What does it mean to be “born of God?” In one of Jesus’ most famous conversations, He tells a curious Pharisee, Nicodemus,

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." [Jn 3:3]

Clearly the answer to this question is of supreme importance. What exactly does it mean? Does praying a sinner’s prayer or prayer of confession have anything to do with it? Do you have to ask Jesus into your heart? Let’s see what the Bible says. And let’s examine ourselves to make sure we are indeed “born of God.”

Nicodemus asks Jesus what He means by being born again. Jesus responds,

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." [Jn 3:5-8]

Jesus explains more, a few verses later,

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." [Jn 3:14-21]

We see, then that what is needed is belief. That is, faith. Faith which mimics that of the time of Moses, when he set up the bronze serpent upon the standard. Numbers says,

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." [Num 21:8-9]

The word for “beheld” is deeper than just a passing glance. It means to gaze more intently upon something, to behold it. We know this to be true, for not everyone that says to Jesus “Lord, Lord” will enter into heaven. And Paul tells us, “with the heart man continues to believe unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession continues to be made unto salvation.” You cannot just pray a glancing prayer one time and expect to be saved, but those who exhibit a lifetime of belief and gazing upon Christ for salvation will enter into heaven, of course through the gift of faith.

And to this, John agrees, saying,

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" [John 1:12-13]

We have our first, and most important point. Belief in Jesus’ Name. Continued belief; for we are of Christ’s house “if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” [Heb 3:6]

Now, we will look at six evidences of being born of God, to make a total of seven. Let us examine our lives.

2. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” [1 Jn 3:9]
   • Those who are born of God/born again, cannot continue sinning. You cannot continue in a lifestyle of sin and disobedience to God’s word. This is because you have “His seed” within you, that is, The Holy Spirit. If you can continue in sin without The Holy Spirit’s conviction, you are not born of God.
3. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” [1 Jn 4:7]
   • Those who love are born of God. Those who love the people around them. And love is not a feeling, but an action. If your love does not manifest itself in tangible action, and exhibit these characteristics at least in part, you are not loving. Furthermore, if your love (resulting from faith) is only exhibited in word, and you never do anything, then you are not born of God. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” [Jam 2:17]
4. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” [1 Jn 5:1]
5. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” [1 Jn 5:1]
   • Those who believe that Jesus is The Christ (The Messiah/The Savior) are born of God. To believe Jesus is The Christ, is to reject all other Christs, all other forms of salvation. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [Jn 14:6]
   • Secondly, those who are born of God love their brethren (him also that is begotten of Him).
     • “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” [1 Jn 4:20]
6. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” [1 Jn 5:4]
   • Those who are born of God, overcome the world. To overcome the world is to be victorious, at least in part/majority, over the essence of the world. John says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
   • Those who overcome these in faith are born of God. To overcome in faith, is to die to yourself and let Jesus live through you.
7. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” [1 Jn 5:18]
   • Finally, those born of God “keep” themselves. They guard themselves. They don’t just let anything into their bodies or minds or hearts but they guard themselves. They do this beause they know this truth: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” [1 Cor 6:20] and so they take care about their bodies and their souls.
     • “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” [Prov 4:25]
     • If you just let whatever you feel like it come into your mind, body, soul, heart, etc… then you are not born of God.

CONCLUSION

If we are truly born of God, we will exhibit these seven things. This is imperative to understand, for Jesus says that only those who are born again/born of God will enter into the kingdom of heaven. All others will be cast out to eternally suffer in Hell.

1. Believes upon Jesus’ name
2. Cannot continue in sin
3. Loves (in deed and in truth)
4. Believes that Jesus is The Christ (The exclusive Savior)
5. Loves their brethren
6. Overcomes the world by dying to self and letting Jesus’ life be manifest
7. Guards Himself