Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. (TRR Graphic)
Harvest’s Nightmare: A Devil Is Loose in Greg Laurie’s Ministry as Romanian Abuse Lawsuits Mount
Resign Posthaste: Daniel Whyte III Demands Greg Laurie Step Down Amid ‘House of Horrors’ Scandal
Sex Abuse Scandal Engulfs Harvest Christian Fellowship: Over a Dozen Lawsuits Filed by Men Raped in Romanian Orphanages
Calls for Greg Laurie’s Resignation After Abuse Lawsuits by Romanian Men Against Former Harvest Pastors
Billy Graham’s Grandson Called to Investigate Greg Laurie’s Harvest as Romanian Abuse Cases Multiply
Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Evangelistic Society International, says Greg Laurie and Harvest Christian Fellowship should strip Paul Havsgaard of all his ministerial credentials. Then Greg Laurie should take responsibility for this satanic mess and should resign posthaste, as well as others who visited the “House of Horrors” and did not say anything. Laurie and the church should settle this case, as this will be a major scandal hurricane in 2026 that is going to drag the church through the mud. Whyte calls on Boz Tchividjian to investigate this to protect the name of his grandfather, Billy Graham, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, as Greg Laurie has a major connection to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Blackchristiannews.com was one of the first major Christian newspapers that ran this tragic story. Here is what Whyte said when BCNN1.COM first reported this story on September 20, 2025:
Breaking: “There Is a Devil Loose!” Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, and Former Pastor Paul Havsgaard Named in Lawsuit Alleging Child Abuse and Sex Trafficking in Romania
Daniel Whyte III says that normally men associated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, like Greg Laurie, are not caught up in scandals such as this. Therefore, Whyte is calling on Boz Tchividjian to investigate what is happening here—for the glory of God and for his grandfather’s sake, Dr. Billy Graham.
Note: This story contains depictions of predatory grooming, child sexual abuse and self-harm.
Two lawsuits became four, four became six, then six a dozen. Now megachurch pastor Greg Laurie, his Riverside, California-based Harvest Christian Fellowship, and two former ministers of that church are facing 12 different lawsuits from 12 different men.
Each of the men say they were sexually abused while growing up in Romanian orphanages that Harvest Christian Fellowship founded and funded but failed to oversee.
One of them called Harvest’s orphanage program in Romania “a madhouse run by a sadistic pedophile.”
Harvest has called the suits “a form of financial extortion” and said that targeting the megachurch has become “the near total focus” of an attorney at McAllister Olivarius, a New York and London-based firm.
In the winter 2002 edition of Calvary Chapel Magazine, an article featured Paul Havsgaard, stating he is pictured “ministering to street children in downtown Bucharest, Romania.” (Court filing/Calvary Chapel Magazine)
“The allegations … shock one’s conscience,” the church said in a statement emailed to multiple media outlets. “We have attempted in good faith to engage with the lawyer, but the lawsuit represents only the latest demand and, in this case, many tens-of-millions of dollars.”
The multiplying lawsuits do not name specific amounts. But the 12 men have each asked federal courts for “damages in amounts to be established at trial,” including punitive damages and compensation for “ongoing and severe mental anguish.”
One of the men, George-Adrian Vasile, said Paul Havsgaard — a pastor at Harvest from 1984 to 2002 and head of the now-defunct Harvest Homes in Romania — first touched him inappropriately in 2000. Vasile was 8 years old. He alleges Havsgaard forcibly masturbated him and penetrated him with his fingers.
Now 34, Vasile recalls Havsgaard would give him a reward if he stayed quiet.
Marian Barbu, also 34, claims Havsgaard put a pillow over his face when he was 8 and smothered him to keep him quiet while Havsgaard molested him in his bed. Barbu said he thought he was going to die. Later, he wanted to. He attempted suicide multiple times.
Barbu cut his wrists with glass, drank chlorine, swallowed coins, took pills, poured boiling water on himself, and beat his head against a wall, according to his lawsuit filed in federal court.
Alexandru Bădăluță, 37, haș visible scars on his wrists from his suicide attempt. He alleges Havsgaard stripped him, spanked him, and touched him inappropriately multiple times per day starting when he was 12 and continuing until he was 16.
