TO KNOW GOD

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

John 5:24 NIV

Notice that Salvation or the New Birth is not limited to a certain group of people. It matters not what age, color, culture, or social class that you have come from; there is not one person that cannot become born again. In Acts 2:21, the Apostle Peter said,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

You are an “everyone,” so you are included in those that can become born again.

This does not mean to just think about something. To believe in Jesus means to have faith, confidence and trust in Him. The Bible teaches that faith has corresponding actions.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

Some people think that as long as they say they believe in Jesus, they will go to heaven no matter how they live. They have the attitude that it is okay for a Christian to drink, smoke, lie, be lazy and have negative behavior. They think that just as long as they believe,they will go to heaven. You can see how that is wrong. When you believe in Jesus then you will act the way He did. You will live the kind of life that Jesus lived on earth. Of course, not all of us are perfect, and there will always be things that we are changing in order to grow. It is important to realize that believing also requires action.

When you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it will come out of your mouth. Paul said we must “confess with our mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’.” In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus said,

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him I will also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” King James Version (KJV)

Part of being born again is confessing before others that Jesus is our Lord and that we will follow Him.

This means that Jesus is the Messiah, Savior or Lord. There is no other person or god that holds this position. Only Jesus is Savior; only He is Lord over all the Earth. Talking about Jesus in Acts 4:12, Peter said,

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus is not “a” way to heaven or “one” way to heaven; He is the only way. He said in John 14:6,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

When you believe in Jesus as the Christ, you make Him the Lord of your life. That means He is the supreme authority, master or boss of your life. If Jesus is not your Lord, you are not born again. Paul said in Romans 10:9,

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

When you believe in your heart and confess “Jesus is Lord,” God does something inside of you. The real you, the spirit man, is recreated and becomes alive. Remember, Jesus said,

“…the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6)

The Holy Spirit comes into your life and causes your human spirit to be born again. This is not something that you can figure out with your mind it is just a spiritual fact. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Commiting your life to the Lord is such an exciting life journey! We have gathered together some resources that can help you grow in this new relationship.

Being planted in a local church and building relationships is an important aspect in your walk with God. Join our church community by finding a campus near you.