“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new “(2
Corinthians 5:17).
According to the Bible we are "born
again" when we:Acknowledge we have been separated from God -- living
independently from Him -- and repent for staying separated. ("Repent"
means to stop and completely change direction.) Turn
toward God and away from our former way of living. Personally, and verbally, ask Jesus Christ to be our
Savior - receiving Him as the One who by His death, burial and resurrection
made it possible to come back to God. Give ourselves fully to Him, recognizing
that Jesus is Lord -the One who is entitled to all authority in our lives.This
act of believing, the term used most commonly in the New Testament, is not
merely mental assent but actively inviting Jesus to be our Savior and Lord with
all our heart and strength. Passion is permissible!
Though observable changes didn't take place
immediately, you see a process of gradual change - the ways the Bible describes
transformation: Out of DarknessInto Light(1 Peter 2:9);Out of Bondage Into
Freedom(Romans 8:21);Out of Death Into Life(Romans 6:13)
On day one after your commitment to follow Jesus
you may not feel any different. Don't let your feelings obscure this one major
fact: a huge transition has taken place! It will take time -- maybe a lifetime
-- to fully appreciate the ramifications of turning your life over to Christ --
both now and for eternity. Don't be discouraged if you don't see the evidence
right away. Stand your ground. You have embarked on a new journey. You are a
new person with a new, transformed life. Your adventure of following Jesus has
just begun.
