God by being "born again." There is no way to get into the human family except by birth; there is no way to get into God's family except by new birth. Education will not do it. Making up your mind to "do better" will not do it. "Turning over a new leaf' will not do it. What is needed is not a new "leaf-but a new "life"! "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).
A New Nature
By physical birth we partake of the human nature. By being born again we become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). A Christian is the product of a divine begetting (James 1:18). The second birth is not an improvement of the old nature, it is the imparting of an entirely new nature. The old nature is unimproved and unimprovable in God's sight. It is hopelessly corrupt and incapable of ever being fit for His presence (Romans 3:9-20; 8:7). New birth involves a creative act of the Holy Spirit. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]" (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2: 1 0).
Christ in You
At the second birth the life of the Lord Jesus Christ begins in us. "Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). "Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5); "Christ in you" (Colossians 1:27); "I in you" (John 15:4). The unanimous testimony of the Word of God is that when one is born again the Lord Jesus Christ comes in and becomes the life of that person. "Christ ... our life" (Colossians 3:4).
Christianity is Christ
Christianity is not "religion," Christianity is life-the life of the Lord Jesus Christ introduced at the moment of new birth, and reproduced in us moment by moment by God's Spirit. "I am come that they might have life" (John 10:10). "He that has the Son has life" (I John 5:12). "To me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1: 2 1).
Not Trying - But Trusting
"Trying to follow Christ" is not Christianity. Your outward life may be the summit of moral correctness. You may be looked up to, honored, revered, respected-yet if you have not been "born again" you are as lost as though you never heard of Christ. Yes, you may teach in Sunday school, be a "preacher of the Gospel," be "gifted in prayer," read the Bible, sing, shout, "feel happy," and all the rest-but if you have never been "born again" you are in your sins and a stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ! Christianity is not imitating Christ; it is the indwelling of Christ. Not trying to do something; but trusting Christ Who has done it all! The Lord Jesus said: "It is finished!" He shed His precious blood on the cross and the work is all done, once and forever! Cease trying and trust.
How Can I be Born Again?
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (I John 5:1). "As many as received Him, to them gave He power [the right] to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1: 12, 13).
You become a Christian by trusting a Person-receiving a Person. The very moment you do this, the Lord Jesus Christ enters-and life begins.
What Does it Mean to Believe?
To "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31) means more than believing the historic facts concerning Him. Intellectual belief about Christ is not enough. If you believe that God is one; you are doing well, but understand that the demons also believe, and shudder. But demons are not born again. The belief which accompanies eternal life must be "with the heart" - "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness" (Romans 10:10).
To "believe" Christ means to rely on Him alone. It is not "Christ and baptism" or "Christ and my faith"; it is trusting Him alone. To "believe Christ" means to so definitely and deliberately depend on Him, that if He should fall there is nothing left.
The Lord Jesus says, "He that hears My word, and believes
on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John
5:24). Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Cost? If so, then
you are "born again." You have passed out of death into
life. Take God at His word, and go on your way rejoicing!