Building up believers and the New Testament church

The Godly Woman

Appendix

Two Kinds of People

The Bible clearly teaches there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are people who have been born once and those who have been born twice. All people fit into the first category. This birth is the natural or physical birth. Only some people fit into the second category. This is the spiritual birth. It means to be born from God or to be born from above. The reason all people do not automatically fit into this category is that this birth must be accepted by the conscious choice of every individual. It only occurs when you ask God for it.

Why Do I Need This Second Birth?

Everyone needs to be born again because it is the only way to have eternal life. Jesus said: "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). It is essential to be born again in order to function properly as a human being. When God created human beings, He intended for them to have a relationship with Him and to live in dependence upon Him. However, this relationship has been broken because of sin. All people are sinners and therefore separated from God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Because of sin, all people who have only been born once are dead spiritually. They need to be born again so they will be brought to life spiritually. "Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:5). Only the person who has been born again is a child of God. Only the person who has been born again can understand the Bible. Only the person who has been born again will go to heaven.

How Can I Be Born Again?

You must first acknowledge that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. You must then confess your sins, ask Jesus Christ to cleanse them with His blood, and forsake them. God will then forgive your sins. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

You must believe that Jesus Christ is God, that He died on the cross for your sins, and that He was raised from the dead. You must ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your personal Savior and Lord. When you receive Christ you will be born again and become a child of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). At this point your relationship with God will be established and your life of dependence upon Him will begin.

When Jesus Christ comes into your heart He does not just save you from hell; He comes in to give you a new life. "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold new things have come" (II Corinthians 5:17). When you are born again, a transformation takes place in your life. Although you were dead spiritually, you now come to life. Although you were alienated from God, you now become His child. Although you were in rebellion to God, you now submit to Him and live according to His will. Everything in your old life is put away and you now begin a new life in Christ. He is the Master of your new life and as you submit to Him, He will guide you into pathways of joy and blessing you never knew existed.