Jesus is the only human being recorded in history who was born “born again”. Now if I have got your attention, the bible says “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). This is true about Jesus because he was just spoken into existence and the only natural part of his physical coming into the world was his birth. We all know his was the only virgin birth recorded in history.
Now Jesus, when he walked the earth told Nicodemus that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). I used to think that being born again was a very difficult thing. This is because first of all it required me to embarrass myself in front of so many people when a preacher calls for those who want to give their life to Christ to start by praying a certain prayer, then raise my hand if I had prayed the prayer, then go to the front of the church so the whole congregation could see me. And I am reminded that if I deny Jesus by staying in my seat, he will deny me before his Father. The most interesting part seemed to be the fact that whatever I do, I should never forget that day, ‘engrave it in fresh cement, if I have to, but never forget it’. I resisted ‘salvation’ not only because of these many conditions, but by the fact that ‘savedees’ were always struggling with life sometimes even worse than non-believers.
I still sought God because I knew I should not part from his ways until I came to learn that my sin was not an issue with God. Let me share this amazing truth. 1 Thess. 5:23 is one of the scriptures that proves that we are made of three parts namely the spirit, soul and body. God’s anger towards us was appeased by Jesus Christ when he died on our behalf. Our part now is just to believe in Jesus’ death and receive salvation. The part of you that is immediately changed when you accept Jesus Christ is your spirit and you cannot perceive your spirit with your five senses. Your soul is the part that controls all the other two because it contains your mind. Eph 2:8 says we are saved by Grace through faith. So you believe in your mind that salvation is a free gift and even if you cannot see it, you accept it and receive it. And according to the bible those who are in Christ are one spirit with the Lord and our spirit knows all things (1 Cor 6:17). Because as Christ is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). But this is the part most people struggle with. You cannot feel born again. Let me repeat that “you cannot feel born again”. So you will ask, how can one know what his spirit looks like or knows? You have never seen your face, you only know what you look like because you see your image in the mirror. In the same way you can only know what your spirit is and knows by looking into the word of God as in a mirror. What it says about you is what you are. Then as your mind is renewed so will your soul and body (Rom 12:2).
Understanding just these basic truths has transformed my life and enabled me to be a blessing to other people in so many ways, some of which I never knew even existed. And yet I am only scratching the surface. I live everyday looking forward to all the other things that God is going to reveal to me all through the rest of my long natural life and that is an experience I truly wish for everyone reading this.
God bless you all.
Dear Eddie,
ReplyDeleteYou surely got my attention. However, you might like to change your opening statement (which is what got my attention in the first place) because it is not biblically true; and here why. I want you to note the underlined phrases in particular.
“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be met in us, who do not live according to sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4 (NIV)
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18 (NIV)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:14 (NIV)