₦airaland Forum

kekakuz:
My first daughter happens to live with her mum and i only get to see her Like once a week or less.

I have noticed that when ever she talks to me on phone, she talks like an adult. She says things only an experienced person would say.for example, she called me to buy 3 cakes for her birthday and I questioned why.

She said because the last time I bought her cake was for her 1st birthday and I have to buy for all the years I did not buy.recently, I asked her who is God and she said God is a spirit that lives in heaven and is on the water and he created everything from the the water.

Even though this sounds incoherent and funny, I don't expect such answer from a 4 years old girl.

Today, I called her to myself and ask her what of her mum and she answered "which one" I was shocked .

I proceeded to ask her how many mum does she have and she said "my mum dies long time ago and this one is her second mum" I was shocked to the bone.

So I separated her from her siblings and asked deeper questions even tho I didn't want her to feel scared. She also told me she had 2 othere siblings and called their names. Told me where she lived before and this is where I stopped.

I have always wanted to belive In Reincarnation and this is proof before my very eyes .

Guys what do you think and how do I handle this

her case isn't the first and it is not going to be the last.
There are other cases where children can recall certain events that had occurred in their previous lives and were proved to be accurate.

She is totally normal and she will soon outgrow it
Reincarnation is real
It is scriptural but a lot of people reading the bible cannot see it

ReacherSaidNoth:
You cannot stop people from acting a certain way with an imaginary threat.

a lot of people are constrained by the believe of hell and it works for them morally

Why do people will rather choose not to be sinful, is it because of the fear of hell fire or because of the fear of the immediate or later consequences?

I know that everyone make mistakes in life, but what kind of mistake do attract hellfire punishment?

Is hellfire enough deterrent for any sin all?
Has anyone had the misfortune to go to hellfire and was back to life, what was your experience?

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Is the devil and his angels tormenting people in hellfire enough deterrent for sin?

Buytruth:
In Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 22, 27. Says, I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

please don't allow the phrase CLOUDS OF HEAVEN here confuse you. look at the content of what you are reading whether it correlate with other scriptures, that's the only way you will understand.

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,

Remember, Daniel saw this vision and made this prophecy in his time, that was before Jesus came and he was crucified

that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him

Today, we have Billions of people in every countries of the world practicing Christianity and serving God. That is the fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy.

So, Daniel's vision was fulfilled in christ.

Christ was given birth to. Matthew 1:25.
Meanwhile, Isaiah for long prophecy ensures that Christ to be born

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us A CHILD IS BORN...

That's why i say, ignore that phrase CLOUDS OF HEAVEN. It is part of what is confusing you guys.

Christ was to be born as a child(,more realistic and truthful), he was never to come in the clouds(more fictional)

: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

let's look at it more realistically, Daniel's vision was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, that is the coming of the christ he prophesied, nothing more.
Infact, when Christ was about to be crucified, he specifically made reference to Daniel in Matthew 24

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand

So, you have to read Daniel's prophecy and understand how it relates to christ coming

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Now, Google it with your phone, WHICH RELIGION OR FAITH IS THE LARGEST TODAY IN TERMS OF CAPACITY? you will find out that it is Christianity.

That Christianity is the Gods kingdom that has been possessed by the saints and it will never be destroyed.

You don't need seek anywhere else currently Gods kingdom is within us.

If you look at other Daniel's vision when he saw a statue remember he said something that the base of the statue will eventually bruise and destroy other parts and become wax strong?
Now, that is very very significant.
,
Each body parts of the statue represents various kingdoms and the era they dominates.
There was the Babylonian empire ruled by King Nebuccadnezar, followed by King Darius Persian empire, then some other kinhdoms took over before the fierce Roman empire who later took Israel into captivity in their own land before Jesus was born(remember, Jesus saying there will be wars and rumours of wars in Matthew24?)
. All these kingdoms came in their time and gone. But the only kingdom that took over from that time and it is still dominating till this moment as prophesied by Daniel is that of Christianity.
Google it

You Christians are terribly confused people o, so you people cannot even try to understand your bible at all?

RAPTURE!

IT'S NEVER ANNOYING BUT IT IS CLEARLY A MYTH

GeneralPula:
But he’s Apapa’s Camp, isn’t?

Where’s the attack in my comment?

I sure say dem don ban you by now

Incase you are still talking, after all your rants and shameful blunder of not been able to identify between the babalawo and the ifa priest you are still asking where is the attack?

This one don go!


