Understanding The Born-Again Experience

Jesus replied, "With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this: Unless you are born-again, you can never get into the kingdom of God". John 3:3 (The Living Bible)

Read John 3: 1-6 and 14-21 out loud.

This describes us before and after the Born again experience

Ephesians 2:1-6 (The Living Bible)
Once you were under God's curse, doomed forever for your sins. You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, who is at work right now in the hearts of those who are against the Lord. All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into. We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God's anger just like everyone else. But Gods is so rich in mercy; He loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, He gave us back our lives again when He raised Christ from the dead - only by His undeserved favor have we ever been saved - and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms-all because of what Christ Jesus did.

I. Man needs God

God created man to be perfect, but he fell in the Garden of Eden by disobeying God. Sin and death, through Adam and Eve's sin entered the earth. After this, all people were born into sin with Satan being their father, because he is the father of sin or rebellion against God.

Through sin, man was cursed and doomed, separated from God.

God is a holy God. He could not be in fellowship with man because of the sin.

.....and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 9:22b

In order to be in right standing with God, our sins must be forgiven. In the old testament days, sin was forgiven by sacrificing animals which helped, but it was not good enough. Sacrificing animals fell short in many ways. (Read the book of Hebrews to learn more if you choose)

God had a plan to make a way for us to be forgiven and changed for good or raised from the dead, spiritually speaking as Ephesians 2:6 above puts it.

II. Jesus death and resurrection was the plan that would bring us into right standing with God. (Righteousness)

For He has rescued us out of darkness and gloom of Satan's kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who bought our freedom with His blood and forgave us all our sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Jesus was sent by God, born from a virgin. He lived a sinless life and then willingly became the blood sacrifice to pay the sin debt of people who are willing to receive this gift. He took our punishment for sin so we wouldn't have to. All we have to do is be sorry for our sin, turn from it and put our faith in Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us.

III. When we are born-again, the change on our insides is real.

God changes our hearts the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord. Our lives are different and we begin to act different. We become a brand new person. A real miracle has taken place in our lives.

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun! All these new things are from God who brought us back to Himself through what Christ did. 2 Corinthians 5:17,18a

What kind of changes should we expect?

1. We now have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us to bare witness of God's presence in our lives, to guide us, to teach us and to mold us into the image of our Father.

2. He gives us a heart of unity with other believers and with God. He Gives us a tender heart than loves God. This new heart enables us to obey God's commands.

I will give you one heart and a new spirit, I will take from you your hearts of stone and give you tender hearts of love for God, so that you can obey my laws and be my people and I will be your God. Ezekial 11:19-20 The Living Bible

3. We are able to feel and experience God's love for us on the inside, and we also have love for others because God has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us. He brings many changes. We are no longer self centered humans, but rather we have a desire to build up or to help others in whatever way we can. We become creatures of love. To love God and people is the most important way to please God. It is our greatest command according to Jesus.

Then when that happens, (problems and trials)we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love.
Romans 5:5 (The Living Bible)

He Has put His brand upon us - His mark of ownership - and given us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee that we belong to Him, and as the first installment of all that He is going to give us. 2 Corinthians 1:22 (The Living Bible)

4. He brings us into His family, making us sons and daughters.

5. He makes us righteous, clean, in right standing with God, forgiven. We have a clean slate.

For from the beginning God decided that those who came to Him - and all along He knew who would - should become like His son (Jesus) so that His son would be the First, with many brothers. And having chosen us, He called us to come to Him; and when we came, He declared us, "not guilty," filled us with Christ's goodness, gave us right standing with Himself and promised us His glory. Romans 8:29-30

6. The power of our sin loving nature was shattered. Our desired changed from wanting to do evil to wanting to do good. We are to become like Jesus, patterning our life after the example He gave us in His three year ministry on earth. To see how we as disciples of Jesus are to live, study the life of Jesus in the Gospels.

For sins power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized (into Christ) to become part of Jesus Christ; through His death the power of your sinful nature was shattered. Your old sin loving nature was buried with Him by baptism when He died, and when God the father, with glorious power brought Him back to life again, you were given this wonderful life to enjoy. For you have become part of Him, and so you died with Him, so to speak when He died, and now you share His new life, and shall rise as He did. Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with Him; that part of you that loves sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin loving body is no longer under sins control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; for when you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure and it's power over you. Romans 6:3-7 (The Living Bible)

Does this mean that the world no longer pulls on us? No. However, our desires have changed and we have the power to overcome every temptation. If we resist temptation the allure of sinful things are less and less. If we are deceived to think God doesn't know or doesn't care and continue to do those things anyway, sin will have power over us again.

You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you. Colossions 3:10 (The Living Bible)

We are to grow in this life by continually learning more of what is right and always trying to be more Christ like. The Holy Spirit inside of us with help us greatly.

So dear brothers, you have no obligations whatever to your old sinful nature to do what it begs you to do. For if you keep on following it you are lost and will perish, but if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and its evil deeds, you shall live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14 (The Living Bible)

There will be a change in your life if you are born again. You will make mistakes but you should ask forgiveness and continue trying to please God. We will be controlled by our new nature. See Romans 8:8-9

7. You will become aware of purpose for your life. God has a plan for each of our lives. We were born for a purpose. He will lead us to that plan and purpose if we follow Him.

8. Illumination of your mind: You have a new ability to understand Gods word and spiritual concepts. You will grow in this as you submit yourself to learning from the Holy Spirit.

IV. We have to grow up in all these areas.

The born-again experience is real and powerful. The changes happen in our hearts and begin to manifests in our life immediately. However; being born-again is only the very beginning of our spiritual journey. We have been moved from Satan's kingdom into God's kingdom. God's Kingdom is very different from the world we live in and there is much to learn about it. You will grow in all the areas we discussed as you learn about God's Kingdom. It is a wonderful and exciting journey. You have made the right choice in applying yourself to spiritual growth.

Weekly Challenges:

Read: Continue to read a chapter in John each day, chapters 7 - 13. Also Read the daily chater of proverbs.

Think: Spend some time this week thinking about your own born again experience. Here are some questions to ponder:

1. How did it change you?

   Since you were born again, have you started living different than you did before?
2. What areas do you struggle in? Ask God to help you grow in these areas.

Be prepared to discuss some of these things that you are comfortable discussing this week during your groups accountability time.

Prayer: Pray at least 10 minutes daily.

Operation L. O. V. E.: This week, sometime while you are out at the mall or wherever, make an effort to make eye contact with at least two strangers and smile. You would be surprised at how a smile can make someone's day.

Scripture Memorization:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all thing have become new.

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