How to Be Born Again

Co-authored by Lia Huynh, LMFT and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: September 5, 2022 References Approved

Being born again means giving up your old life to live a new life through Christ Jesus. Becoming a born again Christian might sound difficult, but God has made it easy for his faithful to come to him. By accepting Christ, you can come before God and be born again. If you want to be born again, start by becoming a Christian. Then, live your life for Jesus as best you can. Finally, you can grow your faith by attending church, reading the Bible, and praying.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Becoming a Christian

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Believe in God and his son Jesus Christ. Before you can accept Jesus, you must first believe. Christians believe God created the heavens and the earth. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, mankind became cursed with original sin. However, God sent down his son Jesus Christ to die for everyone’s sins, granting forgiveness.^{[1]
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- John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” By believing in Jesus, you can gain eternal life by going to Heaven.
2
Accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. As a born again Christian, you will also accept Jesus into your heart as your personal savior. You are acknowledging that Jesus died for your sins and, through him, you are made righteous before God. It’s very easy to accept Jesus! You just need to believe and pray to him, asking him into your heart.^{[2]
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- Here’s an example prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, but you died for those sins. I welcome you into my heart as my personal savior. Thank you for dying for my sins so that I can be forgiven. In your name I pray, Amen.”
- You can find many example prayers online.
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3
Repent for your sins. Repenting means to feel regret and remorse for your sins. Essentially, you’re acknowledging that you did wrong and are sorry for it. You can repent by telling God in prayer that you know you sinned and are very sorry for it. In the future, do your best to avoid sinning, as part of regret is trying to do better.^{[3]
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- Say, “God, I know I have sinned. I am very sorry for the things I’ve done wrong and want to do better through you. Thank you for forgiving all of my mistakes. In the name of Christ I pray, Amen.”
4
Join a church if you want a religious community. Some Christians believe you don't need to join a church to be a born again Christian, while others believe you must. Joining a church can help you learn more about the Bible, connect with other believers, and grow in your faith. It's a good idea to visit a few churches before you pick one to join.
- As an alternative, you can watch religious services on TV or online.
5
Get baptized by an ordained minister. You can find a minister at a local church. Baptism is very important for being born again. The minister will dunk you underwater, then bring you back up. It symbolizes passing away and re-emerging from the water a new person. Through it, you are born again.^{[4]
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- Mark 16:16 reads, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned."
- How and where you are baptized will depend on your church. You may be baptized in a tub inside the church, or you might be baptized in a lake or other waterway.
- Some churches will only baptize you if you are a member. You could join the church, or you could look for a church that does not require membership.
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Receive the Holy Spirit by welcoming Him into your heart. The Holy Spirit is a comforter sent by God after Jesus left the earth. You will also receive the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, which help you be a stronger Christian. All you need to do to receive the Holy Spirit is to welcome Him into your life, such as through prayer.^{[5]
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- Say, “I welcome the Holy Spirit into my life, Amen.”
- The 9 fruits of the spirit include love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.^{[6]
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- The 9 gifts of the spirit include knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, faith, healing, working miracles, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues (holy languages), and interpretation of tongues (holy languages).^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Living Your Life for Jesus

