Sunday, September 28, 2025
Are you born again ?
It is impossible to over-emphasize the importance of having the New Birth, of being what Jesus and the New Testament call, being "born again". For as Jesus Himself said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). In other words, don't leave home (earth) without it!
But, you ask, is it even possible for me to really KNOW that I have been born again? Some groups say, No, it's not. In fact, they say that it's a sin to even think that you know you're born again or that you have eternal life.
Yet that is the exact opposite of what the Bible itself says. The apostle John wrote his first letter with the intent and purpose that you, in fact, would know that you have eternal life. Listen to what he says: "And this is the testimony: that 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 have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life (1John 5:11-13). He says, "We KNOW that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14). God wants us to have this "know it" assurance: "And by this we KNOW that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him" (1 John 3:19).
"OK, then, how do I know?"
The first letter of John gives us several proofs, or evidences that we have been born again and belong to Jesus.
1. The Proof of Fellowship with God. " But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:7). We maintain this fellowship with Him by confessing our sins to Him directly (1 Jn. 1:9). Am I having fellowship with my Heavenly Father?
2. The Proof of Obedience. "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him" (1 Jn. 2:5). He doesn't mean sinless perfection (see 1 Jn. 1:8,10), as that is impossible in this life. But there is a lifestyle of increasing obedience to Jesus (see Jn. 14:15,21,23-24). Is there a growing obedience in my life to God through Christ?
3. The Proof of Abiding. If you abide or remain in the same Christ you received at the start of your Christian life, this is proof that you're His. "Therefore let that abide [or, remain] in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides [or, remains]in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life" (1 Jn. 2:24-25). Am I abiding in Jesus, like I did at the start?
4. The Proof of a Changed Life. If you're the Real Deal, there will be a changed life, a practice of righteousness. "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother (1 Jn. 3:9-10, ESV). How has God made my life more like His?
5. The Proof of Brotherly Love. True Christians love other Christians. "We KNOW that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers" (1 Jn. 3:14, ESV). This isn't simply having good feelings toward them, but the practice of meeting real needs in a commitment to your brother or sister's highest good. Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ?
6. The Proof of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. "Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we KNOW that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us… By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 Jn. 3:24, 4:13). In the genuine Christian, there is the impact of a Personality greater than our own. The Spirit of God makes His presence known by the fruit of the Spirit, the character qualities of Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23), and the personal awareness and assurance that HE is there, crying, "Abba, Father" deep in our hearts (see Rom. 8:15-16). Am I aware of the Holy Spirit's moving and presence in my life?
7. The Proof of Continuing Faith. "Everyone who believes [or, continues to believe] that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him… I write these things to you who believe [or, continue to believe] in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life" (1 Jn. 5:1, ESV). If, after years of trial, suffering, even persecution because of your allegiance to Jesus, you STILL trust in Him, there is one and only one reason for it: you have been born of God! As Peter says, you're the "Genuine Article" (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). So do I still believe in Jesus, regardless of problems or opposition?
8. The Proof of Answers to Prayer. "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we KNOW that he hears us in whatever we ask, we KNOW that we have the requests that we have asked of him" (1 Jn. 5:14-15). God doesn't answer prayers by accident. He purposefully hears and answers His very own children. This, John says, is how we KNOW we are His! Has God answered my requests to Him?
Again, bottom line, and it's very simple: "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life" (1 Jn. 5:11-13). He wants you to KNOW!
"Can I Really Know That I'm Born-Again?" © 2025 by Edward Michael Gross, Lion Press. All Rights Reserved.
But, you ask, is it even possible for me to really KNOW that I have been born again? Some groups say, No, it's not. In fact, they say that it's a sin to even think that you know you're born again or that you have eternal life.
Yet that is the exact opposite of what the Bible itself says. The apostle John wrote his first letter with the intent and purpose that you, in fact, would know that you have eternal life. Listen to what he says: "And this is the testimony: that 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 have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life (1John 5:11-13). He says, "We KNOW that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14). God wants us to have this "know it" assurance: "And by this we KNOW that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him" (1 John 3:19).
"OK, then, how do I know?"
The first letter of John gives us several proofs, or evidences that we have been born again and belong to Jesus.
1. The Proof of Fellowship with God. " But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:7). We maintain this fellowship with Him by confessing our sins to Him directly (1 Jn. 1:9). Am I having fellowship with my Heavenly Father?
2. The Proof of Obedience. "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him" (1 Jn. 2:5). He doesn't mean sinless perfection (see 1 Jn. 1:8,10), as that is impossible in this life. But there is a lifestyle of increasing obedience to Jesus (see Jn. 14:15,21,23-24). Is there a growing obedience in my life to God through Christ?
3. The Proof of Abiding. If you abide or remain in the same Christ you received at the start of your Christian life, this is proof that you're His. "Therefore let that abide [or, remain] in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides [or, remains]in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life" (1 Jn. 2:24-25). Am I abiding in Jesus, like I did at the start?
4. The Proof of a Changed Life. If you're the Real Deal, there will be a changed life, a practice of righteousness. "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother (1 Jn. 3:9-10, ESV). How has God made my life more like His?
5. The Proof of Brotherly Love. True Christians love other Christians. "We KNOW that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers" (1 Jn. 3:14, ESV). This isn't simply having good feelings toward them, but the practice of meeting real needs in a commitment to your brother or sister's highest good. Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ?
6. The Proof of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. "Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we KNOW that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us… By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 Jn. 3:24, 4:13). In the genuine Christian, there is the impact of a Personality greater than our own. The Spirit of God makes His presence known by the fruit of the Spirit, the character qualities of Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23), and the personal awareness and assurance that HE is there, crying, "Abba, Father" deep in our hearts (see Rom. 8:15-16). Am I aware of the Holy Spirit's moving and presence in my life?
7. The Proof of Continuing Faith. "Everyone who believes [or, continues to believe] that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him… I write these things to you who believe [or, continue to believe] in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life" (1 Jn. 5:1, ESV). If, after years of trial, suffering, even persecution because of your allegiance to Jesus, you STILL trust in Him, there is one and only one reason for it: you have been born of God! As Peter says, you're the "Genuine Article" (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). So do I still believe in Jesus, regardless of problems or opposition?
8. The Proof of Answers to Prayer. "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we KNOW that he hears us in whatever we ask, we KNOW that we have the requests that we have asked of him" (1 Jn. 5:14-15). God doesn't answer prayers by accident. He purposefully hears and answers His very own children. This, John says, is how we KNOW we are His! Has God answered my requests to Him?
Again, bottom line, and it's very simple: "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life" (1 Jn. 5:11-13). He wants you to KNOW!
"Can I Really Know That I'm Born-Again?" © 2025 by Edward Michael Gross, Lion Press. All Rights Reserved.
# posted by Groseys messages @ 7:43 AM 
