If one of your friends asked you this question, what would you say? Would you tell him or her, “Oh, it means that I start going to church?” Or, would you say, “To be a Christian means that I need to be nicer?” Or maybe, “Being a Christian means that I keep a list of rules and my morality is better than most people?”
Here’s what I think Jesus would say about being a Christian: It’s about spiritual birth.
In John’s Gospel, we read about a conversation Jesus had with a Jewish Rabbi named Nicodemus, who knew all about the Bible and lived an impeccably moral life. Jesus said to him, “Unless you’re born from above, unless you’re born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
You see, spiritual life demands a spiritual birth.
This means living a new life with a new status and a new identity. God loves us, so He’s not looking for our performance or our religious activity. He’s looking for a relationship. And for that relationship to occur, we first need to turn from our sin and receive Jesus as our saviour.
Jesus went on to say to Nicodemus, “If any man believes in me, if any man receives me, I give him the right to become a child of God.”
In the same way, if you receive Jesus as your saviour, you become God’s beloved son or daughter and are born again.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)
So here’s the game changer that you’ll experience forever: Take Jesus up on His invitation. Invite Him to come into your life. Turn from your sin, receive His forgiveness, and tell someone about it today.
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Reverend Gary Hoban
Reverend Gary Hoban is the Founder and Director of Refinery Life Australia Limited, an Australian Christian ministry committed to equipping believers, strengthening the Church and contending for the nations through biblical teaching, discipleship and prayer.
An experienced pastor, author, Bible teacher and ministry leader, Reverend Hoban has devoted his life to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, developing Christian leaders and encouraging believers to grow in spiritual maturity and biblical understanding.
His ministry experience includes serving with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Crusade Director and Training, Counselling and Discipleship Director roles, contributing to evangelism, discipleship and the equipping of Christian workers.
As the leader of Prophetic Intercessors for Australia, he encourages believers to stand in prayer for Australia and the nations, calling the Church to spiritual awakening, biblical righteousness and a renewed commitment to its God-given mission.
His international ministry includes preaching, teaching and equipping Christian communities throughout Australia and Southeast Asia, with a particular heart for strengthening local churches and developing disciples.
Reverend Hoban is the author of several Christian books, including HYBRIDS, 365 Daily Devotions, Beyond the Middle East and Contending for the Nations. His writing explores Christian discipleship, spiritual discernment, biblical prophecy, prayer and the Church's responsibility in a rapidly changing world.
Through Refinery Life Australia, he continues to develop biblical teaching resources, Christian training courses, books and digital ministry initiatives designed to make sound biblical teaching accessible to believers around the world.
His passion is to see a spiritually awakened Church, believers firmly established in God's Word, and nations transformed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
