Many Christians today are confused about what it truly means to be born again. Some have attended church for years, yet they have never experienced the life-transforming power of salvation. Being in church does not automatically mean you are in Christ. True salvation begins with the new birth—a spiritual transformation that replaces your old nature with the very life of God. This post explores what it means to be born again, the privileges of the new life, the possibilities it offers, and how to grow consistently in God’s grace without frustrating it. By the end of this study, you will have a clearer understanding of the power and purpose of your spiritual life in Christ.
To learn more about what you received when you were born again, read this post: What Did You Receive When You Got Born Again?
This is a subject that has caused a lot of confusion in the Christian faith today.
Many people are confused about what being born again is all about. Many have stayed in church for years without understanding or experiencing the born again life.
The truth is, being in church is not the same as being in Christ.
It does not matter how long a person stays in church. If he or she is not born again, that person is not yet in the family of God.
One of the most important reasons Jesus Christ came to die for us is to make this experience possible.
Jesus preached it. Paul the Apostle and the other apostles also spoke about it. This shows how important this subject is.
So, what does it mean to be born again?
Being born again is simply when a man is born anew into the family of God.
Every man born into this world comes with a nature that is not of God. That nature is a mixture of the character of man and the devil.
It is a nature that does not glorify God, and the Bible says it cannot please God.
As Romans 8:8 (NKJV) says:
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
This nature cannot fellowship with God and cannot receive anything from God because it is dominated by the devil.
God knew that even if men were forgiven of their sins, if that nature remained, they would continue in sin perpetually.
People don’t commit sin simply because they want to. It is because of the nature in them.
So, God designed a perfect way to remove this evil nature from man and give him a new life he has never experienced before.
This life is the same kind of life Adam had before he ate the fruit.
Immediately after the sacrifice for sin was fully paid, it became possible for this new life to be deposited in man.
The moment a person believes in Jesus and accepts Him into his life, this new life is deposited into his spirit.
The old life is destroyed and taken out completely. The new life takes its place.
This new life starts like a newborn baby—with all the attributes of an adult, but not yet developed.
So, immediately this life is deposited in the spirit of a man, we say he is born again.
If you understand this, then the verse below becomes clearer.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV):
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
It is a completely new life—one that even the person who has it may not yet understand its full capabilities and abilities.
Just like a newborn baby needs to be fed, this life also needs to be fed.
As 1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV) says:
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”
If a newborn baby is not fed, death is inevitable. The same thing happens to people who are born again but refuse to feed on God’s Word.
This new life is superior to the world and everything in it. It has power over sin and sickness.
But it can either grow or be stunted.
If a person is born again and is fed correctly on the Word, he grows and begins to outgrow sins that once had control over him.
You should always wrap yourself in the Word for better growth.
If this life is fed well, it becomes stronger than any addiction the person may have had before.
If this life is fed well, it can express the same life that Jesus lived when He was on earth.
This is a real life born within us that we cannot see.
It is as real as a physical baby that can be touched, felt, and carried.
This is the very life of God in the spirit of a man.
It is very bad to have spiritual Anorexia and you should do all you can to avoid it.
So, when a man’s nature is replaced with this new nature and God forgives his sins, it becomes possible for him to live a righteous life in a corrupt world.
If someone claims to be born again and continues in a particular sin for many years without victory, then there is an issue.
Either the person is not truly born again, or the person is not growing.
As 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) says:
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
At the end of the day, being born again is not just a church experience—it is a life transformation.
It is not about how long you have been in church, but whether the life of God is truly in you.
You should depend more on God's word because He responds to His word more than efforts.
And if that life is in you, it must grow, it must show, and it must overcome.
So the question is not:
“Do you go to church?”
But:
“Are you truly born again?”
The entrance gateway into the family of God is through this new life. You became part of the family you presently belong to the day you were born into that family.
In the same way, you become part of the family of God the day you are born again. Now you can see why it is very important to be born again.
So, if a person stays in church for a very long time and is not born again, it simply means he or she is not part of God’s family yet.
When you legally become part of the family of God through this new birth, there are some privileges you enjoy, and we will be discussing a few of them here.
