Christian Life

How Can I Know I’m Born Again?

by Dale Partridge

In John chapter three Jesus makes a vital statement, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” As some of you may know, this chapter is famous for it’s clarity on what the church has called the Doctrine of the New Birth.

But there is much debate over this doctrine. Do we, as fallen humans, initiate the process of our own spiritual birth, or is it God who initiates? In other words, does salvation come by man’s initiation or by divine initiation? Additionally, can we exercise a spiritual action like faith and repentance prior to being spiritually born? These are important questions as they help us comprehend the mechanics of salvation according to Scripture.

But more importantly, have you been reborn? Dr. Steven Lawson once said, “The only thing worse than not having the assurance of salvation is having the false assurance of salvation.” Are you a genuine, born-again Christian or are you a deceived and dead soul wandering the halls of the Christian religion? While this statement may be bold, it leads us to the most important question: How can one know if they have been born again? What are the marks or evidence of those who have experienced this spiritual rebirth?

In this special episode of Real Christianity, Pastor Dale Partridge delivers a sermon on this topic and shares six biblical checkpoints for assuring you are saved.

Additional Resources

Scripture References

  • John 3:1-8

    “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

  • 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

    “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10

    “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

  • John 2:24-25

    “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

  • Ezekiel 36:24-27

    “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

  • Jeremiah 31:33

    “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18

    “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

  • 1 John 3:4-10

    “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil:”

  • Romans 3:10-11

    “As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”

  • Romans 8:7

    “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

  • Philippians 1:6

    “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

  • John 15:12

    “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

  • Hebrews 12:6-8

    “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

  • 2 Corinthians 13:5

    “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10

    “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

  • 1 John 5:1

    “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.”

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After watching or listening to this episode, what is your opinion? Do you have any questions or comments? Maybe you have something to add to the discussion? If so, let us know in the comments below.

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