YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

January 16

Bible Reading: John 3:4-15

John 3:7, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”

I love Christian biographies.  One of my favorites is the account of the life of George Whitefield.  He was undoubtedly the most famous religious figure of the eighteenth century. Newspapers called him the “marvel of the age.” Whitefield preached before thousands on two continents and played a preeminent role in the Great Awakening of the mid-1700s.  In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers.

As amazing as was his life, his conversion experience was equally so.  George Whitefield was a student at Oxford and a member of the so-called “Holy Club” together with John and Charles Wesley.  He was religious, but lost.  He became increasingly dissatisfied with his life, quit school, and was bedridden for a time.  In his despair, he was Spirit-led to abandon his religious self-efforts and trust only in Christ.  He prayed, “I thirst, I thirst for faith in pardoning love.  Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” 

God heard his prayer.  He was born again and, according to his own words, “filled with peace and joy in believing.”  His experience compelled him to write immediately to his family members of the necessity of the new birth.  That message was well-founded in his heart and became the chief characteristic of his fruitful ministry until his death.  “You must be born again” was the message that he loved to share. One time a friend asked him, “George, why is it that you preach so often upon the text, ‘ye must be born again?’ Whitefield stared at him for a moment, then said, ‘Because….ye must be born again!’”  Religion, no matter how impressive, is not enough—you must be born again!

The question, with respect to salvation, is not whether you are a member of a church, or have been baptized, or have walked the aisle, or done any other “religious” thing.  The question is “have you been born again?”  There’s no substitute for being “born again with life from above into God’s family divine!”

“No one enters life with God by resolving to do better, turning over a new leaf, and trying their hardest. Unrenewed man cannot enjoy Heaven apart from the new birth.”—George Whitefield

HEAVEN CAME DOWN
O what a wonderful, wonderful day.
Day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away,
Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender compassionate friend,
He met the need of my heart
Shadows dispelling, with joy i am telling
He made all the darkness depart.

Refrain
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.
When at the cross my Savior made me whole.
My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day.

Born of the spirit from life of above
Into God’s fam’ly divine,
Justified fully through calvary’s love,
O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made
When as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer of grace he did proffer-
He saved me, o praise his dear name! [Refrain]

Now, I’ve a hope that will surely endure
After the passing of time;
I have a future in heaven for sure,
There in those mansions sublime.
And it’s because of that wonderful day
When at the cross I believed
Riches eternal and blessings supernal
From his precious hand I received. [Refrain]

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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