In this sermon, Pastor Harry Pitts of 514 Grace Church explains the biblical concept of being "born again" and why it is foundational to Christian identity. He begins by stating that Jesus died to provide a doorway back to God, then outlines the two core missions of the church: bringing people to saving knowledge of Christ and discipling believers. Pitts defines baptism (Greek baptizo) as immersion into the nature, character, and authority of Christ, contrasting it with a superficial water ritual. He highlights a perceived crisis in the Western church—preaching "born again" without explaining it— and proceeds to unpack the doctrine using John 3:5‑7, 1 Peter 1:23, Genesis 1‑2, and Psalms 118:24. He distinguishes between being "animated" (alive in a physical sense) and truly "alive" (filled with the Spirit), and explains the difference between forgiveness (God does not hold sin against us) and remission (the debt is erased). Throughout, he calls listeners to personal repentance, offers a prayer of salvation, and extends an invitation to join 514 Grace Church, emphasizing discipleship, mentorship, and community. The sermon is interspersed with congregational responses, brief ministry remarks, and a strong exhortation to act on the message.
Chapters
Understand that there is a purpose why Jesus died.
Amen.
Jesus died because not only did he love humanity, but he loved the people of God so much so that we needed a doorway, an entryway back to God. If I was going to title this message this morning anything, I would say that this sermon title would be Born Again. Living in the day of the Lord. Because church, today we're going to return to the foundation, not just the foundation of our faith, but the foundation of our identity. Someone say identity.
Identity.
Our purpose and our relationship with the Creator is vitally important. We cannot overlook this fact that we need this relationship, because if we don't understand what it means to be born again, we won't understand what it means to be a Christian.
Amen.
And if we don't understand that, We'll spend our lives animated, but not alive. I'll explain what I mean as we progress through this lesson.
There is a twofold focus of the church that needs to be clear today.
And I need everyone to hear me this morning. The Spirit of God means business. We're not here to antagonize anyone or insult anyone.
Amen.
But those that are watching us presently, if you're watching this message, it's vitally important that you understand what it means to be born again. Because if you do not understand what it means to be born again—
zoom the camera in—
if you don't understand what it means to be born again, then you don't know what it means to be a Christian.
Amen.
Because every Everything we do, Pastor Keith, everything we do as the body of Christ must be centered on these 2 core things.
Number one, bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Number 2, helping those who have already come to Christ become disciplined followers of him. Jesus gave us this mandate in Matthew 28:19-20. And he said this: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. I'm reading from the New King James Version.
Stay with me. Pull out your— pull out your pens and your notepads because you need to take some notes. On the next couple of statements that I'm going to make, the word baptizing comes from the Greek word baptizo, and you spell it. You spell this Greek word.
You spell it B A P T I Z O, and what it means.
Minister Tracy, what it means—it means to immerse.
And the word, the name, and the name, the word name baptizing his name is the word onomé. Onomé.
Excuse me, onomé.
You spell it O N O M A.
Stay with me. I'm going a little slow because we've got to get the foundation of this lesson series. This is going to be taught in a series of messages. We're not going to be able to complete everything today, but we're going to give you some grounding in which to land on because it is vitally important that we understand what it means to be born again.
The word, this word onome, means his name.
It means what? The nature of Christ, the character of Christ, and the authority of Christ.
So Jesus wasn't just talking about water when he was talking about baptizing. He said— he was saying, immerse them in who I am. Immerse them in my nature. Immerse them in my character. Immerse them in my authority. When you immerse them, immerse them until they begin to do what? Look like Amen. Sound like me and walk in my power.
We have a crisis that's taking place in the Western church today. And I say this with all sincerity, and I'm not saying this to alarm anyone.
This is simply the truth.
Pastor Keith, it's the truth.
And we have to state it Thusly, we have a problem in the Western church, and I need everyone to hear me. We're trying to sell what we, what we ourselves don't understand. We tell people you must be born again, but we don't explain what that means. And if we don't understand it, How can we live it? How can we preach it? So today we're going to preach simply, simply. Somebody shout simply. What does it mean to be born again? The Bible says, and let's do this.
Let's go to John chapter 3, verses 5 through 7.
Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus in John chapter 3, verses 5 through 7.
And this is the conversation. I'm going to zoom you guys in closely to this conversation. And this is a private conversation for many of you that don't know this. God has given us a glimpse into what this conversation is all about. This is what is taking place.
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. Born of water refers to natural birth. When a woman gives birth, her water breaks.
Someone say amen.
Amen.
But born of the Spirit is something else entirely. It's the birth of the human spirit. In connection with God. Peter says it this way: having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and abides forever.
1 Peter 1:23.
There is no other kind of Christian than a born-again Christian. If you're not born again, you may mentally agree with Christian ideas, but you cannot live them. You cannot live them because Christ must be resident inside of every single one of us. In essence, Minister Ophelia, you must be born again.
Amen.
So let's go back to Genesis chapter 1, verses 26 and 27. The Bible records in our understanding, it says this: Then God said, let us Genesis chapter 1, verse 26 through 27.