This will make little sense to you if you do not understand what it means to be part of a royal family. If you are part of a royal family, you enjoy so many things that other people do not.
It is the same when you become a child of God. You become a child of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Your Father owns the whole world and can decide what happens and what does not happen. He also gives you the right to dominate the world and control things as His child.
So, it is a privilege to be God’s child.
Now you are in the highest family in the universe, so no one can curse you anymore.
Now that you are His child, He can communicate with you and you with Him. A lot of people do not hear from God, and even if they do, they may not understand that it is God speaking.
But now, you can hear Him and understand Him because He is your Father.
As a Father, He longs to communicate with you always when you make out time for Him. Many of God’s children do not seem to hear His voice because they do not spend time with Him to recognize His voice and know when He speaks.
God is not talkative, so He speaks to people who are ready to hear Him. If you are born again and train yourself to hear Him, you will hear Him all the time.
John 10:27 NKJV
[27] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
That is Jesus speaking. He does not lie and can never lie. If Jesus says you hear His voice, then you really do. You only need to train yourself to distinguish His voice from any other voices when He speaks.
One thing the devil does not want any man to hear is the voice of God. Once you can hear God’s voice and recognize it, you become a terror to the kingdom of darkness and a huge blessing to mankind.
Another privilege you get from God is that He begins to provide for your needs the very day you become born again.
As your earthly father would daily meet your needs, in the same way your heavenly Father will meet your needs too.
Psalms 68:19 NKJV
[19] Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah
God Himself also says:
Luke 11:13 NKJV
[13] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
If an earthly father, who is imperfect, can provide for the needs of his children, how much more our heavenly, righteous Father.
He will definitely provide for all your needs.
Another benefit we enjoy as children of God is divine protection. Our earthly father protects us from harm until we are old enough to protect ourselves.
But our heavenly Father’s protection does not have an end because we will never grow enough to know everything that could harm us spiritually.
We are physical beings with the Spirit of God, yet we do not have full knowledge of the spiritual realm. Since many of God’s children do not see the realm of the spirit, they cannot protect themselves.
This is why God has given every one of His children an angel for protection.
Psalms 91:11 NKJV
[11] For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
You have a personal angel who goes with you wherever you go, to protect you from harm.
Do not also forget that the Bible says:
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
[17] No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.
You are divinely protected—fear not.
Though there are many privileges we enjoy as children of God, we will stop at this number five with the understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom.
The Bible says the message of the kingdom is foolishness to those who perish.
1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV
[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.
The message of the cross is foolishness to them because they cannot understand it. But immediately you are born again, you can understand the mysteries of the kingdom.
Mark 4:11 NKJV
[11] And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.”
You can read the Bible and understand it. You can listen to the message of the kingdom and it makes sense to you—all because you are now in the family of God.
Glory to God.
When you know these and live in the reality of them, you will understand that serving God is never a waste of time, contrary to what many people think.
God reigns supreme, and He desires that every one of His children also have dominion here on earth. Just as He rules in heaven, He has given you the power to reign here on earth. I call this the possibilities of the new life.
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the possibilities this new life offers.
1. Authority over Satan and demons.God has given us authority over Satan and all demons to rule and dominate them. You have the power to stop whatever the enemy is doing in your life.
Luke 10:19 NKJV
[19] Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
This authority is already yours, whether you use it or not is up to you. You must learn how to exercise this authority so the devil will not take advantage of you.
You can use this authority not only for your personal benefit but also for the benefit of others. For example, if the devil tries to bring sickness into your life, you can stand in faith and resist him—and the sickness will vanish.
When you know your kingdom Authoruty you won't live in fear like many people do.
In the new life, you are positioned to live free from sickness. Since God Himself has never been sick, you also can live a life free from disease.
God knew that we could fall ill, so He made provision ahead of time—this provision is your healing.
III John 1:2 NKJV
[2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
I Peter 2:24 NKJV
[24] Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Even while Jesus was being beaten, God was providing your healing, which remains effective and potent forever.
So, if sickness ever comes your way, reach out to the healing power of Jesus and receive your healing.
I have personally enjoyed this provision from childhood until today, so I know it is true. When you understand how to receive your healing every time sickness comes, you will not be dependent on drugs, and you will enjoy good health most of the time.
