The big question is: "Have you been born again?" Not: "Have you joined a church?" or, "Are you trying to do your best?" or, "Have you got religion?" - but "Are you twice born?" "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3.)
Life begins with a birth. Physical life begins with a birth, spiritual life likewise begins with a birth. We become members of the human family by birth, we become members of the family of God by a birth - by being born again. There is no other way to get into the human family except by birth, there is no other way to get into God's family except by the new birth. Education will not do it. Reformation will not do it. Joining a church will not do it. Being religious will not do it. Making up your mind to "do better" will not do it. Trying to do your best will not do it. "You must be born again." (John 3:7.)
As at physical birth you receive life which you never possessed before, so, by the new birth you receive life which you never possessed before even in the most minute degree. By physical birth we become partakers of the human nature, by being born again we become "partakers of the Divine nature." (II Pet. 1:4.) The second birth is not an improvement of the old nature, it is the imparting of a new nature - entirely new. The old nature is unimproved and unimprovable. God never demands or expects improvement of the old nature. In His sight it is hopelessly corrupt and incapable of ever being made fit for His Presence. (Rom. 3:9-20.) The new birth requires a creative act of the Holy Spirit. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation." (II Cor. 5:17 R.V.)
At the Second Birth, the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ begins in us. "Christ liveth in me." (Gal. 2:20); "Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you? (II Cor. 13:5); "Christ in you" (Col. 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 one. "Christ our Life" (Col 3:4).
Christianity is not "religion." Christianity is life - the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ introduced in us at the moment we are born again and reproduced in us moment by moment by the Holy Spirit. "I am come that they might have Life" (John 10:10); "He that hath the Son hath Life" ( I John 5:12); "To me to live is Christ." (Phil 1:21).
"Trying to follow Christ" is not Christianity. Christianity is not imitation of Christ, it is the indwelling of Christ. Christianity is not trying to do anything, it is trusting Christ Who has done it all! He has "finished the work", and there is nothing left to do - simply trust Him Who said, "It is finished!" He shed His precious Blood on the Cross, and the Work is all done once and forever! Cease trying, and begin trusting! "Let go - and let God."
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5). "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the 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, R.V.)
Being born again (Gr. "from above") is the work of the Spirit of God, the implanting of the new life, which reveals itself in faith and conversion.
To "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" means more than believing the historic facts concerning Him. To believe on Christ "unto Salvation" means to rely on Christ alone. It is not "Christ and the Church," or "Christ and baptism," or "Christ and my faith." It is not "Christ and - anything else! It is trusting Christ alone. It is to depend on Him, to definitely and deliberately receive Him. It means to trust Christ alone so utterly and completely that if He should fail - there is nothing left!
This is an important question. We know that we are born again first of all on the testimony of God's Word. God says: "He that heareth My Word, and believeth - hath everlasting Life, and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto Life." (John 5:24 R.V.) Have you thus believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Then you are saved, you are "born again," you have passed out of death into life - God says so! If there were no other evidence this would be enough: but there are other evidences.
When we are born into the human family we exhibit certain family characteristics which distinguish us as human. When we are born into the family of God, we will inevitably bear the family likeness. We are "blood kin" to God! The "Precious Blood" of the Lord Jesus Christ, shed on the Cross, has brought us into this blessed relationship! Through Him we have become members of the family circle! There are certain unmistakable "family traits" which mark those who have been "born again." These are: "Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self control." (Gal. 5:22.) Are these manifest in your life? If so, then you know of a surety that you "have passed from death unto Life." (I John 3:14.)
You may "belong to a church," you may be a "church officer," you may be "very religious," you may be a "great church goer," you may be "active in church work," you may be "trying to do the best you can," you may be "striving to live right," your outward life may be the acme of moral correctness, you may be looked up to, honored, revered, respected; and yet if you have not been "born again" you are just as lost as though you had never heard of Christ. Yes, you may teach in the 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 still have never been "Born Again" you are still in your sins and a stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ! (Matt. 7:21-23.)
Posted with permission. Available in pamphlet form.