Born Again

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16

Baptism is the act of faith in Christ that causes them to change from their old sinful, earthly way of living and start living their life for the glory of Christ. When someone is baptized, they are completely submerged under water, signifying their death to the carnal, sinful life, and when they rise back up out of the water, it is the start of their new life as a Christian.

Just as when we die physically on earth, and we are raised up in our new bodies when Jesus returns, baptism is the death of our life without Christ, and when we get raised back up out of the water, our new life begins.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Baptism is like changing oil on a car. When you take your car to the shop, they will take and drain out all of that old, dirty oil, and fill it back up with new, good, clean oil. When we are baptized, the whole old way we used to live is drained out of us, and we are filled up with the oil of the Holy Spirit.

In John 3, a man named Nicodemus was talking with Jesus. Jesus explained to him that you need to be born again to enter into God’s kingdom. We need to be born again through baptism of the Spirit.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:1-7

Just because someone has been baptized doesn’t always mean that they truly believe in the word of God. I know of some who have been baptized, not because they really believed, but because they were with some other friends who were being baptized and they just did it because their friends did. It takes true faith. Just like the verse at the top of the page says, you NEED to BELIEVE and be baptized to be saved. Because it is when you believe that you will follow Christ.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27

“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16

If you haven’t been baptized and born again, what are you waiting for? Today is the day of salvation!!

In Christ,

Andrew