As you read this, if you rely on medication as your only solution, remember—that is not God’s best for you. If you believe in God for healing, you can receive it today. If you are sick right now, receive your healing this moment.
Another amazing possibility in this new life is that you can influence and realign circumstances that are working against you. You can speak to them and bring them into alignment with God’s will for your life.
We see this clearly when Jesus spoke to the storm, and it obeyed Him (Mark 4:35-41).
Someone might say, “But that was Jesus—no one can do that now.”
Well, my Dad did it. You can read about it in this post: The Man Who Talked to the Storm: A Real-Life Lesson in Christian Authority.
Jesus now lives in you, and the Bible says:
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
[8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So if the same Jesus lives in you, you can speak to the storm, and it will obey you because Jesus is now speaking through you.
When you understand your authority over the natural realm, you will not be afraid of whatever you may experience. To learn more, read this post: If You Don’t Know Your Kingdom Rights, Fear Will Rule You.
Another vital truth is that your words now carry the power of creation. When you speak, your words have the potential to come to pass just as God’s words do.
Why is this? Because God now lives in you. Knowing this, you must be very careful with your speech because your words can either bless or destroy.
This is why the Bible commands:
Romans 12:14 NKJV
[14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
A king controls his words carefully because of the power they carry. Likewise, you must control your words. Do not curse, abuse, or use foul language, even against those who hate you or those who love you.
Never create evil for others with your mouth. Your words are powerful instruments in this new life—use them wisely.
As you continue to grow in Christ, you will discover even more possibilities. Keep exploring, keep learning, and keep growing in the new life God has given you.
A proper understanding of how to use your words will empower you to take charge, rather than waiting for God to do what you have been given the authority to do.
Have you ever wondered how a loving God can forgive the deepest mistakes, heal the heaviest wounds, and restore what seems beyond repair? The answers lie in the profound truths of grace and redemption. These two pillars are at the heart of the Christian life—they reveal how God moves in our lives not because we deserve it, but because He chooses to love, save, and restore us.
Let’s start with grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It’s the kindness and goodness He gives us, not because of anything we’ve done, but simply because He loves us. You cannot earn grace; no amount of good works, prayers, or religious effort can make you worthy of it. Romans 5:8 says it clearly: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s grace. You see, while we were broken, lost, and undeserving, God’s love reached down, offering us forgiveness and a chance at a new life.
As you grow in grace, you will quickly discover that God has already given you everything you would ever need in this life.
Grace changes everything. It frees you from the weight of guilt, the fear of failure, and the endless striving to prove yourself. Imagine carrying a backpack full of mistakes and regrets for years. Grace is like someone gently lifting that backpack off your shoulders, saying, “I’ve got you. I forgive you. You don’t have to carry this anymore.” And that freedom opens the door for real transformation.
Which brings us to redemption. Redemption is the act of being rescued or restored. In biblical terms, it is God buying back what was lost—your life, your purpose, your hope—from the clutches of sin, pain, and despair. Think of it as a debt being paid. When Christ died on the cross, He paid the ultimate price for our sins. Redemption is not just forgiveness—it’s restoration. It’s being set free from the consequences of past mistakes and being given the opportunity to start again, renewed and whole.
The beautiful connection between grace and redemption is that grace is what makes redemption possible. You don’t deserve to be redeemed, yet God redeems you anyway. It’s unearned love meeting desperate need. Ephesians 1:7 reminds us: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” Notice that redemption comes packaged with forgiveness—it is both release and restoration.
Grace does not exempt you from the responsibility of keeping your thoughts in check. That’s why this post, Guard Your Thoughts: How Your Mind Shapes Your Life, will be of great help to you.
How does this play out in everyday life? It starts small. Maybe you’ve failed at a relationship, made a wrong career choice, or carried shame from childhood. Grace tells you, “You are loved even in your mistakes.” Redemption whispers, “I will restore you; your past does not define your future.” When you grasp this, you begin to live differently. You are no longer shackled by guilt or paralyzed by fear. You step forward with confidence, knowing God’s favor surrounds you and His restoration is at work in your life.