Baba, stay out of drugs

Obviously, the majority of the states came up with their own Dr Dickson Ariaga to fraudulently allocate votes for...

What an intelligent mystery

intelligent only in a sh**hole

You can't try that in a sane world and call it intelligence

Ireportlive:


17% of the results where not uploaded
5% uploaded were blurry

If you generously dash Peter Obi all of Tinubu's Rivers vote 200k Tinubu still leads Atiku with over 1.6m votes

Dash Peter Obi all of Tinubu's 572k Lagos vote plus 200k Rivers vote and let's assume Tinubu had zero votes in Rivers and Lagos.. Tinubu still leads with over 1m votes

North plays a major role in who governs Nigeria


.

lies!

Big lies, who you won deceive?

You don't even understand how population works, you just dey here dey spill out rubbish

Ireportlive:


17% of the results where not uploaded
5% uploaded were blurry

If you generously dash Peter Obi all of Tinubu's Rivers vote 200k Tinubu still leads Atiku with over 1.6m votes

Dash Peter Obi all of Tinubu's 572k Lagos vote plus 200k Rivers vote and let's assume Tinubu had zero votes in Rivers and Lagos.. Tinubu still leads with over 1m votes

North plays a major role in who governs Nigeria


.

lies!

Big lies, who you won deceive?

MaxInDHouse:
Jesus' resurrection and exist was secretive, only his faithful disciples saw the materialized spirit body ascending to heaven.
So in like manner when Jesus returns only his faithful disciples will know and that will be through the signs he foretold! Matthew 24:3-14

His disciples asked him "what will be the sign of your presence and the conclusion of system of things?" {Matthew 24:3} this is because when Jesus leaves this planet he will return to his spirit life so he can't be seen physically anymore but his presence will be felt because he will continue the works he established in the first century so faithful people throughout the earth will notice that someone powerful is working but invisible only his works will be seen!

so, that means the so called faithful people do not believe that Jesus will return to earth from the clouds the same way he was ascended?

Did Jesus says he was coming back again, like we will see him coming physically the way he went up the clouds in Acts 1:9 ?

Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Did he say he was going to come back in this manner?

Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Is that so?

Then, if it is so, how come Ecclesiastes is saying something contradictory and what Ecclesiastes said, proves to be true even up till today?

Ecclesiastes 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

Or, is it that the two men passed the wrong information to the disciples or they never put into consideration Ecclesiastes 1:4 ?

And, who were these two men?
Let's assume they were angels.
Why didn't Jesus himself said so before he ascended, how come it was two angels that said so?

Obviously, there is something figurative about that statement by the two angels that needs interpretation. Because, if Christians take that statement the way it was said which contradicts Ecclesiastes 1:4 ,they will only continue to deceive themselves waiting for nothing.

Because, Ecclesiastes having said the earth remains forever confirms that God's kingdom abides forever. And we all know that God's kingdom is on this earth. (Read Jesus parable about God's kingdom in Luke 19:11-27).

Which explains why we are still here on earth today even after 2000 years ago the two angels had said Jesus was going to come in that manner he ascended.
Like i have said before, 2000 years is not soon, it's pretty a long period. Obviously, it will continue like this forever.

Now here is the point, Jesus will come back again soon, no doubt, but certainly not in that manner he descended up.
it simply means that we will all die someday, it might be soon.Hence the coming of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

I think that statement by the two men was meant to console the disciples and made them feel that they were not left alone after Jesus had gone.

Please go about your normal life, region is deception

Thegospelman:
For free books and ebooks go to www.bjnewlife.org

Thegospelman,let's look at what conspired between Jesus and Nicodemus again.
If you have read the whole events during Jesus life time on earth you will notice some key things religious people overlooked, because they are not supporting education of the mind
1. At the time Jesus came the Jews were already in captivity of the Roman empire
2. They needed a Messiah to come and save them from that captivity and they saw Jesus as the prophesied Messiah who will come and save them from that captivity, hence the coming of Christ.
3. The Messiah was to treck from Judea to Jerusalem, the capital where he was to conquer the Roman rule and be in charge of Israel, from there Israel will be saved, hence salvation.
4. During the period of his trecking to Jerusalem he requested his disciples to follow him, which they all did, so there were multitude of disciples following him to Jerusalem.
5. On getting to where he met Nicodemus, he needed Nicodemus to join with his disciples and treck with him to Jerusalem, hence the conversation you saw in John 3:1 to the ended of the chapter.