Răzvan-Gheorghe Nițu, 39, also recalls sexual abuse mingled with routine discipline. He said in his suit that as a child he thought he was abused so often because he was bad, but Havsgaard told him this was a normal part of a father-son relationship.
He claims Havsgaard also showed him a pornographic video of two men having sex, explained that men can have sex with each other, and asked him if he liked it.
Today, Nițu reports he still feels overwhelmed by shame. He cannot seem to shake the belief that he was victimized because he is “fundamentally dirty,” according to his lawsuit.
The eight other men who have sued—Cristian Aeroaiei, Alexandru-Cristian Bușcă, Aurelian Bușcă, Florin Cristian Caragea, Marian Dragne, Bogdan Ionescu, Constantin-Alin Nițu, and Mihai-Constantin Petcu—have similar stories.
The Roys Report does not name individuals who claim to be victims of sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly, as these 12 have.
Paul Havsgaard (Photo: Court filing)
Havsgaard, who has retired in California, could not be reached for comment. He has not spoken publicly about the growing number of allegations of pedophilia.
Havsgaard has not been charged with any crimes. The “Protect Act,” passed in 2003, made it a federal crime to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. Government prosecutors are currently using the law to prosecute an Ohio man who allegedly abused multiple boys during mission trips in Haiti.
An additional 11 men are also planning to sue, bringing the lawsuits to a total of 23, according to a spokesman at McAllister Olivarius. They are expected to file in the coming weeks.
A judge may combine all 23 cases against Havsgaard, Laurie, former missions pastor Richard Schutte, and Harvest Christian Fellowship.
Harvest has hired a lawyer with experience defending against class-action suits. Howard Privette’s expertise includes “fiduciary duty litigation,” “corporate governance litigation,” and “whistleblower issues,” according to his official biography on his firm’s website. He has been praised for his ability to develop “innovative strategies for resolving the most challenging cases.”
Privette did not respond to an email with questions about the case.
Separate entities or ‘one and the same’
Harvest has acknowledged the church supported the Romanian orphanages in the late 1990s and early 2000s but said that does not imply legal or moral responsibility. According to the church, the lawsuits create a deceptive “misimpression” that the orphanages and the church were “one and the same,” when in fact they were separate entities.
“We are saddened that someone would exploit something so evil to intentionally deceive others,” the church said. “And we remember that it was Jesus himself who warned us that people will ‘falsely say all kinds of evil against us’ (Matthew 5:11).”
The relationship between the church and the orphanages appears complicated, though. Four years after Havsgaard moved to Romania, he was listed as a minister on the church website — his name right below Laurie’s.
In a photos from the 1990s, pastoral staff at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, Associate Pastor Paul Havsgaard (front row, left, coral shirt), is pictured with Lead Pastor Greg Laurie, center. (Photo: Facebook)
Havsgaard’s name was removed from the website in 2002, when he set up an independent nonprofit. That didn’t end the relationship, though. In 2003, a Harvest church prayer calendar included Havsgaard under “missions,” along with Laurie’s upcoming evangelistic crusades.
Harvest’s mission pastor served on Havsgaard’s nonprofit board, and tax forms show the nonprofit’s phone number was the same as the church’s main office in Riverside. The Romanian ministry also put the church’s phone number on its fundraising material.
The lawsuits claim that all the Romanian orphanages’ funds came through the church and the California church leaders were, in fact, in charge.
“The Harvest Homes were operated, funded, and administered by Harvest Riverside, whose long-time leader and unquestioned authority is Defendant Greg Laurie,” the lawsuits say. “Defendant Shutte, Harvest Riverside’s Missions Pastor, had operational authority under Laurie.”
But Laurie “required no proper accounts or financial audits, no regular inspections of the Homes, no child protection policies or training,” according to the lawsuits. Nevertheless, he “continued to gather the donations that flowed into Harvest Riverside based on energetic advertising in the United States about the supposed good works Harvest was doing in Bucharest.”
Children at Harvest Homes in Romania complained about the abuse as it was happening, and several went to the Romanian nationals who worked at the orphanages, the lawsuits say.