The practical truth is this: living under grace does not mean we ignore responsibility or keep making the same mistakes. Instead, it empowers us to rise above failure, embrace forgiveness, and extend the same grace to others. Redemption isn’t just for us—it becomes a testimony, a way our lives can inspire hope in others who feel lost, broken, or unworthy.
So today, remember this: grace is God’s undeserved favor reaching out to you. Redemption is His powerful hand restoring all that was lost. Together, they form a promise that no matter how far you’ve fallen, God’s love is bigger, stronger, and higher than your mistakes. Embrace it, live in it, and let it transform every area of your life.
Before moving to the next subheading, take the time to read How God Empowers Those Who Act on His Word.
In your spiritual walk with God, there are three possibilities.
Retrogression is something every Christian should constantly guard against. Sometimes, we start moving backward in our spiritual life without even realizing it, and this is harmful to our growth and effectiveness in the kingdom of God.
Learn how to avoid daily carryover in this post, Don’t Allow Daily Carryovers: Why Consistency Matters in Life and Spiritual Growth.
How does this happen? If you started serving God with high zeal and that zeal begins to diminish, then you are gradually retogressing.
For example:
Many people who were fasting weekly for spiritual effectiveness no longer fast at all. This is a clear case of retrogression.
If a person who prayed for two hours daily when they became born again now prays less or not at all, they are also retogressing.
The church in Ephesus provides a biblical illustration of retrogression. God said this about them:
Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV
[4] Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
[5] Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
By leaving their first love, the Ephesians church showed clear signs of retrogression. God warned them that if they did not repent, He would remove their lampstand. God hates retrogression, and it is something we must vigilantly avoid in our spiritual lives.
When we refuse to believe God’s word, it can also lead to retrogression.
Stagnation occurs when your spiritual growth stops—you become stuck, neither advancing nor retreating in your walk with God.
Although my father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, does not agree that stagnation truly exists in the Christian walk, he teaches that you are always either moving forward or moving backward.
Even so, stagnation is a real danger because it prevents believers from reaching their full potential. If we remain stagnant, we miss out on God’s blessings, cannot exercise spiritual authority effectively, and fail to take territory for the kingdom. Stagnation keeps us from enjoying the privileges and responsibilities God intends for us.
Disobedience sometimes leads to spiritual stagnation. That’s why this post, The Power of Consistent Obedience: How the Same Action Can Yield Different Results, teaches the importance of consistent obedience.
Consistent growth is the goal God desires for every believer. He wants us to develop continuously in our spiritual journey with Him.
Consistent growth is our personal responsibility. God has already provided everything necessary to grow to any spiritual level we desire. It is now up to us to apply these resources diligently.
If we refuse to use what God has given us on a daily basis, we will not grow consistently. All the benefits of the kingdom are reserved for those who actively pursue growth.
Galatians 4:1 NKJV
[1] Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.
If we remain children after being born again, we cannot exercise spiritual authority as intended. We cannot take territory for the kingdom, and many privileges will remain inaccessible.
To grow consistently, we must learn not to be too wise to obey whatever God asks us to do. Also, staying internally motivated will be your greatest asset, because people may discourage you.
This is why daily growth must become a priority and responsibility.
You may quickly outgrow a level you once admired. When that happens, what should you do? Read more in the post, When the Level You Admire No Longer Impresses You
God has established two main processes to help every believer grow spiritually—two essential “schools” that every believer should attend.
Let’s explore them.
This school involves submitting to spiritual mentors who guide us in walking with God. These mentors teach kingdom principles and help ensure consistent growth in our spiritual lives.
The quality of teaching received here largely determines how far a person can grow. Unfortunately, many in our generation see submission to men for spiritual grooming as unnecessary or even evil. They mistakenly believe they should submit to God alone.
However, submission to spiritual authority has always been biblical:
Jesus submitted to John the Baptist.
The disciples submitted to Jesus.
Followers of Jesus after the resurrection submitted to the apostles.
1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV
[1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
If your spiritual training is to be complete, you must submit to those who have gone before you. God designed His kingdom to function like a family system: parents raise children, who grow into adults, who then raise the next generation, and this process continues indefinitely.
