President Jimmy Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981, was perhaps the first international leader to call himself "born again." The media picked up on the usage of the phrase, and the debate began. What does it mean to be born again?

The debate isn't new; it dates back to the ministry of Christ on the earth and to His conversation with a wealthy Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who inquired of Jesus regarding spiritual matters. Responding to Nicodemus, Jesus declared, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Jesus explained to Nicodemus that when one truly becomes His follower, it is a spiritual rebirth. The newborn believer may look like the same person as before, but a spiritual birth has occurred. A new life begins with the new birth. Just as a newborn baby doesn't understand his physical life, and is required to grow and develop, even so newborn believers must mature in Christ through prayer, worship, study of the Scriptures, and fellowship with others.

Having recently come to Christ, you may not yet fully understand what has happened to you. You certainly realize that you are different since accepting Him. The purpose of this study is to assist you in understanding who you are in Christ, and what it means to be a Christian-a follower of Jesus.

One becomes a Christian--a true follower of Jesus Christ--by admitting that he is a sinner and trusting in Christ. This is a spiritual process. It begins with what the Bible calls conviction. Simply stated, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and causes us to realize that we are sinful and need to be changed. Quite often, this conviction comes as a result of hearing the Word of God preached. But it can also come to us through the words of a song or the testimony of someone who has experienced God's forgiveness themselves.

Once convicted of our sinfulness, we must then confess our sins and believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins (1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10). To confess our sins is to agree with what God says about it. We are sinners (Romans 3:23). Having agreed with God about our sinfulness, we then confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. Ihe Bible says that if we do that, we are saved (see also Acts 16:31).

It is important to realize that salvation (being saved from your sins) is a gift from God (Romans 6:23). You will be tempted to feel as if you must somehow earn your salvation, but no effort on your part beyond your faith in Christ can accomplish your salvation. Jesus has already done everything that must be done (Ephesians 2:8-9). He died on the cross and paid the penalty that God required for your salvation. It sounds too easy, but the fact is, all you must do is believe and receive John 3:16).

Most, if not all, who read this study have already accepted Christ as their Savior. Just in case you have not, or in the event you are prone to doubt your relationship with Christ, please pause and pray this prayer with me. Say it out loud, and with faith:

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I am a sinner. I have sinned against You. I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is now the Lord of my life. T believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I will forsake my sinful ways and I will follow Jesus. Please help me to live for You. I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You, God, for saving me. Amen.

Please take the time now to research the following questions, using your Bible to find and record you answers . Take your time. The answer to each question is found.

in the Scripture references that are cited.

1. We need to be saved (receive God's plan of salvation) because we are sinners. Romans 3:23 says that "____________ have sinned and ____________ _____________ of the glory of God."

2. According to Romans 6:23, "the ____________ of sin is ____________ but the gift of God is ____________ ____________."

3. Who is the father of sin and of sinners? (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8)

4. What happens to a person who has sinned against God? (Exodus 32:33)

5. What will eventually happen to a person whose name is blotted out of the Book of Life? (Revelation 20:15)

1. Can a person be saved by doing good works? (Titus 3:5)

2. Can a person be saved by keeping the law of Moses (including the Ten Commandments)? (Galatians 2:16; James 2:10).

3. Can a person be saved by sincerely relying on his own ideas with regard to the way of salvation? (Proverbs 14:12)

1. What is the one true Way to come to God? (John 14:6).

2. Whose sins did Jesus bear on the cross? (1 Peter 2:24)

3. For what reason did Jesus sutter for your sins and mine? (1 Peter 3:18)

4. Why was it absolutely necessary that Jesus, instead of some other man, bear our sins? (2 Corinthians 5:21)

5. Write out John 3:16.

6. What does this verse mean to you personally?

1. What is the first great step in coming to Christ? (Acts 16:31)

2. In the second step, what must we do about our sins? (1 John 1:9)

3. If we confess our sins, 1 John 1:9 says that God will ____________ us our sins, and He will ____________ us from all ____________ .

4. Romans 10:9 says "that if you ____________ with your ____________ the Lord Jesus and ____________ in your ____________ that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be ____________.

5. Romans 10:10 says that "with the ____________ one believes unto righteousness, and with the ____________ contession is made unto salvation."

1. What day is the best day for a person to be saved? (2 Corinthians 6:2)

2. Why should a person not put off salvation until tomorrow? (Proverbs 27:1)

1. How would you estimate the value of a soul? (Mark 8:36-37)

2. What material blessings does the Lord promise to Christians which are not promised to unbelievers? (Matthew 6:31-33)

1. What is the one and only name by which a person can be saved? (Acts 4:10, 12)

2. Review Acts 16:31, close your Bible, and write the verse from memory.