Ministry home sponsored by Harvest Foundation that housed orphans in Buftea, Romania. (Photo via lawsuit filing)
When Americans connected to the mission work grew concerned about Havsgaard’s behavior, they went to Harvest, apparently believing the church exercised some oversight. A missionary working in Romania, for example, learned of the allegation of abuse in 2002, according to the lawsuits. He said he called the church in California and left a message.
The lawsuits also say a minister’s wife who visited Romania in 2002 informed Harvest leaders she was suspicious that Havsgaard was abusing children.
Three pastors reportedly investigated the allegations in 2004 and “audited” the ministry, giving their final report to Schutte. It is unclear, however, if Schutte was acting in his capacity as board member or missions pastor or if the two roles were one and the same.
McAllister Olivarius attorney Jan Cervenka claims that Schutte or another person gave the report to Laurie in 2004. Laurie had “an obligation to take immediate corrective action,” but chose to turn a blind eye.
source and to read more: https://julieroys.com/romanian-lawsuits-multiply-against-harvest-christian-fellowship-pastor-greg-laurie/
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Daniel Whyte III has been preaching the Gospel for over 46 years and is the founder and President of the over 42-year-old Gospel Light Evangelistic Society International, Pastor of the over 38-year-old Gospel Light House of Prayer International, and Founder, President, and Editor-in-Chief of the over 22-year-old Black Christian News One (BCNN1.com)—reaching millions with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, discipleship preaching, and the whole counsel of God around the world by any means necessary, “Crying in the wilderness,” and “Exiled on the Isle of Patmos.”.
Daniel Whyte III was honored by being named one of the 17 most notable alumni in the history of the 134-year-old Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, and one of the 69 most notable alumni in the history of the 53-year-old Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Daniel Whyte III holds the following degrees from these universities:
- Doctor of Ministry (D.Min., in progress) – Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Lynchburg, VA
- Master of Theology (Th.M.) – Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Lynchburg, VA
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.) – Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Lynchburg, VA
- Bachelor of Arts in Religion (B.A.) – Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas
- Bachelor of Theological Studies – Bethany Divinity College and Seminary, Dothan, Alabama (Honors: Summa Cum Laude)
Daniel Whyte III was also honored to sit with presidents and world leaders by being invited by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to attend the homegoing of Dr. Billy Graham.
He is the Essence national best-selling author of Letters to Young Black Men and the Amazon best-selling author of Letters to Young Black Women (African-American category). He has authored over 100 books.
He is also the founder, president, and editor-in-chief of the 20-year-old BlackChristianNews.com (BCNN1.com), which has impacted every denomination in the evangelical and Christian world and has influenced presidents, the U.S. government, governments around the world, and the public square. BlackChristianNews.com has been named the #1 Black Christian website and blog in the world for four years running by the independent Feedspot and is on the list of the top 60 Christian news sites in the world—red, yellow, black, or white.
He has preached the Gospel and the Word of God in person across America and in over 24 countries to thousands of people. He has preached the Gospel and the Word of God to millions of people around the world with the help of the internet, preaching live and on-demand multiple times a day for over eight years, to this very day. His mottoes are “Crying in the Wilderness,” “Exiled on the Isle of Patmos,” and “Preaching the Gospel by any means necessary,” all for the glory of God and Jesus Christ.
Daniel Whyte III is the president of the over-40-year-old Gospel Light Evangelistic Society International and the over-37-year-old Gospel Light House of Prayer International. He is known worldwide as the prophet who predicted the Coronavirus Plague over 10 years before it hit in recorded preaching and writing. God also led him to guide thousands through the Coronavirus Plague that killed over 20 million people because of the sins in the Judas-Laodicean church.
Daniel Whyte III’s greatest blessing in this life is his “quiver full” of 10 children—Daniella (Danni), Daniel IV, Danita Evangeline, Danae Mary-Louise, Daniqua Grace, Danyel Ezekiel, Danyelle Elizabeth Breedlove, Danielle Tekeela, Duran-Daniel, and the first Daniel IV (deceased and in heaven with the Lord)—along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Daniel Whyte III has been unblissfully but sexually satisfyingly married to his first and only wife, Meriqua Whyte of Christiana, Jamaica, for over 37 years since December 19, 1987. Jesus Christ said: “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Even though many evangelicals, charismatics, and Protestants try to act as if these words of Jesus Christ are not a reality in our modern Christianity—primarily because of the Satanic-driven prosperity gospel and an over-positive philosophy, which is a lie not based in reality or biblical truth—the words of Jesus Christ are true for every person who preaches the Gospel. The outcomes of the Gospel are a changed life and opposition from family, lukewarm Christians, Laodicean-Judas pastors and churches, the world, and the devil. This is a reality in our present evil world.
