Freedom and healing · How-to guides
How to Be Born Again
To be born again is to receive a brand new spiritual life from God, a fresh start so deep it is like being born all over. It is a gift, and it is offered to you.
Understand what it means
Jesus said we must be born again to see God's kingdom. It is not turning over a new leaf but receiving new life from above.
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”John 3:3, King James Version
Admit your need
New birth is for those who know the old life cannot save itself. Acknowledge your sin and your need for God.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”Romans 3:23, King James Version
Believe in Jesus
The new life comes through trusting Christ, who died for your sins and rose again. Put your faith in Him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should ... have everlasting life.”John 3:16, King James Version
Turn and receive Him
Turn from going your own way and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. To receive Him is to become a child of God.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.”John 1:12, King James Version
Begin your new life
Once born again, you are truly new. Start feeding this new life with the Word, prayer, and God's people.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”2 Corinthians 5:17, King James Version
The One who makes this possible: Jesus
Being born again is not something you achieve; it is something Jesus gives. By His Spirit He breathes new life into all who trust Him, making them children of God. However far gone you feel, this is His promise to you: not a patched-up old life, but a genuinely new one, born from above.
You are not meant to carry this alone. You can ask someone to pray with you, find people near you, or, if you would like a gentle place to begin, start with Jesus here.
Common questions
What does born again mean?
Being born again means receiving new spiritual life from God, a new heart and a fresh start given by His Spirit. Jesus said no one can see God's kingdom without it. It is not self-improvement but new life from above, received by trusting Christ.
How can I be born again?
Admit your need and your sin, believe that Jesus died and rose for you, and turn to receive Him as Savior and Lord. The new life is a gift from God's Spirit; you receive it by faith, not by earning it, and then begin to grow in it.
How do I know if I have been born again?
Assurance rests on God's promise that whoever receives Jesus becomes His child, not on perfect feelings. Signs of new life include a growing love for God and others, a new hunger for His Word, and a changed direction, all works of His Spirit in you.