“He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.
But as many as received him,
to them he gave the right to BECOME children of God,
to those who believe in his Name…”
John 1:11-12

He gave them the right to BECOME children of God…

HOW does a person BECOME a child of God? The next part of the verse tells us how:

vs 13:
“…who were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Some religions teach that “we are all children of God.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Until a person is born again, he is not a child of God. We are born into a fallen human nature, born into the world which, since Adam brought sin into the world, is now under the dominion of Satan, “the god of this world.”

“But even if our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds THE GOD OF THIS WORLD has blinded…”
2nd Corinthians 4:4

Before Jesus was taken to be crucified, he acknowledged that fact:

“I will no longer talk much with you,
for THE RULER OF THIS WORLD is coming…”
John 14:30

We are born into the world in a fallen state, and dwell in the world of which Satan is the ruler. That’s why we must be born again. It is not an option, it is a vital necessity: Jesus made it very clear that one MUST be born again, and until that moment, the person is NOT a child of God.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you,
‘You MUST be born again.’”
John 3:6-7

Friend, if you are not born again you are living in the kingdom of the world, under the rulership of Satan. The born again experience is the only way you can become a child of God, that’s why Jesus came – to rescue us from the dominion of Satan.

The born-again experience dramatically changes a person. As the song goes, “The things of the world grow strangely dim…” One’s interests change, one’s outlook changes, everything changes because the Kingdom of God is vastly different from the kingdom of the world and the Spirit of God within changes and transforms the person. After being born again I was totally amazed at the changes that took place inside of me, not by my choice, but by the effective working of the Spirit of God within. It was remarkable.

A person who has been born again finds that the Lord is not a tyrant. He is the God of love. That doesn’t mean that all painful things stop, but it does mean that all that happens is now under the oversight and direction of God. He uses our painful experiences to change us, to remake us, to mature us, to establish in us correct priorities; but he doesn’t seek to destroy us as the ruler of the kingdom of the world does. No, the Lord of heaven wants only good for us, and it will become obvious to his born-again son or daughter that we are enveloped in the love of God and given the hope and promise of eternal life.

“The thief does not come except to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10

Pray with me:
Father God, I’ve always thought that I’m a child of God, but I wonder now if I might have been deceived by religious teachers who do not teach the truth but give us false hope. Am I born again? Is my name written in “the Lamb’s Book of Life?” If not, I come to you asking you to receive me as your son/daughter and make me your own. I am willing to turn my entire life over to you, asking you for salvation and inviting you to become my Lord. I am ready to surrender all to you. Please draw me to yourself and teach me daily from the Bible, which is your Word, the very Word of God. Please help me with the doubts that trouble me. I pray that you give me an assurance that I belong to you and am a son/daughter in your Kingdom, under the rulership of my Creator who gave his life for me for the forgiveness of my sins. I will live for you for the rest of my life, and look with joy to be with you in eternity. Amen.

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Born Again – What Does That Mean?