The ABCs

Most reading this post have walked with the Lord for years. However, there may be others who have never understood the basics of Christianity or the building blocks for living a Christ-centered life.

The first, and most crucial step for living a Christ-centered life is receiving salvation through being born-again by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:1-8

No one can be born again without their volition. God will never force anyone to do anything. Each one must make a conscious choice to believe and receive.

He [Christ] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:10-13 [Emphasis Added]

Believing in His name means committing your life to Him for salvation and cleansing. The name of Jesus means “God saves” or “The Lord is salvation” or “Saviour.” Believing means surrendering one’s life to His Lordship, not just accepting the ‘idea’ or ‘philosophy’ of Christianity over another “religion.”

The beginning point is when a person decides to repent (change their mind) and turn away from their sinful life, their independence from God, their own self-righteousness, to receive Jesus Chris as Savior and Lord.

It can happen in an instance, but the individual knows their life will never be the same again. As the scripture says, they have passed from death to life (John 5:24). Their spiritually dead spirit has now been recreated, regenerated, and made alive in Christ. They are no longer captive slaves to sin and death. They have been made new creatures in Christ and old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

Have you been born again? Have you fully decided to surrender your life to Christ and follow Him? Do you have the assurance of your salvation? If not, take time right now to make your peace with God by accepting His invitation to eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ, who took your place on the cross and paid the price for your sins. Use your own words to acknowledge your sinful nature, and ask Christ into your life as Saviour and Lord. He will cleanse you and make you a new creation on the inside. Once you do that, the journey of faith begins.

In the following blog we will cover the next elementary steps of growing in Christ and learning how to walk out this new life... because once our spirit is born again, we still must renew our minds daily to be conformed to the image and nature of Christ, This is a lifetime process and exciting adventure. Get ready!!!

For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our page “Eternal Life” here on the Concerning Spiritual Things website.

Until next time, may God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you!

James Brown CST 07/11/2026