Born Again...What Does It Mean?

"I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

Almost everyone knows who Jesus is. There is a difference between knowing who Jesus is and having a relationship with Him, though. God gives us the choice of having a second birth - to be born again and start a new life with Him. This happens when you willingly turn your back on sin, turn to Jesus for forgiveness, and ask Him to be Lord ... that is, the boss of your life. This is the only way to get to Heaven and spend eternity with Him. God loves you, no matter what you’ve done in your life, and He wants to have a relationship with you. There’s nothing that you’ve done that’s too big for Him to forgive!

Romans 10:9 says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

To be born again and welcomed into the family of God, pray this prayer from your heart:

“Heavenly Father, I believe you love me. I believe Jesus died for me because of my sin and rose from the dead in victory. I confess Jesus as my Lord, and I receive the forgiveness of all my sins. Today I will turn away from my sins and follow You. Holy Spirit, come into my life. Thank You for saving me, in Jesus' name. – Amen.”

Welcome to the family of God! Now that you are on God’s path for your life, there are a few important first steps we would like to encourage you to do:

• Get a Bible you can call your own. There are many different versions available, so choose one that is easy for you to understand. We suggest you start reading your Bible in the New Testament, perhaps with one of the gospels such as the book of John or 1John, so that you can discover how much God loves you.
  
  
• Set aside time to read your Bible and pray each day. Prayer is simply talking to God. While this may feel a little awkward at first, it is a very important facet of your spiritual growth. Remember that God loves you as a son or daughter, and He desires you to know Him.
  
  
• Look for and regularly attend a Bible believing church. Becoming a part of a local church is an essential building block of your spiritual growth. A good church will provide you with instruction and leadership based in the Word of God and also encourages the development of your God given abilities and gifts. CLC is a Bible believing church and we invite you to visit with us.
  
  
• Develop friendships with other Christians. One of the best places for a new believer to do this is in the local church. Your spiritual growth will continue as you become involved with other believers who also desire to follow God’s purpose and plan for their lives.

If we can answer any questions or be of assistance to you in any other way, please don't hesitate to contact us at our church office. You can call us at 724-287-3303, or email us at clcbutler@zoominternet.net.