Being Born Again

This past Sunday we studied the topic of Regeneration. The Holy Spirit ushers into our lives a “new birth” and continued renewal. Jesus says in John 3:5, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” In verse 7, Jesus says, “You must be born again.” The phrase literally means born from above or born from God above. I remember hearing about “being born again,” when I was young. I remember preachers and evangelists like Billy Graham, preach about being “born again.” Regeneration is a gift of grace from God. He accomplishes it through the person of the Holy Spirit. When a person places their faith in the finished, redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit “rebirths” that person on the inside spiritually. We understand what it means to be born physically, but regeneration is spiritual birth (a second birth). That is why followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have two birthdays. 
If you are born once, you will die twice. If you are born twice, you will die once. By "born once," I mean the physical birth. By "born twice," I mean a physical birth as well as a spiritual birth in which you are born again, spiritually putting your faith in Christ.
Just as there are two births, the Bible teaches there are two deaths: one is physical, and the other is spiritual. Jesus warned that we are to fear the second death more than the first one.
Revelation 20:14 tells us, "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." The second death is mentioned again in Revelation 21:8, which says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The second death is Hell.
One commentator wrote, "The second death is the continuance of spiritual death in another and timeless existence."
Another wrote, "Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset. Eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise."
Jesus spoke of Hell in a very specific way. He warned of the fire of Hell (see Matthew 5:22). He warned about our bodies being thrown into Hell (see Matthew 5:29). And He spoke of the soul and the body being destroyed in Hell (see Matthew 10:28).
The Bible teaches that all Christians—defined as sinners who have been converted by putting their faith in Jesus Christ—will be in Heaven. And that offer of forgiveness is for everyone.
Your eternal destination is really your choice. Not everyone will be saved in the end—only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Our Church mission is to Make, Mature, and Multiply disciples of Jesus Christ. We have to be intentional about throwing the lifeline of the gospel to people who are lost and perishing (without a relationship with Christ).
Let me end with a couple of questions. Have you been “born again? If you’d like to have further conversation about this biblical teaching, please don’t hesitate to talk to us. If you have been “born again,” are you boldly sharing the lifeline of the gospel with others? When I think about the second death, there is an urgency in my spirit to chase after those who are perishing without Christ. We have an unfinished mission, may God give us grace and courage to carry it out.
For the sake of the Gospel,
Pastor Todd