"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," JOH 3:3.

Whether one is born again is life's most important question, for Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." To belong to, and be in regular attendance at a church, or even to claim many gifts of the Spirit, is not enough to claim this new birth.

Jesus admonishes us in MAT 7:22-23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

This tells us that the first mark of the new birth is to break off habitual sins. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin," 1JO 3:9.

One who has been born again, or regenerated, has learned to see his spiritual poverty, mourn over sin, and to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The fruit of this regeneration will be conversion, which is evidenced by a merciful, pure, peaceable heart, MAT 5:3-9.

The second mark of the new birth is, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God," 1JO 5:1. This means to trust only upon the blood and righteousness of Christ for a pardon for sin. To believe in Christ is to see one's own unworthiness, and to grasp the finished work of Christ by faith as the only hope of standing righteous before God.

The third mark of the new birth is, "...ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him," 1JO 2:29. We read in 1JO 2:4-6, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

The fourth mark of the new birth is, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death," 1JO 3:14.

One who is born again has a special love for the true disciples of Christ. He observes the commandment of love--to love his neighbor as himself, with reference to all men, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ.

The fifth mark of the new birth is, "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world," 1JO 5:4. He is willing to be "persecuted for righteousness sake," MAT 5:10. To overcome the world is to, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good," with love and prayer for those who hate you. ROM 12:21.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake," LUK 6:22. You will be hated for coming against the world's ways, customs, ideas and unrighteousness.

The sixth mark of the new birth is, "Whosoever is born of God...keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not," 1JO 5:18. He is careful about his own soul. He not only tries to avoid sin, but anything which may lead to sin. He is careful about the company he keeps knowing the admonition, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners," 1CO 15:33.

Oh, beloved, examine your hearts for these marks. It is a matter of eternal life or eternal death! "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Amen.