The 10 Born Again Signs

Ten  ways to know if someone has experienced being born again in their life.

1.     Feeling at peace inside

All the inner struggles have ended because Jesus now has full control and sin is now gone. Someone, especially a person who claims to be Christian but hasn't truly experienced new birth, often struggles with ongoing sins and feels burdened by guilt. They lack inner peace, filled instead with doubts and uncertainty about their relationship with God, leading to sadness. However, through the transformative experience of spiritual rebirth, everything changes. As Romans 5:1 states, through faith and forgiveness, believers attain peace with God through Jesus Christ. Ellen White beautifully describes this transformation, “there is silence in the soul.”

“Human nature is ever struggling for expression, ready for contest; but he who learns of Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then we are not anxious to have the highest place. We have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves into notice; but we feel that our highest place is at the feet of our Saviour." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 14, 15

One who has found peace with God and others cannot be easily made miserable. Envy, suspicion, and hatred find no place in their heart. When in harmony with God, they share in the heavenly peace, radiating its positive influence to those around them.

2.     Loving others genuinely

This love is God’s love, not human love. This love I’m talking about is not just love for family but for everyone, wanting what's best for them. Loving others like the love Jesus possesses is a big part of being a Christian. It's like a sign that shows we've moved from being spiritually dead to being alive. If we don't love others, it's like we're still spiritually dead. But this love isn't just about feelings. As I try to explain above, it's not just about liking your family. It's more about caring for others, even if they're different or difficult. It's about putting their needs before our own, whether they're friends or enemies.

This kind of love (agape) is super important. Without it, all our other good qualities don't really matter. It's the kind of love that God has for us, and it's something only He can give us. I will try to describe it more here. This kind of love is not just a nicer version of human love. It's a special gift from God. Human love is selfish and self-centered. It's even more powerful than a mother's love for her child. This kind of pure love can only grow where Jesus is in control. Take note of what Ellen White says about this love, “Pure love is simple in its operations, and separate from every other principle of action. When combined with earthly motives and selfish interests, it ceases to be pure. God considers more with how much love we work, than the amount we do. Love is a heavenly attribute. The natural heart cannot originate it. This heavenly plant only flourishes where Christ reigns supreme. Where love exists, there is power and truth in the life. Love does good, and nothing but good. Those who have love bear fruit unto holiness, and in the end everlasting life.” SD 49.4

3.     No longer focused on worldly things

When someone becomes a new person in their heart and mind, they start to care less about worldly things but find joy in talking about Jesus and His love. Before, they might have been focused on things like work, money, entertainment, fashion, travel, cars, fun, or looking good on social media. But now, their interests change. Instead of feeling awkward or silent when people talk about Jesus and love, they're happy to join in. People who truly follow Jesus aren't stuck on worldly stuff. They're different. Converting to Christianity means leaving behind the pull of worldly things and stepping away from their influence on thoughts and actions. Ellen White is very clear on this one;

“Real conversion is a decided change of feelings and motives; it is a virtual taking leave of worldly connections, a hastening from their spiritual atmosphere, a withdrawing from the controlling power of their thoughts, opinions, and influences.” 5T 82, 83.

4.     Having victories over things that used to defeat you.

This is not by your own strength of course, but with Jesus' help. Trying to overcome sin and weaknesses on your own, without relying on Jesus, won't work. Only those who have Jesus living inside them can truly conquer their sins. They're the ones who understand what Paul meant when he said, " I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me." Galatians 2:20  With Jesus' strength, they can do anything, as Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 Even though Christians may face tough battles, they can still win because their minds and desires have changed. They're focused on following Jesus, which gives them the power to overcome. If you're open to letting God work in you, He will help you overcome your sins and weaknesses. The Holy Spirit, working in you, helps you to do what's right and giving you the power to do it.

Ellen White says, “If you are "willing to be made willing," God will accomplish the work for you, even "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Then you will work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. "For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." TMB 142, I48.

