Saved! What Happens When You Are Born Again

By Joseph Edhuine

Most everyone knows that Jesus died for our sins, but not many in the Body of Christ truly understand exactly what that means, or what it means to be born again. The overwhelming majority of Christians do not fully comprehend the nature of salvation or the miraculous and eternal events that take place when you are saved. This lack of understanding causes millions of God-loving, Bible carrying believers to live lives of struggle, stress and strife, rather than the success, satisfaction and serenity that is guaranteed the confessed believer in Christ, Jesus. Saved! What Happens When You Are Born Again, by Joseph Edhuine takes you on a step-by-step journey through every stage of the salvation process from the Regeneration of the spirit to that magnificent day of Glorification when we shall all be caught up with Him in the clouds! “This Biblically centered, down to earth book helps you know who you are, and who you are in Christ,” Pastor Joseph Edhuine.

I encourage you to read this work and apply the truths and see your life changed for eternity! ---Alan D. Heller Co-Founder Walk & Talk & Co-author of the books, Learning How to Trust and Marital Mystery Tour.

Written in the most down-to-Earth language, in Saved! What Happens When You Are Born Again, Joseph thoroughly explains the Bible and God’s Divine Plan as a clear and simple story that even a ten-year old could easily understand. Saved! What Happens When You Are Born Again will help you finally connect all the dots to see the whole picture and you will completely know what happens when you are born again!

“Saved! What Happens When You Are Born Again, I am drawn to books on theology, in particular systematic theologies, which attempt to sum up the Bible’s teaching... in a clear concise way. Joseph Eduine’s book on salvation will be very helpful for someone new to the faith or looking for a fuller understanding of what the implications of that salvation is in our lives.” ---Tom Quaid, Associate Pastor Vineyard Church North Phoenix.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B. T. BOOKS
• Release date: Jan 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463141502

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU Jesus! I thought as I sat there in the small local church. Yes, this time I am finally going to do it, for real.

I sincerely meant every single word that went through my head at that time. I was really going to get saved this time, today, right here and right now. I had put it off long enough. I had waited long enough and now I was only grateful, I was so thankful to God in that I did not die before today.

My God, I thought, as memories flashed through my mind of the numerous, or dozens, I don’t know, maybe hundreds of times in my life that it could have all been over. I could have been dead so many times and I would have been dammed to spend forever in Hell. I didn’t know the scriptures all that well and I barely knew the Bible, but I knew one thing, one thing that I had heard my whole life; I knew that Jesus saves! And in the name of Jesus, I was going to get saved now.

The pastor was just finishing his sermon and I have to admit that I didn’t really take in too much of it. I mean, my mind was so preoccupied with the fact that I was going to raise my hand today when they made that call for people to get saved, that I couldn’t really think about anything else, and finally...

Amen! The pastor declared as the small congregation responded with a loud, Amen! in near perfect unison.

The doors to God’s church are open, the pastor said, as he stood there at the edge of the elevated pulpit with his arms open and spread wide as in welcoming anyone and everyone who would come.

If you have never been saved, if you have never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, all you need to do is come.

I slowly began to stand and realized that I didn’t look around or pay much attention to if anyone else was standing or going up to the altar with me. I remember thinking earlier that morning that it sure would be nice; I mean, I would feel a little more comfortable if I were not the only person who went up for salvation. But now, when the time came, I didn’t really care, I was going and that was all there was to it.

As I began the walk down the center aisle, I could hear some people praising God and a few others saying, Bless you Brother...

After the pastor asked if there was anyone who wanted to join the church, I found myself up there, standing at the altar, in front of the whole crowd with the pastor and two associate ministers in front of me. Although I was sure that I did not need other people to be up there with me for comfort, I changed my mind when I realized I was the only person up there. That did make me feel a little nervous, but, I would deal with it.

The pastor took my hand in both of his and pulled me closer to him as the two ministers, one woman and one very young-looking man, looked on with great big smiles on their faces.