While Daniel Whyte III thoroughly enjoys his married life because he did not allow his wife to have her way at any point and was and is solidly and biblically the head of his household throughout the marriage—often quoting Joshua, “As for me and my house, we’re going to serve the Lord” “up in here!”—and because his wife never failed in the very important area of sex, which he got married for in the first place to avoid sinning against God, he has especially enjoyed the privilege and joy of raising his children in the Lord virtually by himself. He served the Lord with them every day of their lives, from the time they were born until they graduated from college, became adults, and moved on.
However, his wife, Meriqua Whyte—motivated by Satan, with a Pharaoh-style pride mixed with the well-known female Jamaican-style pride, stubbornness, rebelliousness, and witchcraft—has been his greatest Judas enemy in the world and has been what Paul spoke of: a “messenger of Satan” and a “thorn in the flesh.” Amazingly, and by the grace of God, that Satanic evil opposition has spurred Daniel Whyte III on to preach the Gospel probably more times than any man on record. God has honored him because he did not “hearken to the voice of his wife.” Whyte tells other Christian men to only hearken to the voice of God and Jesus Christ—not to their wives, as so many thousands of church men have been taught by pastors and other older men throughout the years. Remember, we are in this worldwide, multi-generational mess because Adam hearkened to the voice of his wife and not to the voice of God.
Before they were married, Daniel Whyte III told his wife Meriqua Whyte that they would not do family life as her parents did, because their married life was hellacious and ended in divorce, as did some of her other family members, including the aunt she was living with. He also told his wife they would not do family life as his parents did, because it was also hellacious and out of order since his mother was the head of the household, not his father. But thanks be to God, they never got a divorce. Whyte told his wife before they got married that they were going to do it God’s way according to Ephesians chapters 5 and 6, or no way at all. And then he asked his wife, “Are you willing to do marriage God’s way according to Ephesians chapters 5 and 6?” And she said yes. Whyte told her before they got married that if she did not live up to her end of the deal, all bets were off.
Because Daniel Whyte III’s wife, Meriqua Whyte, was so proud, unsubmissive, stubborn, and rebellious after they got married, God led him to read Ephesians chapters 5 and 6 every day in their family devotions throughout their marriage. In the first year of their marriage, Daniel Whyte III also gave his wife a list of verses for women from the Word of God for her to read, which she still reads to this day. He also bought her many books to read to help her be the wife God wanted her to be.
Whyte realized early in the marriage that his wife was not a born-again, saved person even though she lied and said she was before they got married. After over 37 years of marriage, she is still not saved, never bearing any fruit of a saved person, to the point of not even wanting to tell her children, “I love you” and not wanting to hug them when they were little children, even after her husband told her to do so. She also hated the daily family devotions that her husband led and tried to hinder them. She also demonically hated and tried to hinder every Gospel preaching service to this very day.
However, only by the grace of God, they are still married, and despite the devil constantly working through his wife to try to hinder him from preaching the Word of God, he is still preaching the Gospel and the Word of God live and on-demand. His ministry reaches over 148,800 people per month with over 21,000 unique views per month, reaching 149 countries, preaching the Gospel and the Word of God in 2 to 3 services a day, 7 days a week. Glory be to God!
Mrs. Meriqua Whyte’s Apology to her Husband and Their 7 Children for not Being a Biblical Wife or Mother
Mrs. Meriqua Whyte, the Wife of Daniel Whyte III, Gave him the Best Father’s Day Gift Ever About 10 Years Ago When She Unexpectedly and Voluntarily Apologized for the First Time to Him and Their 7 Children for Not Being the Wife, Mother, and Christian Example of the Woman She Should Have Been Over the Past 37 Years of Marriage
Here is what Mrs. Meriqua Whyte wrote ten years ago after verbally apologizing to the entire family on Father’s Day, right before church service:
Over thirty years of marriage. Over thirty years of ups and downs. Over thirty years of trying to make our problems a personal thing between my husband and me. Thankfully, he did not allow me to do that and kept telling me it was between God and me—over thirty years of acting on my feelings and not on what the Bible says. Over thirty years of refusing to obey God’s simple command to a wife—to be obedient to your husband in all things. Over thirty years of disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, lying, and dishonesty, all rooted in pride. Over thirty years of simply not choosing to mature as a Christian.