The summary of what Jesus meant by born again was to follow Christ to Jerusalem, that has nothing to do with Christianity or Christians.
Ofcourse Christianity was later established after Jesus must have arrived at Jerusalem and he was crucified.

Born again or born of water and spirit was simply to follow Christ to Jerusalem and nothing more.

The wind blows where it listed..
The wind there represents the multitude of disciples following Christ. Just as the wind have direction, their direction was towards Jerusalem where Christ was to be crucified

musicwriter:
Karma exists but it's not what religion is teaching. It means that people don't actually understand what it is.

Do you hear those mass shooting in Europe or America?
Those are descendants of those who murdered innocent people hundreds of years ago to take over land that doesn't belong to them. And though it happened hundreds or thousands of years ago but parents already passed the traits of mudderers to their children. Their children would continue to be blood thirsty until they free, redeem or save themselves.

This includes those Africans you see today selling their children. Those are descendants of those that participated in slave trade. Their descendants are doomed to want to sell or enslave another human being.

Yes, you shall reap what you sow.

Unfortunately, if such a descendant comes from a wealthy family, they'll oppress people with their wealth. And if they're politician and leaders, they'll sell you out and take money and put inside their pockets. Their bloodline would continue that way down the line, until they free, save, redeem themselves.

Buy the way, that's the true context for being "saved" as understood by the ancients but which has been misunderstood and bastardized by religion.

Nobody can redeem or save you but yourself.

So, how are they going to redeem themselves, by simply deciding not to continue with the traits anymore?

jjxxx:
You forgot to state how king David reaped wat he sew. Or u don’t remember wat his son did to him because of wat he did to another man’s wife? God forgave him but he reaped it still. Karma is so so real. Even around us, we see it all the time. God may not count or hold that sin against u after u repent but u still reap it on earth here most times.

Exactly

correctguy101:
You used the word MAY. It already renders your example moot as to Karma.

yes!
Meaning, Karma may not occur or one can escape it if he is lucky. But mostly it usually occurs and one most times do not luckily escape it

And did you just say you'll become a new creature and the former actions are now rendered invalid?

yes!
according to the scripture in the bible i quoted, it is rendered invalid to the dead. But so long one is alife, infact you will have to face the consequences of the sins another person committed.

In society, depends on the extent of the degradable action else, jail terms await you if you're ever found out.

To be candid, any so-called born again should own up and report himself to the necessary authorities and see if the actions of the past creature will affect the new creature...

Ah, if you mean when someone dies, it applies to everyone, Christian or not. Death ends it all. Only very few gets recycled with same elements.

christians do not believe that death ends it all, and that's a benefit

What does this ancestor even know about your belief systems? Since my disillusionment, I've never bothered to look back.

?

Wagwanbrethren:
What if she eventually agrees to marry you?
Where's the karma there?🤷‍♂️
This is only a direct consequence of one's action, and not karma.

ok

Karma believes good or bad ALWAYS comes around, right?
Why should he be paid bad when he clearly had a good intention?
I don't see the karma!

absolutely

Wagwanbrethren:
In my opinion, there are many reasons why Karma doesn't exist. The first reason is that Karma is based on the idea that people are rewarded or punished for their good or bad actions in this life or in a previous life. But people are not only good or bad, they are also complex. They can do good things for bad reasons and bad things for good reasons. It's not fair to judge someone's whole life based on one action.

Another reason Karma doesn't exist is that it's based on the idea of a soul. But there is no evidence for souls and there is no proof that they are punished or rewarded after death. Even if there were souls, it's not clear how they could be affected by the actions of people in this life.

Also, Karma is often used as an excuse for bad things that happen. People say "it's Karma" when they don't have a good explanation for why something went wrong. But saying "it's Karma" doesn't solve anything. It doesn't help us understand why bad things happen or how we can make things better.

In conclusion, there are many reasons why Karma doesn't exist. It's based on flawed ideas about people and the world. It's used as an excuse for bad things, and it doesn't solve anything.
Someone should raise an argument against this!

anytime people do good things for bad reasons or bad things for good reasons, in either case there are always repercussions.
For instance, i agree with her parents without her consent to be paying a her school fees with the intention that she is going to marry me after she graduate. I'm doing something good but with a bad reason.
Then, after she graduates, she tells me that she didn't love me afterall. That should be the repercussion of my wrong decision and karma has catch up with me, don't you think so?

