'Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead... For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1.1-4, 16, NKJV)
What does it mean to be a Christian? It is not a matter of believing in a religion or attending a church. When the ruler came to Jesus, he asked a simple question, “How can I have eternal life?” The answer of Jesus was equally very simple, you have to follow Him; this means becoming His disciple, believing and trusting in Jesus and walking the same path of life that He walks, (Matthew 19.21, Amplified). In John 3 Jesus was asked a very similar question and responded, 'you have to be born again into the Kingdom of God'.
For us to become a Christian, to know the power of God, we have to be born into the Kingdom of God. Of course, the ruler asked, "How can someone be born when they are old? Surely, they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!" Jesus responded, "No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3.)
We receive this new life through repentance: 'Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' (Acts 2.38, Amplified).
Once we come to Christ, in obedience, repent and receive His salvation, we become new creations without a past! Totally delivered! Our ancestors can’t affect us, and the enemy has lost his power over our lives! Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 5.17, “We are a new creation, old things are passed away, all things are made new!” This is again shown in Colossians 2.11-14 where Paul says that our sinful nature was cut away… that we are buried with Christ in baptism… risen with Him by faith in God who raised Jesus from the dead… and that the record of our sins was cancelled and nailed to the cross. So, our salvation is clear! Jesus said for good reason, “You must be born again.” How? By dying to the old life we had before Christ. We are baptised into His death (total immersion) and come out of the water just as Christ came out of the grave! This is the moment when we receive our ‘eternal life’ through Christ! Not when we die or go to Heaven – but here and now! I have eternal life, and although my body may die of old age, my life will continue for eternity!
At the point of salvation followed by baptism, we become new – a divine exchange takes place: Jesus takes our sins, and we receive Christ’s resurrected, eternal life. In Galatians 3.13-14, Paul says that Christ became cursed for us – He took all our curses on Himself on the cross – so that we are now blessed! When we receive Christ, all curses are broken, chains are gone, the past erased. Christ has redeemed us from every curse! We are blessed! Salvation through Christ is a finished work – we need no ‘add-ons’. It’s done – complete, finished. Anything less denies the truth of God’s Word and makes Christ’s sacrifice in vain!
I love what Daniel 11.32 says, 'Those who know their God will be strong and do exploits'. What does it mean to do exploits? A born-again Christian who really knows God will do the things that nobody else can do; exploits are a life of adventure, achievement and triumph.