Repentance - Have you Died?

Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

I’ve heard so many Christians throw around this saying “I’m a born again Christian!” I’ve even heard atheists use this terminology but do we really know what this means? If the message of true conversion is founded upon those who will repent and believe, then a new birth arises out of the midst by the ordination of God. That word repentance isn’t simply a turning away, a 180 degree turn that we often hear in church. It is that, but there’s more to it than simply making a 180 degree turn back to God.

Repentance is dying! It is the declaration of death over your old self, your old habits, your old conditions to lust, anger, coverting, adultery, carelessness. It is a death to us and it is a declaration never to return back to our old selves. Consider Paul, moments after Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:9 we read; He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. Just imagine what was happening in this man’s mind. “I was wrong…about everything I’ve done, I slaughtered those who are the true saints, and I persecuted the true holy church.” Paul was under sheer conviction of the almighty God and he died to his old self. We can see the fruit of his conversion in most of the New Testament!

Paul died his old self casted away like he cared nothing for it. He knew more scripture then any of us combined! He knew the law better than us and he was at the foot of Gamaliel. His life was set, a real celebrity of the ancient times! But he died and so by his death being founded and made anew in Christ, it is right that he should say “I consider this all garbage” Philippians 3:8.

Have you died? Do you consider your old self, your old ways your old habits like garbage? Or do you wear the title ‘born again’ without having died? If there’s no repentance no death in you, how can you possibly be made anew? That is why the message is “repent and believe” (Mark 1:15) and not “Ask Jesus to come into your heart.” If you haven’t died to your old self, pray that God would convict you. Pray that He would reveal the sin in your life and show you the depth of its offence. Then come to Christ, knowing that He is good to save!