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New Birth
The term "new birth" or "born again" has become quite common in recent years. But what does it mean? The new birth is a Biblical command found in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: "Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again [new birth]" (John 3.7). Everyone who comes into this world comes already tainted with the sin Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God a curse descended on all mankind forever. "The soul that sins shall die." and "The wages of sin is death." Because of sin man was expelled from the Garden of Eden, and also expelled from his intimate relationship with God. The best way to help you understand is to do as Jesus did and explain it with an illustration.
One of the advantages of this presentation is that it is effective cross-culturally
and can be drawn on a piece of paper, then left in the inquirer's possession
to review what may have transpired. On a sample piece of paper draw two
horizontal lines about two inches apart, then
The sinner then believes (puts his or her total trust in) that Jesus'
death on the cross paid the penalty for the individual's sin, then receives
Christ into his or her life through a prayer that invites him to come in
and take over. The result of this "transaction" is that Scripture now gives
us assurance that a person then becomes a child of God. When a person confesses
Christ as Lord and Savior and believes in his atoning work on his or her
behalf, the person is saved - quote Romans 10:9-10, and write it over the
whole illustration.
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Begin by writing GOD on the right line and PEOPLE on the left line. State
that in the beginning God made each person to have fellowship with him,
but each person chose to go his or her own way, turned his or her back
on God, rebelled against him, and so fell into sin. This caused a separation
between people and God (draw the two sides of the cliff on God's side and
people's side).
We know that a great separation exists between God and individuals because
the Bible tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23). Write the word SIN vertically between the two sides
of the cliff, and write Romans 3:23 under the side of People, noting under
it, "All have sinned," then circle the word "all." Now quote Romans 6:23,
write it down under the People side, and note under it, "Sin earns spiritual
death." Then quote Hebrews 9:27, write it down, and put down, "Judgment
is coming." Then say, "This is the BAD NEWS, and write it down at the bottom.
At this point a person is in a hopeless and helpless condition with no
way of crossing the chasm.
Then quote Romans 5:8, and, as you are quoting it, draw the cross over
the term "sin" by drawing the lines starting from God's side. Write down
Romans 5:8 and "Christ died for us" underneath the side of God. Now quote
Ephesians 2:8-9, write it down, and note, "Redemption is a free gift."
(God's grace is absolutely free.) Then quote John 1:12, and as you are
quoting it write "Believe" on the left side of the cross and "Receive"
on the right; write the reference down on God's side with this notation
under it: "We must believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior." Then
say, "This is the GOOD NEWS, and write it on the bottom of that side. This
now is the only way a person can cross the chasm of sin that separates
the individual from God.