5.     Feeling a strong urge to pray often.

It’s like wanting to be close to Jesus all the time.

This strong desire to be close to Jesus is like how someone in love yearns to be with the person they care about. It's beautifully described in the Bible, where it says, "Just like a thirsty deer looks for water, my soul looks for you, God. My soul wants to be close to you, the living God" (Psalm 42:1, 2).

6.     Love Studying God’s word.

Born-again Christians find joy in His Word. He becomes interested in and starts paying attention to God's Word. Jeremiah, a prophet, said, "I found your words and ate them. Your words made me very happy and gave me joy" (Jeremiah 15:16). For someone who has experienced being born again, the Bible, which may have seemed boring before, becomes important. They choose to study it and seek guidance from it. They see it as a personal message from God, filled with eternal wisdom. They use it to check if their thoughts, words, and actions are in line with God's teachings. They take God's commands seriously and find comfort in His promises, which strengthen their soul. Ellen White says, “the word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter written to him from God, bearing the inscription of the Eternal. His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and tested. He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his soul by appropriating them to himself.” The Faith I Live By, p. 139.

7.     Becoming more sensitive to sin.

Many people realize what's wrong in their lives when the Holy Spirit helps them see it. It's like when sunlight shines through a tiny hole in a dark room, revealing dust particles floating in the air that we didn't notice before. Similarly, when God's light shines in our lives, we see sins we didn't realize were there. Ellen White talks about this transformation, saying that when we're born again, we get new thoughts, feelings, and motives.

“New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted. A new standard of character is set up-the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the faculties are roused to action in new lines .... The conscience is awakened.” COL 98, 99.

Our character changes to be more like Christ. Our minds start thinking differently, and our conscience wakes up. When we let the Holy Spirit guide us, our conscience becomes more alert. Many people realize what's wrong in their lives when the Holy Spirit helps them see it.

8.     Willingness obey God's laws

      Not just the easy ones but even those that require sacrifice. When someone is born again, they willingly obey God's commands. The Bible says, "I delight to do thy will, O my God." In other words "I enjoy doing your will, my God" (Psalm 40:8). Only a born-again person can truly say this.

Before someone is born again, their heart doesn't want to follow God's law (Romans 8:7). But when they experience this spiritual rebirth, their heart aligns with God's law. They move from a life of sin and rebellion to a life of obedience and loyalty to God. Ellen White says, “In the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord with His law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun.” GC 468. When someone turns away from sin, they start living in line with God's law. This change is brought about by the Holy Spirit. Obedience shows love for God, and it's clear who truly loves God by who keeps His commandments.

9.     Feeling a desire to share your faith with others

Born-again Christian is like someone who found something precious in Jesus and want others to know Him too. Jesus told His followers that when they receive the Holy Spirit, they will become His witnesses (Acts 1:8). King David, in a prayer for forgiveness, said that when he's restored, he will teach others about God's ways (Psalm 51:12,13).

As Christians, we are excited to share about Jesus with others. When someone becomes a believer, they naturally want to tell their friends and neighbors about the joy they've found in Jesus. The truth of salvation and sanctification is too important to keep to ourselves.

As soon as someone truly believes, they feel a strong desire to share the light they've found in the Bible with others. By helping save others, they show that they belong to Christ and are working alongside Him.

10.  We can see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in him

Not the enthusiasm and strong feeling we can see, but the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are described in Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV), which says that "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Desire of Ages says, “When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing.”  DA 676

These fruits are considered to be the outward evidence of the inward presence and work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. This is the goal of Christian life as Ellen White says, “The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing--the reproduction of Christ's character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others.” COL 67 

Sulad Jhun Cardeinte writes from Thailand. His email address is acardeinte@aiias.edu

Follow his FB page: Adventist ToolBoX

To read the previous blog articles, go to SULADS Thailand website and click blog section. Direct link below; https://www.suladsthailand.com/blog-1/