Lesson Description
Being born again is more than changing our behaviour, joining a church, or beginning a religious lifestyle. It is the spiritual work of God through which we receive new life in Jesus Christ. When we believe the gospel, God brings us into a new relationship with Himself. We are forgiven, justified by faith, made new in Christ, and given the Holy Spirit.
In this lesson, we will explore what happens when we are born again, what changes immediately through our relationship with Christ, and how this new life begins to influence our daily living. We will also learn the difference between what God has already accomplished for us and the growth that takes place as we continue learning His Word.
Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for bringing me to this lesson. Thank You for the gift of new life through Jesus Christ. As I study Your Word, help me understand what happened when I believed the gospel and received life in Christ. Teach me to distinguish between what You have already accomplished for me and what I am still learning as I grow spiritually. Help me understand my new identity, appreciate Your grace, and live according to the truth of Your Word. May the Holy Spirit guide me into understanding and help me apply what I learn. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Lesson 1: We Become a New Creation in Christ
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Understanding the Scripture
When we are born again, God brings us into a new relationship with Himself through Jesus Christ. Paul describes the person who is in Christ as a new creature.
This does not mean that a believer immediately forgets every past experience, loses every struggle, or becomes mature in every area of life. Rather, the believer is no longer defined only by the old life. A new life and identity in Christ have begun.
Our past may explain some of our experiences, but it does not have to determine how we understand ourselves in Christ. We learn to see ourselves according to what God says in His Word.
Practical Example
A person who previously lived with guilt and shame may continue to remember past mistakes after believing the gospel. Instead of concluding that those mistakes are the person’s permanent identity, the believer can learn what forgiveness and new life in Christ mean.
Remember
Being born again gives us a new identity in Christ, even while we continue to grow in our understanding and daily conduct.
Lesson 2: We Receive Forgiveness Through Jesus Christ
Scripture: Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Understanding the Scripture
Our forgiveness is based on the work of Jesus Christ, not on our ability to make ourselves perfect. Through His blood, we have redemption and forgiveness according to God’s grace.
This means we do not earn forgiveness by performing enough good works, giving enough money, or punishing ourselves emotionally for past sins. We receive what God has provided through Christ.
As believers, we should take sin seriously, but we should not treat the sacrifice of Jesus as insufficient. Our confidence rests in what He accomplished.
When we learn this truth, we can approach God with gratitude and honesty rather than believing that we must earn His acceptance every day.
Practical Example
Suppose a believer remembers a wrong committed before coming to Christ. Instead of spending years believing that God can never forgive them, the believer can read the Scriptures, understand the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice, and learn to live in the freedom of God’s forgiveness.
Remember
Our forgiveness rests on God’s grace and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Lesson 3: We Are Justified by Faith
Scripture: Romans 5:1 (KJV)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Understanding the Scripture
To be justified means to be declared righteous. Paul teaches that we are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
We are not justified because we have successfully removed every weakness from our lives. We are justified through faith in Christ.
This is important because we can sometimes confuse being accepted by God with becoming mature in our behaviour. Our growth in understanding and conduct matters, but it is not the payment by which we obtain justification.
God’s acceptance of the believer is grounded in Jesus Christ. From this foundation, we can grow without trying to earn a place that God has already given us through faith.
Practical Example
A new believer may struggle with an old habit and wonder whether God still accepts them. They should not ignore the struggle, but neither should they conclude that every struggle cancels their justification. They can seek help from Scripture, receive wise counsel, and pursue growth while trusting in Christ.
Remember
We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by our personal record of good works.
Lesson 4: We Are Reconciled to God Through Christ
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18 (KJV)
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
Understanding the Scripture
Reconciliation means the restoration of a relationship. Sin separated humanity from God, but God acted through Jesus Christ to bring reconciliation.
Notice that Paul says reconciliation is of God. God is the One who took the initiative through Christ.
Being born again is therefore not merely becoming religious or trying harder to reach God. It means receiving what God has provided through His Son and entering into a restored relationship with Him.
This truth also influences how we relate to others. Having received God’s grace, we should learn to show grace, pursue peace where possible, and communicate the message of reconciliation.
Practical Example
Someone who once believed that God was only waiting to punish them may begin to understand God’s provision through Christ. As they learn the gospel, they can approach God with confidence and share the message of His grace with others.
Remember
Through Jesus Christ, God has provided reconciliation and brought believers into a restored relationship with Himself.
Lesson 5: We Become Children of God Through Faith in Christ
Scripture: Galatians 3:26 (KJV)
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul identifies believers as children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. This relationship is not earned through family background, nationality, religious tradition, or personal achievements.
Being born again means we are no longer to understand our relationship with God merely through fear or distance. Through Christ, we belong to Him.
A child may need to learn, grow, receive correction, and develop maturity. In the same way, believers need to grow in their understanding of God’s Word. But the need for growth does not mean they must earn the relationship they have received through faith.
We can learn to approach God with reverence, trust, and gratitude because He has brought us into His family through Christ.
Practical Example
A person who did not grow up in a Christian family can still receive the gospel and become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Their natural background does not determine whether they can receive this gift.
Remember
Through faith in Christ Jesus, we receive the privilege of being children of God.
