The Bible Says You Must Be Born Again

by Kevin Burton

   Americans are bound and determined these days to divide themselves into two camps and turn with all fury upon the other.

   Alistair Begg, speaker on the Truth For Life radio ministry, writes about two camps in the spiritual sense.

   “In the life of faith, neutrality is not an option. We are either ranked under the banner of the Lord Jesus, to serve and fight His battles, or we are slaves of the dark prince, Satan,” Begg writes. “To whom do you belong?”

   “Reader, let me assist you in your response. Have you been “born again”? If you have, you belong to Christ; but without the new birth you cannot be His. 

    In other words Begg is saying, if you fail to pick a side or ignore the question altogether, you have selected against God, for Satan.

   Begg writes that those who have chosen God should look like it, act like it.

   “In whom do you trust? For those who believe in Jesus are the sons of God. Whose work are you doing? You are sure to serve your master, for he whom you serve is thereby (sure) to be your lord,” Begg writes.

  “What company do you keep? If you belong to Jesus, you will keep company with those who wear the uniform of the cross. ‘Birds of a feather flock together.’ What is your conversation? Is it heavenly or is it earthly? 

  “What have you learned from your Master? For servants learn a great deal from the masters to whom they are apprenticed. If you have served your time with Jesus, it will be said of you, as it was of Peter and John, “they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

   Here Begg refers to a story from the book of Acts. Peter and John had just performed a notable miracle. In the name of Jesus, they healed a man who had been physically handicapped from birth.

  They were seized by the ruling authorities for teaching the resurrection and proclaiming the name of Jesus. The next day the rulers brought them forward and asked them a direct question:

    And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” (Acts 4:7 KJV).

  From there Peter broke it down as only he can.

    “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel: If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

   “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

    “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4: 8-13 KJV).

   Peter and John made it obvious to anybody who witnessed the scene which side they had picked.

   “We press the question, To whom do you belong? Answer honestly before you fall asleep for the night,” Begg writes.  

   “If you are not Christ’s, you are in a hard service—run away from your cruel master! Enter into the service of the Lord of Love, and you will enjoy a life of blessedness.”

    “If you are Christ’s, let me advise you to do four things. You belong to Jesus—obey Him; let His word be your law; let His wish be your will.   

    You belong to the Beloved; then love Him; let your heart embrace Him; let your whole soul be filled with Him.

   You belong to the Son of God; then trust him; rest on nothing or no one but on Him.

   You belong to the King of kings; then be decided for Him. Thus even without being marked with a sign everyone will know to whom you belong.