Without submission to spiritual mentors, one becomes a spiritual orphan—a “spiritual bastard,” lacking proper guidance and a solid foundation in the things of God.
When you are in the school of men, you notice their flaws. Here, Jesus advises you on what to do: Take the Word, Leave the Lifestyle: What Jesus Taught About Imperfect Preachers.
This is the most important school every believer must attend. Unlike men, who are limited, the Holy Spirit teaches us continually throughout our lives.
The Holy Spirit ensures that nothing taught by human mentors is omitted. He also shows us how to apply lessons to our daily lives.
John 16:13 KJV
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
The Holy Spirit can teach us beyond what we can imagine—but we must be willing to learn. He is always ready to teach, yet only those who are prepared and willing to learn will benefit from His instruction.
He will fill in gaps left by human teachers and guide us in applying spiritual truths to real-life situations.
Have you enrolled in these schools? Your consistent growth in God depends on it.
This is the last section of this study, and it is just as important as the first. If you have been following everything we have discussed so far and you miss this part, it could bring serious challenges in your spiritual life. So, pay close attention, just as you have from the beginning of this discussion.
Let’s talk about how a person can frustrate the grace of God in his or her life. Every believer has a deposit of God in their life called grace, and how we handle this grace determines how far we will go in our Christian walk.
Grace is not just a concept—it is power, favor, and enablement from God. Misusing or ignoring it can limit your spiritual growth and effectiveness. Here are some of the main ways Christians frustrate the grace of God in their lives:
Many Christians take God for granted by living contrary to His will. Some do things they know God hates and then casually ask for forgiveness, thinking that will nullify the disobedience. This is a serious way to frustrate God’s grace in your life.
If you know that God does not approve of certain actions, do not intentionally do them. Seeking forgiveness after deliberately disobeying is not clever—it is a misuse of grace. Grace is meant to empower you to live righteously, not to cover deliberate disobedience.
God’s grace flows abundantly to those who respect Him and His commandments, but taking Him for granted limits what that grace can accomplish in your life.
Another way we frustrate God’s grace is by ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we grow closer to Him, the Spirit will give us impressions—sometimes subtle, sometimes strong—about things we should do or avoid.
We have the right to obey or disobey these promptings. However, consistent disobedience leads to a stage where the Holy Spirit may stop nudging us as frequently. This is not God punishing you, but rather a consequence of ignoring His guidance.
There is a period of learning to yield to these promptings, and sometimes we will fail. God understands this and bears with us, giving us time to learn. Pray for the grace to respond quickly and obey the Spirit’s nudging so that your spiritual training period is short and effective.
A third way to frustrate God’s grace is by neglecting your spiritual gifts. Every believer has gifts that are meant to bless others and expand God’s kingdom. If you know your gift and refuse to use it, you are not only limiting yourself, you are also depriving others of blessings.
For instance, if you have the gift of teaching, teach. If you are called to preach, preach. If you are a healing minister, minister healing to those in need. Every gift given by God is tied to His grace and is meant to impact lives positively.
Neglecting your gift is essentially frustrating the grace of God in your life. He has invested in you to benefit others, and when you refuse to act, you hinder His plan. Using your gifts consistently releases God’s favor, multiplies blessings, and positions you for greater spiritual growth.
Grace is not a resource to be wasted. It is an active force in your life that requires responsibility, obedience, and action. Avoid taking God for granted, pay attention to the Spirit’s promptings, and diligently use your spiritual gifts. In doing these, you position yourself to fully receive and maximize the grace of God, walking in the fullness of your calling and blessing others through your life.
Whatever you focus on gets magnified; that’s why you should learn to focus on these two areas for rapid growth
Being born again is not a ritual or a church membership—it is a complete transformation into a new creation in Christ. It gives you access to God’s family, His authority, protection, provision, and the mysteries of the kingdom. With this new life comes the responsibility to grow, obey the Holy Spirit, and use the gifts God has entrusted to you. When you walk consistently in this life, you experience the fullness of God’s grace and become a blessing to others. Remember, salvation is the beginning, but consistent growth and obedience ensure that the life of God within you flourishes, triumphs over sin, and impacts the world around you.