God has been dealing with me for over thirty years now about changing my attitude and behavior as a wife, which has manifested itself in disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, lying, dishonesty, having an ungodly attitude and spirit, and simply not being the wife, mother, or example of a Christian woman that I should have been throughout the years. (By the way, for those of you who may be thinking that my disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, lying, and dishonesty have resulted in adultery, I will say here that I have never committed any adultery or had sex with another man besides my husband, Daniel Whyte III, since I was born.)
God kept telling me I needed to stop my rebellious and stubborn behavior, apologize to my husband and children, and get my heart right with him, my husband, and my children. He sent others my way to tell me how to behave:
- My husband, but I didn’t want to hear it from him
- Other Christian women speakers
- Other preachers
- Books and other materials, but I would not take heed
I knew what to do, but I chose not to do it. The devil had me thinking and believing—as he is having a lot of wives and mothers think and believe—that your relationship with your husband and how you respond to him, whether positive or negative, will not affect your relationship with your children or your relationship with God. I say without hesitation that this is one of the devil’s lies, and sad to say, many wives and mothers are falling for this lie.
Another lie of the devil that Christian wives are falling for is that you can still have a strong relationship with God without being submissive to your husband. Lie! Lie! Lie! There is no truth to this. I know because I have experienced this and am still experiencing this as I am going through this breaking process, which is not happening overnight.
Even throughout my years of rebelliousness, stubbornness, and pride, I still kept praying the prayer I used to pray daily before I got married: “Lord, make me be exactly what You want me to be. Lord, break, make, and mold me into what you want me to be.” Well, God took that prayer seriously, and once you accept Him, He will begin the breaking process. It’s up to us how long that breaking process will take. For me, sad to say, it has taken over 30 years, and the breaking is not complete. In what way is God breaking me down right now? Well, our children have grown up. The three oldest have gone through and are still going through college, have gotten their degrees, and some are working on their second, third, and fourth degrees, launching their careers and moving out. God slapped me into reality and truly intensified the breaking process. My husband told me before our first child was born and repeatedly while the children were young that my job was to love our children and make positive memories with them and that if I did that, I would have a wonderful relationship with them as adults in the time to come. Well, I disobeyed God and my husband, who did not let up on his duties. And he has a wonderful relationship with our children, even the girls, and I don’t. However, God led me to finally break the day before Father’s Day, and while I was helping my husband get dressed to preach, I asked him if I could apologize to him and the entire family. That’s the first time I ever did that on my own. Throughout the years, he has always told me that I needed to get my heart right with God, him, and my children; otherwise, I would never have the joy and peace of the Lord in my life. However, I kept on lying and denying that I was the problem.
Here is what I said to my husband and children on Saturday afternoon, June 17, 2017, the day before Father’s Day. My husband told the entire family that this was the best Father’s Day gift I have ever given to him:
“Daddy, children, I apologize for not being the wife, mother, and example of a Christian woman I should have been throughout the years. I have shown nothing but pride, disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, and a bad attitude and spirit toward God and my husband in front of you. My disobedience and rebelliousness have caused much unnecessary unrest and upheaval in the family. As my husband told me, things could have gone much better if I had obeyed God’s word from the beginning. Please accept my apology, and I am asking you to forgive me.”
The diminishing of peace and joy in my life throughout the years I brought on myself. Not having a proper relationship with God, my husband, and my children, I brought on myself—all because I chose the disobedient route. My number one desire is to live a life of peace—peace with God, my husband, and my children. I have learned that peace will not come as long as I live in disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, and pride.
I will end this with two notes: (1) Happy Father’s Day to my husband: you have been a great husband and father. (2) Happy Children’s Day to my children: You all have been great children. I have no complaints whatsoever against my husband and, of course, children; you have never been at fault. My bad behavior is all on me, and I’m sorry I put you through this. May God bless your lives, and I love you.
