Not very many of us can boast of what a few others can: being born Christians! That is to say, these special people were born into a Christian home: perhaps, grandpa or grandma or dad or mum, were church goers, or members of the presbytery or ministers or elders or even pastors. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as 'being born a Christian'; what there is, at least, in Christianity, is 'being born again'. But before those who have this proud heritage of 'Christianity' start to unleash tirades on us, let us look at the Holy Scriptures and see what the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ says about the matter:
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." (John 3:1-11).

Nicodemus was born a Jew, of the heritage of Abraham, and now has risen to being a Pharisee, and a ruler of his people. By every standard, he believed (and justifiably so in his eyes) that he was entitled to the Kingdom of God. Perhaps, he went to see the Lord Jesus to share a few things which he believed they had in common, and possibly, to bring Him into their fold. But the Lord confronted him with the issue of his claim to the Kingdom of God by his ancestry. Indeed, John the Baptist, the Lord's forerunner said in one of his documented sermons, "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Luke 3:8)

Let us put the conversation between Nicodemus and the Lord Jesus in perspective.
"So you were born a Jew? Think again",
the Lord may have said to Nicodemus; and Nicodemus may have replied,
"And what is there to think about? I am of the seed of Abraham; circumcised on the eighth day according to the law, and following strictly, the tenets of the Torah as laid down by the Prophet Moses".
Then the Lord would have asked him,
"Didn't you hear what John the baptizer in water, said about God being able to raise up stones in place of men if they refuse to yield to Him?"
The Lord would then have said,
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3).
This statement must have jolted Nicodemus to his bones, for he goes on to ask,
"How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (John 3:4)
perhaps, thinking to himself, what is this dude talking about, 'being born again'. The Lord then goes on to explain to him that a man cannot have access into the Kingdom of God by being born into the family of Abraham or any religious family for that matter; rather, a man must be born of the Spirit of God to be able to gain admittance into the Kingdom!

Is your claim to the Kingdom of God based on your being born into a Christian family? Think again!

Another example in the Bible is that of Paul, the apostle. In one of his many letters (epistles), he described his early life thus:
"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," (Philippians 3:5-8).
With all his Jewish ancestry, Paul came to a realization that all that he had hitherto boasted about meant nothing in comparison to the grace of God, which is the basis for entering into the Kingdom of God; so if any man could show evidence of his own works of righteousness before God, he is automatically disqualified from the Kingdom of God! Indeed, every claim to the Kingdom of God on the basis of ancestry or human effort is a claim to self-righteousness, and Isaiah, the prophet, writing by the Holy Spirit long ago, noted that,
"... we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; ..." (Isaiah 64:6).
You are a Christian only because you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and not on the basis of some religious affiliation or pedigree; nor on some national or cultural belief.

Admittance into the Kingdom of God is by one taking a personal decision to allow God to produce in him, the life of Christ (Christ's suffering, death and resurrection), through the new birth. Such a decision is not one to be taken when one is not in a position to make a commitment of such magnitude. Such a decision involves a realization that you are a sinner who needs a Saviour, and that Jesus Christ is that Saviour. It also requires at some point that you count the cost, for it will cost you everything for God to reproduce the life of His Son in you!

So were you born a Christian? Think again, for there is no such thing as 'being born a Christian'. You may have observed by now how difficult it is for you to live above sin. This is because the initial foundation that enables the power of God to deal decisively with sin in your life is missing. This initial foundation, which is being born again (new birth), is what provides the platform for the Holy Spirit to put in you, the enablement to resist sin!

You can be born again, this minute as you are reading this article. All you need to do is realize your need for God to cleanse you of sin, let go of your 'Christian ancestry' of which you have boasted for years now, and, turn to God in repentance and surrender. And even if you do not have any claim whatsoever to a 'Christian ancestry' or any religious ancestry whatsoever, you can still be born again. The process is the same : admit that you are a sinner who needs a Saviour, and that, that Saviour, is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Then go to God, and ask for forgiveness of sin and cleansing by His blood using your own words; He will forgive you, and subsequently, you will receive the joy of the Lord which comes only (from your heart) when the Holy Spirit floods your heart.

May the Lord bless you as you begin today to enjoy the new life brought by the new birth! Next week, we shall take the testimony of a world renowned man of God, who was supposedly 'born a Christian' and even became a minister of the gospel by that means (a modern day Nicodemus). But for now, "Ye must be born again".

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