Is Being Born Again Needed for Salvation?

Full Episode Transcript

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: With so many people today seeking meaning in life and ultimately salvation through a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, they are introduced to John 3:3, you might be familiar with, which states that one must be born again. But what does it actually mean to be born again? What are the biblical requirements to be born again?

[SHOW OPEN]

The Bible: The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible.

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: I’m Brother Philip Velasquez and thanks for joining us on another episode of That’s in the Bible. Today we will be answering a question about being born again. We’ve got a question sent in by Curtis Childs from San Diego, California and this is what he asks:

And I would like to know, do you have to be born again to become a Christian?

Curtis Childs

San Diego, California

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ:  That’s a great question and very relevant today. So to thoroughly study the topic, let’s break it down into these four questions:

1. Does one need to be born again to be considered by Christ as His true follower?
2. How is one born again?
3. Where can we find those who are born again?
4. What else is required once one has been born again?

[1:26] Does one need to be born again?  

So let’s start with this question: Does one need to be born again to be considered by our Lord Jesus Christ as His follower, or a Christian? We can read what our Lord Jesus Christ said to Nicodemus, a Jewish Pharisee during His time. So let’s go to that verse, John 3:3:

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly says here that being born again is the only way to be saved and to be considered by Him as a Christian. But it’s obvious, however, that our Lord Jesus Christ isn’t talking about literally being born again from the womb.

[2:14] How is one born again?

So then how is one born again? Apostle Peter tells us clearly here in 1 Peter 1:23:

For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.

1 Peter 1:23 Good News Translation

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: Apostle Peter clearly says that through the eternal word of God, one is born again as a child of the immortal God. So the true word of God or teachings of God, which we can find written in the Bible, will lead us to be truly born again or created to be a new being. Take note, though, only the true teachings of God, not teachings that were misunderstood or misinterpreted, but only the true message can lead one to be created as a new being, or to be born again.

[3:07] Where can we find those who are born again?

Now, where can we find these people who have received and obeyed the true word of God and as a result, created as a new being? Where can we find those who are born again? Where will the true teachings of God written in the Bible lead these people? We can get the answer, clear answer from 2 Corinthians 5:17. Apostle Paul teaches us here:

Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Good News Translation

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: Those who were born again or created as a new being are joined to our Lord Jesus Christ. How are they joined to our Lord Jesus Christ? What did our Lord Jesus Christ create so people could be joined to Him? The answer is clearly written in Ephesians 2:15, Apostle Paul teaches us here:

having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

Ephesians 2:15 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: For people to be joined to our Lord Jesus Christ, He created in Himself the one new man. Take note, from the two, the one new man was created. What are the two that make up the one new man? Apostle Paul tells us again here in Colossians 1:18, we’re taught here by Apostle Paul:

“And He is the head of the body, the church,…”

Colossians 1:18 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: The one new man is composed of our Lord Jesus Christ as the head, and the Church as His Body. So those considered born again, are joined together with our Lord Jesus Christ as His body, which is, as we’ve read, the Church. The question is now how does one become a part of the Church?

Many think that believing in our Lord Jesus Christ, just doing that, accepting Him as your personal saviour and renewing one’s life is all that one needs to do in order to be born again and to belong to His Church.

Well that’s not true–why? According to Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:13 true Christians are baptized into the body of Christ which is, as we heard earlier, the Church.

[ON SCREEN GRAPHICS]

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: Why is baptism into the Church needed to be born again? Can’t we just accept our Lord Jesus Christ and change our life? No, we can’t, because Apostle Paul says in Romans 6:3-4:

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:3-4 New International Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: In order to be born again, our old self needs to die first. Why? In order to be set free from sin. This is the only way by which our sins can be forgiven. So, how can we put to death our old self? Through baptism into death. This is why baptism into the Church is so important. It doesn’t matter if one renews their life, or however one changes their life, without the true baptism into the true Church, one is still under the penalty of sin and thus won’t be saved.

So, if baptism into the Church is needed to be truly born again, what Church is mentioned in the Bible?  Which Church were true Christians in the first century baptised into? We can read here in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Apostle Paul again teaches us:

For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ. For, in fact, in one Spirit all of us–whether we are Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men–were baptized to form but one body; and we were all nourished by that one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Weymouth

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: In order to be recognised by our Lord Jesus Christ as His follower, and being born again for salvation and created new, one must become a baptised member of the Church Of Christ since it was the Church our Lord Jesus Christ purchased with His blood or died for. And that’s why in Acts 2:47 we are told that it was in this Church that the Lord added those who were to be saved.

[ON SCREEN GRAPHICS]

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:47 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: But is that all one needs to do in order to be saved – to be baptised into the Church Of Christ?

[8:05] What else is required once one has been born again?

What else is required once one has been born again or has become a child of our Almighty God? What is the next biblical requirement? We can get the answer from 1 John 3:9, let’s go back to 1 John:

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

1 John 3:9 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: True change or renewal of life must be made. True Christians or those who are truly born again, those baptised into the Church Of Christ, they no longer live for themselves or do as they please. They now live for our Almighty God. And living for God means denying ourselves, or going against what we want to do or desire if it goes against what our Almighty God wants. Being a Christian isn’t easy, it takes a lot of hard work, but the blessings are worth every bit of it because we become God’s new creation with the right to serve Him and to be with Him come the Day of Judgment.

So, dear friends, let’s review the questions we began with and see what the Bible has revealed to us. We asked:

1. Does one need to be born again to be considered by Christ as His true follower?

The answer is yes. Our Lord Jesus Christ said one cannot be saved by Him if one isn’t born again.

2. How is one born again?

Through the true word of God. But remember it has to be the true message that has been taught and believed in. The message that has been misinterpreted or misunderstood cannot lead one to be truly born again.

3. Where can we find those who are born again?

The true word of God will lead one to be joined with our Lord Jesus Christ. How? Through the one new man which our Lord Jesus Christ created, consisting of the Church, which is His body, and Christ who is its head. How does one become a part or a member of this Church which is headed by our Lord Jesus Christ? Through the true baptism into the Church Of Christ.

4. What else is required once one has been born again?

Once one has been baptized into the Church Of Christ, one must then renew one’s life. Live by God’s commands, taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles, all written in the Bible.

We’d like you to continue learning about the teachings of the Bible taught inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, please visit online and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. If you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us. I’m Brother Philip Velasquez. Thanks for watching. See you next time on That’s in the Bible!