Ephesians 5:22 – 6:20 (KJV)
Below is the passage in the Bible that Daniel Whyte III read in their family devotions every day for decades. It covers the biblical duties of the husband, the wife, and the children, and includes how to fight against the devil who is seeking to destroy the family.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
The Gospel in a Nutshell
If you were to die today, where would you go: Heaven or Hell? If you’re not sure, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Jesus Christ said the most important words ever spoken in the history of the world when He said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Read further right here:
The Most Important Question in the World: Have You Been Twice Born?
This is the “Chief of sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, with the Gospel Light Minute X Podcast #447, titled, “The Big Question.” I’m here to remind you of what the Bible says: that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me.
“Have You Been Born Again?”
The question is not, “Have you joined a church?” or “Are you trying to do your best?” or “Do you have religion?” but, “Are you twice-born?” Jesus Christ said in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
We enter the physical world by birth. Spiritual life, likewise, is entered with a birth. We become members of a human family by birth; we become members of the family of God by birth, by being “born again.” There is no other way to get into the human family except by birth, and there is no other way to get into God’s family except by the new birth. Neither education, nor cultivation, nor reformation, nor “turning over a new leaf,” will accomplish this. What is needed is not a new “leaf” but a new “life”! “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).
A New Nature Needed
By physical birth, we become partakers of human nature; by being born again, we become “partakers of the divine nature.” A Christian is the product of a divine “begetting.” The second birth is not an improvement of the old nature; it is the imparting of an entirely new nature. The old nature is hopelessly corrupt and incapable of ever being made fit for His presence. The new birth requires a creative act of the Holy Spirit. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
Not “Trying” But “Trusting”
“Trying to follow Christ” is not Christianity. Christianity is not imitation of Christ; it is the indwelling of Christ. Christianity is not trying to do anything. It is trusting Christ, who has done it all! He has “finished the work,” and there is nothing left to do but simply to receive and trust Him. He shed His precious blood on the cross, and the work is all done once and forever! Cease trying and begin trusting! Believers will progressively become more and more like Christ, but by His power, not their own.
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Bible says in 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” The Bible states in John 1:12-13, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
You are born again, you become a Christian by trusting a Person—receiving a Person. The very moment you do this, the Lord Jesus Christ comes in and life begins!
What Is Meant By “Believe”?
To “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” means more than simply believing the historic facts concerning Him. Intellectual belief about Christ is not sufficient. The belief that brings salvation must be “with the heart,” that is, with the whole being. This belief also includes repentance: “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Bible states in Acts 17:30, “God… now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”
The faith which saves, then, includes the necessity to repent and to receive Christ as Savior and Lord, to rest upon Him alone for salvation. It means to trust Him so utterly and completely that, if He should fail, there would be no hope at all!
May I Know That I Am Born Again?
This is an important question. We know that we are born again by the testimony of God’s Word. God says in John 5:24, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as explained by God’s Word? If so, then you are saved, you are “born again,” you have “passed from death unto life.” God says so! Take God at His Word, and go on your way rejoicing!
One Final Word
You may “belong to a church,” you may be “trying to do the best you can,” you may be “striving to live right.” Your outward life may be the model of moral correctness, and you may be looked up to, honored, revered, and respected. Yet, if you have not been “born again,” you are just as lost as if you had never heard of Christ. Yes, you may teach in the Sunday school, read the Bible, sing, shout, “feel happy,” and all the rest—but if you have never been “born again,” you are still in your sins and a stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you want to be saved from the wrath to come and from an eternity in Hell, and if you believe that Jesus Christ suffered, bled, and died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead, and you are willing to trust Jesus Christ with all of your heart so you can go to Heaven, please pray with me what is called the sinner’s prayer:
Holy Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I admit that I have sinned against You and that I have broken Your Ten Commandments. I have lied before. I have stolen things before. I have lusted after people and things before. I have dishonored and disobeyed my parents. I have taken Your holy Name in vain. For Jesus Christ’s sake, please have mercy and grace upon my soul and forgive me of all of my sins, my failures, and my faults. As I now believe in Your Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that He suffered, bled, and died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to repent of my sins past. Help me to turn from my old, evil life and follow You in the new life. For it is in Your Name I pray. Amen.