The concept of born again is ambitious to the understanding of African Christians.
We will rather say "the day you accepted Christ as your savior", not born again.
Your acceptance of Christ implies that you were either Muslim or atheist or Hinduist or Buddhist or traditionalist or anything, and someone talk to you about Christ and you got converted into Christianity, at that point you are born again automatically.

To me that i was already born into a Christian parents and i was raised a Christian i don't have any such date. Everyday is salvation to me

According to Merriam-webster, the word "Karma" was first used in 1827 by Buddhists and Hinduists whio described an ethical subjected principle that says "you reap what you sow ".
They held that there is a force generated by a person's actions which has ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence(even up to the person's after-life).

Certainly, going by human natural experiences, this ethical principle called Karma has been proven valid and is responsible for the many fortunes and misfortunes we go through today in our lives.
For instance, a man who send his child to school(formally or informally) may end up having the child becoming wealthy and knowledgeable, and the one who refuses to send his child to school may have the child battling poverty in the future and put the blame to some witches and wizards in village.

But what does the bible say about Karma, do Christians believe that this principle still have effect to their after-life even after they die?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

This also suggest that the old creature died away the day you died, and you are now a new being not having the sins of your past life inputed in you.

Paul says in Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I NOW live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Obviously,according these scriptures if Karma is anything to go by, it ends abruptly the day you die as a Christian, but the effects thereafter lives on even up to generations

Geovanni412:
Never knew about the verse till now

Interesting perspective

Sex outside wedlock being discouraged is not a religious thing per se, it is deeper than that

It is a cultural thing

Exactly!
It's a cultural thing, and infusing it into religion makes sense to primitive cultures who had no better strategies to curb the menace of sex out of wedlock in their societies

The idea of sex in most primitive cultures is that it is an exchange for the woman to be taken care of and protected by the man

The idea of concubines has faded with time as society has adopted more human rights. It is no longer fashionable to regard women as being 'owned' by a man.

they will always find scriptures to back up this primitive practices not considering that, even at the time those scriptures were written, men were still primitive. And it is the will of God for mankind to outgrown such primitivity over time

What I understand is that interpretation of religion is strongly intermingled with culture

Exactly, and that is how religions gained acceptance among cultures

If in any doubt, look no further, than what the woke Americans are trying to do with Christianity.

true

Geovanni412:
Most Christians will tell you that sleeping with a woman outside wedlock is fornication

But here's the thing

King Solomon had 300 concubines. Was he fornicating with them?

Another issue...

If fornication is sleeping with a woman outside wedlock.

That means that all prostitutes are actively engaged in fornication and since fornication is a sin, all of them are bound to go to hell unless they repent....

But here's the thing...

In many circumstances, women are sexually trafficked and end up as prostitutes

There are also many instances of women who are sexually molested and raped till they eventually die in the process

Would we say that these women are guilty of the sin of fornication?

Are these women bound to go to hell?

Opinions...

you have a valid point here!
Only that Africa's understanding of the word fornication according to the bible has been mis-construed. And the British who mis-construed the meaning have corrected this error a long time ago and Africa is still wallowing in the ignorance.

Here is the only scripture that interpreted the meaning of the word fornication.

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

Fornication is sleeping with father's wife and not sex out of marriage

This is not to encourage sex out of wedlock in anyway but it is the truth.
If religion is looking for a scriptural word to discourage sex out of wedlock, then they should look for something else, not the word fornication which means having sex with one's father's wife

The day you die that is the day your Christ will come back. Everyone have their different date of Christ coming back, so Christ has been coming back a long time ago whenever anyone dies

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

So, the day you die, you will be judged that day, and Christ will do the judgement

SultanOfAbia:
One of my favorite uncle had cancer, he visited different churches. Looking for healing.
I remember one time I followed him to his pastors church.
They called him up for miracle healing
The pastor took my uncle to the altar and prayed and prayed, casting and binding together with the congregation

Then they both came out and the pastor said that my uncle had been healed. That he should do scam for the tumor.
The congregation shouted in praise
Pastor said that my uncle is already healed.
After program my uncle donate 400k to pastor.

On Monday, first thing we went to FMC and after the MRI scan. It turns out the tumor got bigger than before.

I watched my uncle slowly die in pain and agony upon all the prayers.
He lost faith in his pastor and other churches. He died 3 weeks later..

THE PASTOR REFUSED TO ANNOUNCE MY UNCLES DEATH BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE HIS PRAYERS FAILED.