Lesson 6: We Receive the Holy Spirit
Scripture: Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul describes believers as having heard the gospel, believed in Christ, and been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
The Holy Spirit is not merely an idea or a religious feeling. He is God’s Spirit, given to believers as part of His work in their lives.
The sealing language communicates God’s ownership and assurance. Our relationship with God does not depend on producing a particular emotional experience every time we pray or worship.
Believers still need to learn about the Spirit’s work, listen to God’s Word, and grow in spiritual maturity. We should not confuse the presence of the Holy Spirit with the idea that we already understand everything or will never face difficulties.
Practical Example
A believer may feel spiritually weak one day and joyful the next. Their feelings may change, but they can continue to study what Scripture says about the Holy Spirit and their relationship with God rather than measuring God’s faithfulness only by their emotions.
Remember
God gives the Holy Spirit to believers, and our assurance rests on His Word rather than changing feelings.
Lesson 7: We Pass from Death unto Life
Scripture: John 5:24 (KJV)
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Understanding the Scripture
Jesus speaks of the person who hears His Word and believes the Father who sent Him. Such a person has everlasting life and has passed from death unto life.
Notice the word hath. Jesus describes everlasting life as a present possession for the believer, not merely a possibility that might be received at some distant time.
This helps us understand that eternal life is more than the promise of living forever in the future. It is life received through Jesus Christ now, with the future hope of being with Him.
Jesus also speaks of not coming into condemnation in this context. We should understand this in the light of His promise to the believer rather than making our acceptance depend on our ability to live without any struggle.
Practical Example
A new believer may think that eternal life begins only after physical death. Reading Jesus’ words helps them understand that the believer already possesses everlasting life through faith in Him.
Remember
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive everlasting life and pass from death unto life.
Lesson 8: We Are Delivered from the Power of Darkness into Christ’s Kingdom
Scripture: Colossians 1:13 (KJV)
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul describes a change God has accomplished: He has delivered believers from the power of darkness and translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son.
This is a change of spiritual position and belonging. In Christ, believers have been brought under the lordship of Jesus rather than remaining defined by their former spiritual condition.
This does not mean that Christians never face temptation, confusion, or difficult circumstances. It means that these struggles do not erase what God has done through Christ.
As we grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, we learn to live consistently with our new position in Christ. We learn to reject what contradicts the truth and to embrace what reflects our new life.
Practical Example
A believer who once lived according to destructive influences can begin learning how to make choices guided by Scripture. They may need time, support, and discipline to change certain habits, but they can do so from the foundation of their new life in Christ.
Remember
God has brought believers into the kingdom of His Son; spiritual growth teaches us how to live in the light of this truth.
Lesson 9: We Are Created in Christ unto Good Works
Scripture: Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Understanding the Scripture
In the verses before this one, Paul explains that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works. Verse 10 then explains that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
The order matters.
We are not saved because we have performed enough good works. We are saved by grace through faith, and we are created in Christ for a life in which good works have a place.
Good works can include serving others, speaking truthfully, showing kindness, helping those in need, forgiving others, and carrying out responsibilities faithfully.
These actions do not purchase eternal life. They are part of the life we learn to live as people who have received God’s grace.
Practical Example
A person may begin helping someone in need, not to convince God to save them, but because they are learning to express the love and grace they have received through Christ.
Remember
Good works are not the price of salvation; they are part of the life God calls us to walk in as His workmanship.
Lesson 10: We Grow in the Knowledge of Our New Life
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Understanding the Scripture
Receiving eternal life and growing in the knowledge of Christ are related, but they are not the same thing.
We receive life through faith in Jesus Christ. We then continue learning, renewing our minds through God’s Word, and growing in our understanding of who He is and what He has accomplished for us.
A believer may not immediately understand every doctrine, know how to handle every challenge, or consistently demonstrate maturity in every situation. That is why Scripture teaches us to grow.
Our growth does not mean we are earning salvation little by little. Rather, we are learning to understand and live in the light of the salvation we have received.
We should therefore study the Bible carefully, pray, receive sound teaching, and allow God’s truth to shape our thinking and conduct.
Practical Example
A new believer may initially believe that every mistake means God has rejected them. As they study Scripture, they can learn about grace, forgiveness, justification, and growth. Their understanding changes, helping them respond to God with greater confidence and maturity.
Remember
We receive eternal life through faith in Christ, and we continue growing in grace and in the knowledge of Him.
Lesson Summary
When a person is born again through faith in Jesus Christ, God brings them into a new spiritual relationship with Himself. Scripture teaches that believers are new creations in Christ, forgiven, justified by faith, reconciled to God, and made children of God. They receive the Holy Spirit, possess everlasting life, and are brought into the kingdom of God’s dear Son.
These truths describe what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ. They do not mean that a believer instantly becomes mature in every area of life. Growth in understanding, conduct, and service continues as we learn God’s Word.
We must keep these two truths in their proper order: we do not grow in order to earn new life; we grow because we have received new life in Christ.
Final Takeaway
Being born again changes our spiritual identity and relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Our Christian growth is the continuing process of learning to understand and live according to what God has already done for us.
Reflection Question
According to the Scriptures in this lesson, what has God accomplished for you through Jesus Christ, and how can understanding your new identity help you grow in your daily walk with Him?