Let me give you guys some time to get there. Genesis chapter 1, verses 26 through 27. When you get there, someone say amen. Genesis chapter 1, verse 26 and 27. I'm reading from the New King James Version. version of the Bible for those that want to follow me.
The Bible says this: Then God said, let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. So God created man in his image. But in Genesis chapter 2, verse 7, something else happens.
People of God, saints of God.
Genesis chapter 2, verse 7. Something else takes place. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. There is a difference between creating and forming. To create is to bring into existence from nothing, from nonexisting material, from nothing.
Let me, let me say that again.
There's a difference between creating and forming. To create is to bring into existence from nothing. To form is to shape from what already exists. You guys with me?
Yes.
I want to make sure I don't lose anyone.
So God created man in Genesis chapter 1. He formed man in Genesis chapter 2, and he breathed into man The ruach, which is the breath of life. Until God breathes, man is animated but not alive.
Did you guys get that?
Until God breathes, man is animated but not alive. That's the condition of those without the Spirit of God.
Amen.
They are animated, but they're not alive. Without Christ, you can do nothing.
You exist, but you do not have life. They can walk and talk, but they are disconnected from the breath, the ruach of God, the breath of life. They're disconnected. They are animated, but not functioning as designed. Genesis chapter 2, verse 17 says this, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil— that's Genesis chapter 2, verse 17. Genesis 2:17.
Genesis 2:17. Amen.
But the tree— but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat— the day you eat it, the Bible says this— you will surely die. Notice, in the day. Not on the day.
On the day.
In Hebrew, the word day can mean a cycle or order of existence. When Adam sinned, he entered a different day, a different reality. The Bible records in Psalms 118:24—
I'm giving you a lot of scripture.
We're going to, we're going to be turning the pages of the Bible today. So stay with me, flow with me by the Spirit of God. Psalms 118:24 says this. When you get there, someone say amen.
Psalms 118:24. Psalms 118:24. It says, says this.
This is The day the Lord has made.
Amen.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. If you are born again, you are living in a different day.
Amen.
You're living in a different day. You're living in a different day than those who are not born again. You're living in the day the Lord has made. There's a difference. If you're born again, you're living in the day the Lord has made.
Amen.
That's a beautiful thing. Genesis chapter 3, verse 9 through 11. Genesis chapter 3, verse 9 through 11.
The Bible says this. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, where are you? So he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself. And he said, who told you that you were naked? God asked a profound question to Adam. He said, who told you? Who told you you were broken? Who told you you were worthless? Who told you you were a failure? Who told you you were your addiction? Who told you you were your trauma? God didn't tell you those things.
Amen.
When Adam sinned, he began to speak things about himself that God never said. And when we do the same thing that Adam did, then you start to operate in a fallen nature. But when you are born again, you begin to speak what God says about you. Because you live in the day that the Lord has made.
Amen.
And because of this, we understand that we have forgiveness through and by the grace of Christ. We have forgiveness.
The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 19, it says this: Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19, therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
And I want to talk about this this morning because we know that we're forgiven. I led off talking about forgiveness, but there's something that we've got to discuss. And let's talk about this, because this is a perfect segue into understanding what the layers of being born again is all about.
Amen.
Let's talk about forgiveness and remission. Forgiveness and remission, because there's a difference between forgiveness and remission. Forgiveness says, I won't hold it against you.
Oh, that sounds like the grace of God, man.
I'm excited to know that God won't hold my past against me.
Amen.
There is no weapon the enemy can form against me.
Forgiveness says that I won't hold it against you.
Remission says it's gone. It's erased. The worshiper who understands remission doesn't keep making offerings for sins already dealt with.
Ah, that sounds like the grace of God to me.
You don't keep making offerings. You don't keep talking about what God has already forgiven you for. That's almost insane. It's like going to pay a debt at a bank every single day when the When the, uh, the manager says the debt has already been paid. Remission says it's gone, it's erased. The worshiper who understands remission doesn't keep making offerings for, for sins dealt with. You don't come to God with your head down. You come boldly because the blood of Jesus has made a way of escape for every single one of us. Every single one of us. The blood of Jesus has made an escape. And I want to say this as I begin to wrap this message up.
If you're not born again, God has been pursuing you.
Yes.
God has been pursuing you not to punish you, but to restore you.
You've been running, but he's been calling.
Ah, man, that that sounds like me. Minister Tracy, that sounds like me.
Ah.
I would tell you my testimony, man, but it would take a whole nother service.
Amen.
Boy, I was running, the prodigal running. There are many of you that are watching this message right now.
I want to say something to those that are watching. God has given you divine purpose. You have an anointing on your life to produce change in your family.
Amen.
But you're running because you are afraid. What are you afraid of?
The fear is not of God, for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but he's given us the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. See, fear has a sense of insanity to it.
Hear me, I'm talking to you, you that are watching me right now.
Stop running. You are a fantastic human being that God himself wants to save because you are a world changer. You are the next answer to someone's prayer, but you keep running. Stop it. Pause right now and hear the voice. voice of God.