AFTER I NOTICED THIS
I VOWED NOT TO ENTER ANY CHURCH
THEY ARE BUNCH OF SCAMMERS SELLING HOPE FOR THE MASSES.

you should have gone to the church to give testimony about your uncles death.

You know, the pastor will always ask about your uncle. You should just tell him he is fine that you want to give testimony of how God used him to heal your uncle. But the moment you mount the pulpit you change the testimony to what actually happened

So, they ad turn Stamford bridge to orphanage home?

Wonderful

malcom1X:
Is this true?

yes!
And moreover, the poverty level in the north is so severe, so mosques are trying hard to conserve their resources, that's why they don't give. They rather set up almajiri system where they send out children to go and beg for money. These children will have to remit certain amount of money back to the mosque, so they don't give.
But come to the south, there are so many wealthy Muslim elites who gives to encourage the few people practicing Islam in the region

malcom1X:
When I attend churches in the North. I usually get gifts and lots of presentation for coming to church.
But I don't usually get these gifts from the southern churches.

Who should be the one to give these gifts, is it not southern churches?
There's nothing as sweet as going to church and bringing something back home.

I know people contribute for these things which I also do in most cases but since I'm not always staying in the north, I don't do that often.

So my question is why do churches in the north give out gifts just like the early churches but churches in the south don't do the same.

Note that it's not easy to give gifts these days.

the same thing applies!
Mosques in the South do give gifts, but in the north they don't give

Absolutely true

PastorDavidAwuj:
Q: When were Jesus’ disciples born again?

A: Scripture tells us not only when the disciples were born again, but also how. The answer may surprise you: They were born again the very same way you and I, or any other person is.

We know the disciples walked and talked with Jesus on a daily basis.

But like every Christian, each individual disciple had to accept that Jesus was raised from the dead and make Jesus his Lord (Romans 10:9-10). The Bible describes how and when this took place after Jesus’ resurrection:

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.

Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side.

They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:19-22).

The disciples saw the resurrected Jesus and knew He was the Lord.

When they accepted His resurrection and lordship, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

This event is very significant because the Bible says when we are born again, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit; in other words, the Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside of us (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs in every believer the moment they make Jesus their Lord. This salvation experience comes before the Baptism in the Holy Spirit spoken of in Acts 2.

Send your questions today, and I will reply you by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit within me.

+2348126401351

Thank you.

sorry, i didn't know it was this old thread we discussed this born again issue a long time ago

Perfectbeing:
They got born again after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The holy spirit is the seal of our salvation.

but how come while Jesus was still alive told Nicodemus, you must be born again?

Olusanya333:
To be born again is to be born of the Spirit of God meaning to be Saved nd have eternal life(To live forever).

"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret,but worldly grief produces death" 2 Cor 7:10

"But to all dat received him, who believed in his name,he gave power to become children of God;who were born,not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,but of God" John 1:12-13.

"For God so Loved d world dat he gave his only begotten Son,that whoever believes in him shud nt perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.

"because, if u confess with ur lips dat Jesus is Lord & blv in ur heart dat God raised him frm d dead, u will be saved. For man blvs with his heart nd so is justified, nd he confesses with his lips nd so is saved" Romans 10:9-10.

From what God says
-Admit u r a Sinner nd ask 4 forgivness
-Repent of ur sins nd unbelief
-believe,receive & confess Jesus as Saviour nd Lord(You will be forgiven nd u will be saved).

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A CHRISTIAN AND BEING BORN AGAIN?

Can you put up some scriptures to establish the difference?

Justnice11:
Question: "What does it mean to be a born again Christian?"

Answer: The classic passage from the Bible that answers this question is John 3:1-21. The Lord Jesus Christ is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews). Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night with some questions.


As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said, “‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:3-7).

The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." Nicodemus had a real need. He needed a change of his heart—a spiritual transformation. New birth, being born again, is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John 1:12, 13 indicates that being "born again" also carries the idea of "becoming children of God" through trust in the name of Jesus Christ.

The question logically comes, "Why does a person need to be born again?" The apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (NKJV). To the Romans he wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sinners are spiritually “dead”; when they receive spiritual life through faith in Christ, the Bible likens it to a rebirth. Only those who are born again have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with God.

How does that come to be? Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." When one is saved, he/she has been born again, spiritually renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth. Trusting in Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on the cross, is the means to be "born again." "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

If you have never trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, will you consider the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your heart? You need to be born again. Will you pray the prayer of repentance and become a new creation in Christ today? "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).

If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and be born again, here is a sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!"

is there any difference between being a Christian and being born again?