DCA 101 THE NEW BIRTH
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, the student should be able to understand:
1. What it means to be Born-Again (or to be saved).
2. Why everyone needs to be Born-Again.
3. The basics of the New Birth experience (Salvation).
4. How to experience the New Birth.
5. What happens to a person when he gives his life to Christ?
INTRODUCTION
The fall of Adam brought the whole humanity under the bondage of sin and spiritual death. God set a plan in motion to redeem man, which was accomplished through Jesus Christ on the cross. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has made it possible for man to pass from spiritual death to eternal life. This is the New Birth experience, which takes place the moment we put our faith in the finished work of Christ.
SECTION 1 – LESSON
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN AGAIN? (John 3:3-5)
John 3:3-5 (KJV)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, 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.
It means:
– To receive Eternal Life. Eternal life is the God kind of life.
– Removing the nature of the devil from man and imparting God’s nature to him.
– To be born of God through the regeneration of the spirit.
– Becoming a New Creation, belonging to a new species of men.
– To be saved and delivered from the kingdom of darkness.
– To be delivered from the wrath to come, i.e., from going to hell.
Understanding the New Birth
Four common confusions related to new birth:
1. Physical Birth: Not being born twice of your parents. It is a recreation of the human spirit.
2. Everlasting Life: Not living forever. New Birth is having the nature of God.
3. The Basis of Salvation: Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantee our salvation.
4. How Salvation is Earned: It can only be received by faith.
WHY MUST EVERYONE BE BORN AGAIN?
Everyone must be born-again because:
– The fall of Adam affected every man.
– Without being born again, you remain under the control of sin and Satan.
– You’ll end up in hell and cannot access the kingdom of God.
WHY MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT SAVED?
1. Many have not heard the gospel.
2. Some don’t know they need salvation.
3. Many do not understand the benefits of salvation and the New Birth.
4. Inability to explain the gospel well to unbelievers.
5. Poor Christian living by some believers.
6. Misrepresentation of Christianity by believers.
7. Fear of not living up to God’s standard.
8. Belief in alternative ways to God.
WHAT PRODUCES SALVATION IN A PERSON?
It is the faith of the individual expressed in the finished work of Christ.
HOW DOES ONE RECEIVE SALVATION? (John 1: 12, Rom. 10: 9-10)
John 1:12 (KJV)
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.
Romans 10:9-10 (KJV)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The person must:
– Repent of their sins.
– Believe that Jesus died for them and rose again.
– Receive Christ into their life.
– Confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
SECTION 2 – DISCUSSION/APPLICATION
To have a healthy Christian life, a believer must engage in these major activities:
– Soul winning/Witnessing.
– Daily Prayer (Devotion).
– Study of God’s Word.
– Fellowship with other brethren.
Explain the statement, “A sinner is not a sinner because he commits sin, He sins because he is a sinner”.
Does it mean that it is not possible to be saved in any other way except through Christ? (Acts 4:12, 1 Tim 2:5). What about the different religions of the earth and their Founders?
Acts 4:12 (KJV)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV)
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION
There are three dimensions to Salvation:
1. Regeneration: Instant through faith in Christ.
2. Conversion: A process of growth through prayer, study, and fellowship.
3. Resurrection: Transformation from mortality to immortality.
ASSIGNMENT
– What does it mean to be born of water and of the spirit? (John 3:5)
John 3:5 5 Jesus answered, 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.
– What are the requirements for salvation?
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