There's someone watching me right now. There's a young lady watching right now, and you're in a relationship that you want to get out of.
And you—
your family raised you the right way.
Amen.
You went to church.
Matter of fact, you go off and on right now, and you know the relationship that you're in is not of God. This man doesn't know God, doesn't care anything about God, doesn't want God.
But you're staying there and you hear the voice of God speaking to you. And you know inwardly that it's wrong.
I'm going to say this by the Spirit of God. Get out of that relationship.
Amen.
Get out of the relationship and stop running from God.
Keep it real.
God wants you to realize that there's something greater inside of you, woman of God.
Hear me, man of God, young man.
You're watching me right now, 16 years old, and you're feeling pressure to really do things that are not right. Your parents are concerned because you're acting out in school. And you shouldn't be acting out in school because you're smarter than that.
You say, well, what should I do?
You need to be born again. Born again. That family that's listening to this message right now, you, you're in disarray.
You're battling each other.
You're arguing. Husband and husband and wife, spouses, you're at one another. I have a simple solution for you. You need to be born again.
Amen.
Yes, I'm talking to you. You need to be born again. Your entire family needs to be in church. You need to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Because God is not here to punish not one of us. He loves us. God literally gave everything he gave to redeem every single one of us.
Amen. Stop running.
Listen to God's voice and hear exactly what he wants to say to you. Today is your day. Today is the day of restoration for you and your family.
Amen.
Not just to be animated, but to be alive.
Not just to exist, but to be alive.
If you're not born again, I want to pray this simple prayer. Pray this prayer with me. Say, Lord Jesus, you that are watching me online, you that are hearing this message, I don't know what day of the week that you're hearing this message and you're stressed out right now. You're—
right now I can literally see this family stressed out.
I can see this person crying.
And you're crying out to God saying, God, what should I do?
Amen.
Pray this prayer with me. Father, In the name of Jesus, I ask you to come into my life. Forgive me of the things I've done today, yesterday. Forgive me of the things that I've done in the past. Lord, I understand that I know what forgiveness is. Forgiveness says that you don't hold it against me.
And Father, remission says that you've erased it. We trust your word. We trust every single thing you've done. God, I ask in Jesus' name that you save me, that you save my family. Jesus, come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. Save every single one of us.
Touch us. Erase the past.
Remove the baggage. Give redemption in the name of Jesus, the name above every name. Jesus, I thank you for saving us. For giving us your power and presence, for redeeming us, for breaking the back of the enemy.
And we pray this prayer of salvation in Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Amen.
Give God a hand clap of praise. I want to say this. If you're not born again today, hear me when I say this. If you're not born again today, you need to come to this altar. If you don't have a church home and you're looking for one, look us up. 514 Grace Church. We're here located in West Georgia, West Metropolitan, Atlanta, Georgia. My wife, Tracey, and I, we'd love to pastor you.
Amen.
Look us up, www.514gracechurch.org. Look us up on all social media platforms. And if you're not born again today, you need to come down. Pastor Keith, can you come up for me please, sir? Just stand right here. Those that bring your Bible, man of God, bring your Bible with you. Those that stand right there, we We want to extend the invitation of salvation for those that don't know Jesus and those that are looking for a church home. You just stand right there, please, sir. If you're looking for a church home, there's a ministry here that would love to have you, love to pastor you. We thank God for those that are present today, those that are watching us. Those that were brave enough to come out and face the cold weather. But we're not preaching the Word of God just to preach the Word of God. If you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I extend this invitation to you. And we believe by faith that you will give your life to Jesus. If you're looking for a church and you're looking for membership, this is the church that God wants. you. Come down. Join 514 Grace Church today. We love to pastor you. We love to mentor you. Some people say mentor. I'm a little bit choice about that word, but if that's what you want to use, that's what we'll use. Or we love to disciple you. That's the word that we use.
Amen.
We love to disciple you. We want your family to grow, your children to grow in a healthy environment. I believe that this is the church for this season because the Western church, we've got to get it right. Take the time, come down, and we want you to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Father, we thank you for your word. God, we've given the invitation, we've offered Christ And Lord, we thank You that You alone can save. You alone give mercy and grace. Let it be recorded today for those that are listening and watching online and those that are present today, that Jesus Christ is present today to save, to deliver, to heal, to restore.
Father, make make note of this that we've given the invitation.
We've extended this invitation, and we thank you in Jesus' name. I pray. Amen. Thank you, man of God. Once again, thank you. Follow us on all of our social media platforms. My name is Harry Pitts. I'm the senior pastor here at Five Four. Grace Church. Thank you guys for following us. Let other people know about us. We are a new, fresh movement, a new breath of the Spirit in the West Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area. God wants to do something great through this ministry. If you're looking for a home church, come visit us. Come fellowship with us. We'd love to have you. If you're looking to operate in your ministry gift that God has given you, We'd love to have you. We believe in— the Lord believes in empowering people to do what they've been called to do. And so do we. If you're a psalmist, musician, if you are a minister, or you're looking to be a disciple of Christ, come and look at this church. Come and, come and be a part of what God is doing.
Amen.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
