Devotional: The New Birth (The Born-Again Experience)

Blessings to you today!

I want to spend some time talking about what it truly means to be born again. If you are a new believer or you feel the Lord drawing you closer, this lesson is especially for you.

What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

Being born again means your spirit, your inner man, has been made alive through Jesus Christ. You have entered into a real relationship with God.

Before Christ, the Bible says we were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1–3; Colossians 2:12–15). That does not mean physically dead but spiritually separated from God. Humanity was under the power of sin and the influence of the enemy (Romans 3:23).

Your soul — your mind, emotions, will, and desires — was shaped by the world and darkness. Even if you wanted to serve God, you could not do it in your own strength.

But then Jesus stepped in.

The Gospel (What Jesus Did for You)

The Gospel simply means good news.

God came into the world in human form as Jesus Christ (John 1:10–14; Isaiah 7:14).
He preached the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, delivered the oppressed, and revealed the Father’s love.

He was:

  • Crucified
  • Buried
  • Raised on the third day
  • Seen by many witnesses
  • Ascended into heaven
  • And He will return again

When you repent, believe the Gospel, and turn to Him, you are saved.

“For by grace you are saved through faith… not of works.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

“Salvation is found in no other name.” (Acts 4:12)

What Happens When You Are Born Again?

When you repent and come to Christ:

  • Your spirit is made alive (Ephesians 2:5)
  • You are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27)
  • You become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • You are forgiven and justified (Romans 5:1)
  • You are adopted into God’s family, become a child of God (Romans 8:14–17)
  • You receive the hope of eternal life (John 5:24)

The enemy who once ruled your life loses his authority.  Jesus now becomes Lord of your life.

You are now “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

This is where your new life begins.

Why You Still Struggle After Salvation

Many believers are confused by this:  “If I’m saved, why do I still struggle?”

Because your spirit is saved instantly but your soul must be renewed.

Your thoughts, habits, wounds, fears, addictions, and emotional patterns were formed over years. Salvation changes your spirit immediately, but your mind and behaviour are transformed over time. This process is called sanctification (Romans 12:2).

You may still face:

  • anger
  • fear
  • rejection
  • lust
  • pride
  • unforgiveness
  • depression
  • old habits

This does not mean you are not saved.  It means God has begun His work in you.

The Adamic Nature

We all inherited a fallen nature from Adam (Romans 3:23). We could not save ourselves. Our righteousness was like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Because of this, the Christian life becomes a daily choice:  “Take up your cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

We learn to bring our desires into obedience to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:27).

The Role of Deliverance and Renewal

After salvation, God begins healing and cleansing the soul.  As your mind is renewed through the Word (Romans 12:2):

  • your thinking changes
  • your desires change
  • your behavior changes

You grow in holiness and Christlike character.

If your spirit is not fed, your soul will dominate.  That is why we must feed our spirit with God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2).

Your New Identity in Christ

Because of Jesus:

You are:

  • forgiven
  • washed (Titus 3:5)
  • redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
  • justified (Romans 5:1)
  • adopted (1 John 3:1)
  • made alive (Romans 8:11)

You can now confidently say: “I am saved by the grace of God.”

What Should You Do Now?

1. Read the Bible Daily

Start with the Gospel of John.
Read slowly. Ask God to teach you. Write down questions.

The Word renews your mind and strengthens your spirit.

2. Develop a Prayer Life

Talk to God honestly like a loving Father.
Bring Him your struggles, fears, and temptations. He already knows; He wants a relationship.

3. Connect to a Strong Bible-Teaching Church

You need spiritual covering, teaching, and fellowship. Christianity was never meant to be lived alone.

4. Pursue Growth and Freedom

Allow God to deal with wounds, sins, and strongholds in your life. The goal is not condemnation, it is freedom and transformation.

God wants to heal you so you can help others.

Final Encouragement

Salvation is not the finish line.  It is the beginning.

God did not just save you from sin, He saved you for a relationship with him.

He is restoring you to His original plan:  to live in His presence, walk in His love, and reflect His character.  Keep walking with Him daily.

He who began a good work in you will complete it (Philippians 1:6).

Q&A – If a Born-Again Believer Dies in Unrepentant Sin, Will They See God in Peace?

Q1: Why is this question important?

Many Christians are taught differently about salvation.

Some teach: Once you are saved, your future sins no longer affect your eternal destiny.  Others teach: A life of ongoing, unrepented sin shows a person is not truly living in saving faith.

So the real question becomes:

If a person claims to be born again, continues in sin, refuses to repent, and dies in that state, what does the Bible say?

We must not answer by opinion.
We answer by Scripture.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

Q2: Does the Bible expect a believer to change after the new birth?

Yes.  The new birth is not only forgiveness, but also transformation.

“They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24-25)

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

“If a man purges himself… he shall be a vessel unto honour.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

The Bible does not teach that salvation leaves a person unchanged.  It teaches a new life.

Q3: What does the Bible say about continuing in sin?

The clearest passage is Romans 6.

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.” (Romans 6:1-2)

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.” (Romans 6:12)

“You are servants to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness.” (Romans 6:16)

Salvation frees you from sin’s dominion, it does not give permission to live in it.

Q4: What sins are specifically warned about?

Scripture gives examples:

(Galatians 5:19-2) — adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, drunkenness, etc.

And the Bible adds a clear warning:  “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)

Jesus also taught that sin comes from the heart (Matthew 15:16-20).

This is not about occasional failure and repentance.
This is about continuing in sin without repentance.

Q5: What does repentance have to do with salvation?

