Have You Been Born Again?

“Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (1 John 5:4).

Someone who is born again does not follow the world’s ever-changing standard of right and wrong. He does not mind opposing the world’s ways, because he seeks God’s praise more than man’s and fears offending God more than offending man.

5. Not Habitual Sinning No one born of God makes a practice of sinning (1 John 3:9).

The true Christian does not habitually sin, because he wants to please God. Although he is far from perfect, he knows that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). If he does sin, he can confess it directly to God and “He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9).

avoid sin, but also to avoid anything that may lead to it. He is like a soldier in enemy territory continually on guard. He knows he can’t keep temptation from coming, but by knowing God’s Word and through prayer he can resist it.

The Test These are six characteristics of a “born again” Christian. Each of these traits may not be equally obvious in your life. But if you are born again, God is developing these traits in you. Are you born again?

If you have never been born again or you are not sure, you can be sure right now. Pray right now, asking God to forgive your sins, turn from sinning, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

—J. C. Ryle

6. Keeping Oneself Pure “He that is begotten of God keepeth himself” (1 John 5:18).

A person who is born again tries not only to

Good News Publishers 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187 For helpful Christian literature, please write to the address above or visit our web site at www.goodnewstracts.org. Bible references: KJV.

©1980 Good News Publishers. Redesign: ©2009. Printed in U.S.A. Cover images: ©iStockphoto.

4. Overcoming the World

H AV E YO U B E E N

Born Again?

Have You Been Born Again?

How Can You Know?

A Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus once visited Jesus. Like many people, Nicodemus expected that his good life would earn him a home in Heaven when he died. Imagine how he felt when Jesus said to him, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

How can you know that you have been born again? The Bible lists six characteristics of someone who has been “born again.” These are not requirements in order to be born again, but life changes that show God is at work in your life.

They are the evidence that you have truly been born spiritually into a new, life-changing relationship with God!

Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the new birth is a spiritual change that can only be brought about by God. The moment a lost sinner repents of his sins and trusts Jesus as the only one who can save him from the eternal judgment of his sins, he is born again. God gives him a spiritual nature through which he can understand and enjoy the things of God: that person is spiritually born into God’s family!

What Jesus told Nicodemus 2,000 years ago is just as true today. We may try to live a good life, go to church, or engage in other commendable activities, but we still must be “born again” in order to be a member of God’s family.

Have you been born again? This is life’s most important question, because your answer will affect all of your eternity.

1. Believing in Christ “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1).

Someone who is born again believes that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. That He was sent

by God the Father to pay the penalty for man’s sin

by His death on the Cross. His resurrection from the dead on the third day is proof that He is able to forgive us and bring us into fellowship with the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but

by Me” (John 14:6).

A born again Christian does not merely know the facts about Jesus Christ, but he has entrusted his life to Him as Savior. The child of God does not depend on his church, his good deeds, or his pastor to bring him eternal life. The Bible

says, “As many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

2. Practicing Righteousness “Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29).

For the person who is born again, Christ is not only a Savior but also an example. Believers are to keep God’s commandments (John 14:15, 15:14) to please God. The true Christian lives to please his heavenly Father and tries to avoid those things God hates.

3. Loving Other Christians “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).

Like Jesus, the child of God loves even his enemies; but he has a special love for those who are fellow believers. They may be different from him in race, personality, and culture, but they are all members of the same family. “This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).

avoid sin, but also to avoid anything that may lead to it. He is like a soldier in enemy territory continually on guard. He knows he can’t keep temptation from coming, but by knowing God’s Word and through prayer he can resist it.

The Test These are six characteristics of a “born again” Christian. Each of these traits may not be equally obvious in your life. But if you are born again, God is developing these traits in you. Are you born again?

If you have never been born again or you are not sure, you can be sure right now. Pray right now, asking God to forgive your sins, turn from sinning, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

—J. C. Ryle

Have You Been Born Again?

Good News Publishers

This tract explains six characteristics that will be evident in a believer’s life if they have been born again.

Bible references: KJV. Package contains 25 tracts.

General Gospel