We regular church-goers have probably seen people who've "walked the aisle,"
"taken the pastor's hand," "prayed the sinner's prayer," "decided to accept Jesus as
their Savior," were even baptized; but when trials and troubles came, they fell away
and denied God, proving that they were never really regenerated (born again) in the
first place.
They may have had a head knowledge of Jesus, and maybe even an emotional
experience, but they never had a saving faith, given to them by God.
Their heart of stone was never replace by a heart of flesh ("I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give
you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees
and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you
will be my people, and I will be your God" - Ezekiel 36:26-28).
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The Bible says to test ourselves to see if we have really been regenerated (born again).
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not
realize, that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
We should ask ourselves some questions:
1. Do I do what God has clearly commanded in his word? Has God's love truly been made
complete in me? (1 John 2:3-5a).
2. Do I really walk as Jesus walked? (1 John 2:5b-6). Is my life producing spiritual fruit
through his spirit? "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and
desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25).
3. Do I acknowledge Jesus as Savior with my words, but not my deeds? Does my life
exhibit the major evidences of true salvation - believing, loving, and obeying? (1 John 2:23-24).
4. Is my life charactized by holiness, or by sin? (1 John 3:8-10).
"Satan is the originator and instigator of sin and rebellion against God, and all the unsaved
are under his diabolic influence. While those who are truly born again reflect the habit of
righteousness, Satan's children practice sin." - John MacArthur
5. Do I sense an abiding presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit? "Little children, you
are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in
the world" (1 John 4:4). The Holy Spirit fills believers with power that keeps us close to
him and away from a life characterized by the practice of sin.
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When we are born again, we are still the same human being, but with a new heart,
a new spirit, and a new nature. God does this miraculously.
Before, we were hardened and dead spiritually, with a heart of stone (unresponsive), but the Holy
Spirit gives us a heart of flesh (softens), and we are made spiritually alive (responsive).
The Holy Spirit gives life!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given
us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into
an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith
are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in
the last time."
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed."
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you
believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal
of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:3-9).
After this, we are to live a certain way. "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil
desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy
in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:14-16).
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Are you unsure of your salvation? Examine yourself and if you fail the test, repent and believe.
("Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may
come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus"
(Acts 3:19-20).
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess, and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10).
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The new birth brings new life for those who believe!
Jesus is life! "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me'" (John 14:6).
Anyone who has Jesus has life! "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God
does not life" (1 John 5:11-12).
Jesus is eternal life! "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us
understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true - even in
his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).
Jesus said, "You must be born again" (John 3:7b).
Have you been born again?
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