So, young man... The pastor said to me as he reached in to speak softly directly into my ear. Have you come to be saved?

Yes, Sir. I said. Then I thought that maybe that was stupid. Should I have said, yes pastor? Or yes, what?

Well, praise God, Son. He said. And you are ready to give your life over to Jesus?

Ah... I hesitated. I didn’t exactly know what give my life over meant. Was I going to have to be an Angel all of a sudden? I still drank and smoked and liked to go out and party once in a while. I told all of that to my friend who was my personal salvation coach. She had distinctly said that I did not have to worry about any of those things. She said that all I had to do was to get saved and then Jesus would work on me as time went on. She said that Jesus would change me from the inside out.

When I asked her would it not be best for me to quit all of those bad habits and sins before I go to get saved, she said, That is like trying to make yourself well before you go to the doctor. I guess that made sense.

Yes, Sir I answered and thought that whatever it took, even if it meant that I was going to have dramatically to change my behavior, so be it, I was going to do it. Or well, at least I was going to try anyway; I was going to try my best. And I knew that once Jesus took over, once I was saved, then God would take control and I would be able to do it. I would be able to quit smoking and I would no longer desire to do the things I have been doing.

Yes, in a few minutes, after I let Jesus into my life, then all of those things would be a lot easier to handle as God began to take over my mind and my body and thank goodness, my soul!

The pastor looked up and the congregation, most of whom were now standing, and declared, Brothers and sisters we have this young man who has come for salvation.

The crowd erupted in praise, applause and cheers. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a couple of women crying. I didn’t know what that was all about.

They are happy for you. The pastor said, as if he knew the thought that had just run through my mind. They have all been right where you are, as have I, and they know the new life that you have chosen.

Okay, now I really thought that it would have been nice if someone else were up there with me; I certainly didn’t want anyone to see me crying or something. I fought to hold back tears when I realized it was too late; my wet hand proved that apparently, I had already been crying! I wondered why in the world I was crying.

The Word says in Romans 10 and 9, that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, then you shall be saved. I nodded in agreement.

I am going to say a prayer and you just repeat after me, okay? I said Yes, and the pastor, two ministers and I made a circle, and all joined hands. Father God, I am a sinner. I repeated him, listening to my small voice in the church, the only one speaking and it being so quiet, I realized that church was not really as small as I thought.

I repent of my sins and turn from that direction. Father, I ask that you forgive me of my sins, Lord. Father, I know, and I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins and that You have raised Him from the dead so that I may be saved. Lord, I thank You for Your great sacrifice and for saving me. Amen.

The pastor looked at me in silence for a moment and added, Do you believe that, son?

Oh yes. I answered.

Then praise God because you are saved, in the name of Jesus!

The congregation cheered as I headed back to my seat and the church prepared to be dismissed.

So, that’s it? I thought. That was easy, quick, and painless. I had a short meeting with one of the other associate ministers who gave me a bunch of information and reading material and a few instructions for going forward. He invited me to come to some classes at the church as well.

Back to Reality

However, the very moment I set one foot outside of the church, I got the urgent need for a cigarette and it was a strong one. I mean, I had a cigarette-jones like no other. It was as if I had not had a cigarette in a week, rather than just before I went into church a few hours ago.

But how in the world could I be jones-ing for a cigarette? It just couldn’t be; I was saved, for Christ’s sake...literally. I made a commitment to God and He said Jesus would take over my life, and here I was, not 15 seconds out of the church, and after just being saved and the first thing on my mind was a cigarette? Something had to be wrong, I thought.

As the rest of the day unfolded and the more I thought about it, nothing had really changed. My God, everything, and I mean every little thing was still the same as it was before I got saved!

Oh my God. I just swore to God that I would do better, I repented and turned from my sins and here I was smoking, and all of the stress had me in desperate need of a drink.

But wait, I think I heard somewhere that smoking was not a sin. Not really. I don’t think so. And drinking, what about drinking? I know that a