Born Again! What Follows?

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Ye must be born again.”

(John 3:3–7)

When a person is born again, their spirit is ignited and awakened by God. This is salvation — the moment God gives spiritual life to the elect. From that moment onward, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and begins His work within them. Your spirit becomes aligned with the Holy Spirit, who becomes your shepherd, your lighthouse, and your guide.

Your spirit is like a heart beating for the first time. The Holy Spirit provides the spiritual nutrients your spirit needs — perfect, abundant, and sufficient for righteous living.

“…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God… according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3:19–20)

Before salvation, you served the devil. After salvation, you serve God. You cannot serve both — you are either with God or against Him. Do not confuse this with choosing salvation; salvation is determined by God’s predestination, not human decision. (See OP‑6 The False Belief That We Choose Salvation)

“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh… the flesh lusteth against the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16–17)

Now you face a choice: cling to the “old man” and live worldly, or walk in righteousness and glorify God. If you are truly saved, you will feel a burning desire to follow Christ. The new nature within you will pull you toward God, even when the flesh tries to drag you back into sin.

“…God… hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God…” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Embrace your new life. Drink deeply from what the Holy Spirit provides. Everything He gives is perfect and exactly what you need. He knows when to encourage, when to convict, when to strengthen, and when to correct.

“…all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him…” (Hebrews 4:13)

After salvation, you may face trials that cloud your judgement. You will make mistakes. You will give in to temptation at times. We are born sinners — a truth many Christians refuse to admit. Yet God knows your core. If your heart is right, He knows.

But here is what many new believers do not realise:

The new birth begins a lifelong battle.

The flesh does not disappear. The “old man” does not die quietly. Temptation does not stop. Satan does not retreat.

Instead, the war intensifies — because you have changed sides.

The Holy Spirit will pull you toward righteousness, while the flesh pulls you toward sin. This inner conflict is not a sign of failure — it is a sign of life. Dead men do not fight. Only the born again feel the struggle.

And in that struggle, God works.

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away… He that abideth in me… bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 15:1–5)

“Fruit” is the outward evidence of the inward change. It grows slowly, steadily, and sometimes painfully. God prunes His children — cutting away what harms them, shaping them, refining them, and strengthening them. Pruning is uncomfortable, but it is always for your good.

The most important thing is repentance. Get back on the narrow path. God knows whether repentance is genuine — do not lie to yourself or to Him. Turn away from sin and move toward righteousness. God does not tolerate sin, but He shows mercy to the repentant.

And remember:

The Holy Spirit does not whisper suggestions — He gives commands.

When He burdens you, obey.

When He convicts you, listen.

When He warns you, stop.

When He directs you, follow.

If something is God’s will, resisting it will only bring regret. If you ignore the Spirit, you will suffer for it. The elect may wander, but they cannot remain in rebellion forever — God will pull them back.

You will also notice something else as time goes on:

Your desires change.

You begin to hate what you once loved,

You begin to love what you once ignored,

You begin to see sin for what it truly is,

You begin to hunger for righteousness,

You begin to long for God’s Word,

You begin to feel grief when you fail Him.

This is the evidence of the new birth — not perfection, but transformation.

Salvation is the greatest gift a person can ever receive. So bear fruit, walk in righteousness, and give thanks to our Lord — the giver and taker of life.

MW

(Originally written in 2016 and revised in 2024)