Repentance restores righteous standing with God.  If a person refuses to repent, they are refusing correction and reconciliation.

Jesus taught perseverance matters: “He that endures to the end shall be saved.”(Matthew 24:13; see Matthew 24:9-14)

Steadfastness means not surrendering to sin, pressure, fear, or unbelief.

So ask yourself:  If I knowingly disobey God and refuse repentance, am I still running the race of faith?

Q6: What happens when a person dies spiritually unrepentant?

Scripture is very direct.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

“Where the tree falls, there it shall be.” (Ecclesiastes 11:3)

This means:
Your spiritual condition at death matters.  There is no repentance after death.

“Because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath.” (Romans 2:5)

Q7: What is an “overcomer”?

Revelation 3:5 says:  “He that overcomes… I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life.”

An overcomer is:

  • one who remains faithful
  • one who repents when corrected
  • one who does not settle into sin
  • one who keeps trusting Christ

Revelation 21:7-8 contrasts two groups:

  • the overcomers who inherit life
  • those living in sin who face judgment

Q8: Does grace allow a believer to live however they want?

No.  Grace empowers holy living.

“You are not under the law but under grace… therefore sin shall not have dominion over you.” (Romans 6:14)

Grace is not permission to sin.
Grace is power to overcome sin.

Q9: So what is the biblical conclusion?

The Bible teaches: A born-again believer may stumble.  But a believer cannot live in sin comfortably, refuse repentance, and expect salvation automatically.

If repentance disappears, spiritual life is in danger.  Your eternal destiny is connected to your relationship with Christ and true relationship includes obedience.

Q10: What should a believer do?

  • Repent quickly when you sin (1 John 1:9), like in the moment ask for forgiveness
  • Remain steadfast in faith (Matthew 24:13)
  • Crucify sinful desires daily (Luke 9:23)
  • Walk in righteousness (Romans 6:18)

God’s desire is not condemnation.  “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I came that they may have life.” (John 10:10)

Q11: What about suicide and a born-again believer?

This is a very serious and sensitive question, and the Bible calls us to approach it with humility.

The Scriptures do not give a simple, direct statement describing the eternal destiny of a specific individual who takes their own life. God alone is the final judge of the human heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Therefore, we must be careful not to pronounce a final verdict on a particular person.

However, the Bible does give principles that help us understand the spiritual danger involved.

Human life belongs to God.

“In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  God is the giver of life, and we are not our own.

“You are not your own… you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

Suicide is not presented in Scripture as a solution to suffering, but as a tragedy connected to despair and spiritual darkness. The enemy seeks destruction:  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

When a person reaches deep hopelessness, they are often overwhelmed in mind and spirit. The Bible teaches that believers are in a spiritual battle, especially in the mind (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). God’s will for us is not torment and despair but peace:

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

For that reason, Scripture consistently calls believers to seek help, prayer, fellowship, and restoration rather than isolation:

“Bear one another’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)

So rather than speculating about the eternal fate of someone who has died, the Bible directs the living to respond differently:

  • seek the Lord in times of distress (Psalm 34:17–18)
  • reach out to other believers for support
  • resist despair and the lies of the enemy
  • choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19)

The important message is this:

God desires life, healing, and hope for His people.
No suffering, depression, or fear is meant to be faced alone, and no believer should hide in silence. The Lord’s call is always toward restoration.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate help from trusted believers, pastoral care, or professional support. Reaching for help is not weakness, it is choosing life.

Concerning committing suicide as a born-again believer and going to heaven. I will not give a clear judgment.

 But this one thing I will say regardless of what the scholars will put forth, for or against,  that such individuals will go to heaven or not, my way of seeing it from what the Bible says is; that when one reaches that level of  depression to the point that they allow the devil to whisper in their ears to take their lives and be rid of the torment or their problems, to me sin is at the door of such action, even if it’s attributed to a mental state of disorder( insanity). God did not give us unsound, insane minds, he gave us sane minds, so if we end up with an unsound, fearful, mentally disturbed mind it is simply because we have opened the door to sin and not done anything about it until one’s condition deteriorated to that point where they felt it was better to be dead than alive(massive depression to the point of hopelessness). I would simply say such people are in great trouble with God who is the final judge. I would tell anyone to walk in righteous standing, turn away from your sins and the possibility of insanity will be removed far from you. The Lord says in John 10:10, “the thief cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy (suicide and all the other sins), but I come that you might have life and that you might have life in abundance.”

Final Thought

The question is not: “Can a Christian ever sin?”

The real question is: “Can a Christian refuse repentance and still walk with God?”

Examine your life honestly.  Because the condition of the heart when this life ends matters.

God offers mercy daily but He calls us to respond while we are still alive.

There are no gray areas in God’s Word. The Lord has spoken plainly: obedience brings blessing, and disobedience brings consequence.

Deuteronomy 28:1–14 — blessings for obedience
Deuteronomy 28:15–end — curses for disobedience

The principle is clear: if we walk in righteousness, we are blessed; if we persist in sin, we bring judgment upon ourselves. God is not unclear, and He is not unjust.

Many today are being led astray because they have not been properly taught the Scriptures. As a result, some are believing a lie, and deception has come over them. We must pray that their eyes will be opened and that they return to the truth.

When you are presented with the Word, receive it as final authority. If your beliefs are not in alignment, then repent and embrace the truth you have been shown. By God’s grace you will stand but we must obey all Scripture:

Matthew 28:18–20

Let the Word of God shape your life, not your feelings, not opinions, and not the teachings of men. Remain faithful, and the Lord will keep you.

Interested in learning more?

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