1
Avoid giving in to sinful desires. Everyone sins, but it’s important to try your best to not give in to sin. Do your best to always do the right thing by modeling your actions on Jesus.^{[8]
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- Read your Bible and attend church to learn more about how to turn away from sin. For example, don’t lie, steal, cheat, murder, or commit sins of the flesh.
- Romans 8:9 reads, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature (the flesh), but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Remind yourself that you do have control over yourself!
2
Ask for forgiveness when you sin. It’s normal to commit sins, even when you’re trying not to. This is why God offers forgiveness through Jesus! As long as you admit your sin, express regret, and try not to do it again, God will forgive you.^{[9]
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- Pray, “God, I know I have sinned again. I’m so sorry and will try my best not to do it again. Thank you for offering forgiveness through Jesus. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.”
3
Humble yourself to Jesus. Give up your pride and admit that you are small before Jesus. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Without Jesus, you are lost. Although you can pray to God without Jesus, you are not "saved" and born again unless you accept Jesus Christ, according to the Christian faith.^{[10]
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- John 14:6 reads, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” You need Jesus in order to gain access to God because you must pray in his name, so recognize his power.
4
Volunteer to help others. In Philippians 1:22, the Bible directs you to have fruitful labor. Volunteering is a great way to achieve this! Plus, you’ll be helping others, which Jesus instructed his disciples to do.^{[11]
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- For example, volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank, visit people who are in the hospital, raise money for the less fortunate, or help out at a shelter.
5
Forgive those who have wronged you. Just as God forgives you, you must forgive others. Don’t carry grudges against people who have hurt you. Instead, offer forgiveness and pray for them.^{[12]
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- Say, “God, I forgive Sam for stealing my money. Please give him your mercy.”
6
Count your blessings. Your blessings are all of the good things in your life, such as your family, friends, health, talents, etc. You can count them in your mind or write them down on paper. This helps you recognize all of the great things God has given you, and it helps you keep a positive outlook on life.^{[13]
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- For instance, you might keep a gratitude journal! Every day, write down 3-5 things you’re grateful for.
7
Remember you are not alone in this world. Everyone goes through hard times. When you’re struggling with something, you can turn to Jesus! Don’t despair when times are tough because Jesus is walking with you. Rely on your faith to carry you through.^{[14]
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- Use prayer to ask for comfort. Say, “Jesus, I need your strength right now.”
- Connect with other people in your religious community for support and assistance through your difficult times.
- Life won’t all of a sudden get better, but you can use your faith as a comfort.
8
Share your beliefs with others, but be respectful of their views. Most born again Christians want to share their faith with others, welcoming them into the church. Tell others about Jesus and how your faith has helped you, then invite them to come to church with you. However, keep in mind that they may have their own beliefs, which you should respect.^{[15]
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- If someone tells you they aren’t interested, don’t press the issue. You wouldn’t want them to push their views on you.
- Consider your life as an example for Christ. If you show others how Jesus has blessed you, they may be more open to joining you in church.
- You can connect with people of other religions because we have many things in common as human beings.
- Do not focus on the fact the other person is not a Christian. Try to find things you share.^{[16]
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- Think whether you like the same sports or vacation destinations and have similar career goals or hobbies.^{[17]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Growing Your Faith

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Go to regular church services. It’s best to go at least once a week, but many churches offer extra services. If you’re new to Christianity, you might choose to go several times a week. Not only will going to church help you learn more about what it means to be Christian, it will also help you find a religious community for yourself.^{[18]
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- For example, you might go to church every Sunday morning.
- Look for a church where you feel welcome. You can also prioritize finding a church that has groups for people your age.
2
Read your Bible at least one day a week. You can find many translations of the Bible, so choose one that you understand. Make a habit of reading your Bible regularly, such as every Sunday evening. This will help you learn scripture.^{[19]
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- You might also choose to work through devotional books, which can help you develop your faith. You can find these in the religious section of the bookstore.
3
Join a Bible study group. Your church may offer a Bible study group, but you can also look for one on a site like Meetup.com. Bible study helps you learn more about the Word of God so you can deepen your faith and live your life according to scripture. Most Bible study groups meet weekly.^{[20]
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- Your Bible study group can also be a great place to make friends who share your beliefs!
4
Pray often. Prayer allows you to connect with God, so you should do it at least once a day. However, you might pray several times throughout the day.^{[21]
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- Don’t just ask for stuff through prayer. Give God thanks and acknowledge his presence.
- For example, “God, thank you for this beautiful sunrise and for giving me another day on this earth,” or “God, I felt your presence today in the doctor’s office. Thank you for giving me strength.”

Community Q&A

Question

What is the process to be saved? I have heard some Christians say that once you are baptized in Jesus's name, then you are saved.

Community Answer

As Paul said in the New Testament, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Being "baptized into Jesus's name" is a symbolic way of saying that you are saved by believing in Him and what He did for you.
Question

Who should I confess my sins too?

Community Answer

At the crucifixion of Christ Jesus on the cross, the moment that He yielded up His spirit, the curtain in the temple ripped in half allowing anyone direct access to the throne of God. So, you are able to confess directly to God your sins. Some religions believe that you must confess them to a person, but you must confess them only to God.
Question

If I repent, will I be forgiven?

Community Answer

Yes, you will be forgiven. God is always happy when you repent, as long as you do repent.

Warnings

Jesus said, "Love your enemy and do good to him." So, do not hate, but instead, help others.

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Don’t be ashamed of your faith.

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