BORN AGAIN
John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus came to Jesus wanting to know how to be saved. He did not understand being born again. He questioned, “How do I enter my mother’s womb the second time? First of all let’s get a clear understanding: there has to be a natural birth and then a spiritual birth (New Birth).
This New Birth is an experience that comes as we are born again of the water (Baptism in water in Jesus Name) and the Spirit (when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost).
New Birth is more than a public profession of our faith; it is more than an outward appeal unto God; it is a complete change of one’s life (attitude and mind set).
Dictionary definition of life ~ coming into life; beginning; a bringing forth,
II Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”
If this has now happened to you! A new life! A wonderful, drastic change!
This change is not the end, but it is the beginning, New Life. People are noticing this change in you. They will not understand it. In fact some of your close friends and family members will not like this change that has taken place in your life. Some of them will not even want to hang with you. You have changed and it makes them feel uncomfortable in their sin, it even exposes sins they are in.
Now that you have had this New Birth experience you will see everything so differently.
Romans 6:16-18
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you.
Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
You were born in sin; therefore you were a servant of Satan and under his dominion. Once you were born again, your New Life began and you actually are a part of the army of the Lord. You are engaged in spiritual warfare with Satan daily therefore you must continually be prepared for any trick he plays on you.
Ephesians 6:10-12
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of hi might.
Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”
You have now changed sides; Satan is angry and wants you back. You now have two choices in this battle for your soul. Yes there can be only one of two outcomes:
· Go back to where you once were and live in sin and it will lead to a second death called hell.
· Continue on in this New Life of obedience and righteousness and one day rise to meet the Lord in the air and go with Him to heaven.
Saint of God, do not be taken by surprise when Satan or his devils attack you. Just know that God is faithful and He will help you with His power.
New Life
You have been born into a new life. You are now a child of God, a new creature. All past sins and mistakes have been forgiven and forgotten. You have a new start. There is a vast difference in calling yourself a Christian and having a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior.
When you as a human beings received the Holy Ghost, His Spirit now tabernacles in you? You are now a vessel filled with His Holy Spirit. You actually house His Spirit and His powerful anointing. You must never lose the awe and wonder of your salvation. Remember, “Many are called but few are chosen.”
Now that you are filled with His Holy Spirit,
Colossians 2:6
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”
You are not alone, God is with you. You can now walk in his ways.
Colossians 2:7
“Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
You must become rooted and grounded in His ways, built on Christ Jesus the rock of our salvation. You must become so established in your faith, knowing what you really believe, that is the purpose of this book…to establish your faith and to give you something to follow. /Because of this you can abound in Christ…growing daily and being thankful for His love and truth.
Colossians 2:8
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
You no longer have to follow philosophy, vain deceit, tradition or ideas of vain men. You no longer have to follow the rudiments of this world. You no longer have to follow the basic principles of this present world.
Colossians 2:9
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
You have the right to follow Christ Jesus, who is the fullness of God in flesh or in body. All of God dwells in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus is fully and completely God all by Himself.
Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him which is the head of all principalities and powers.”
You are now made complete or whole because you are now in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is the head of everything no power above His. Everything exists because of Him.
Colossians 2:11
“In whom ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”
The Jews from the beginning were God’s chosen people. Their covenant with God was a physical circumcision. Our being baptized in the name of Jesus is a spiritual circumcision.
Colossians 2:12
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
We as gentiles, were not born chosen (Jew) we were born sinners. But we have now been chosen by Him and adopted. Our circumcision is not of the flesh but of the heart by the Spirit of God. When we were baptized in water in the name of Jesus, we were actually buried into His death at Calvary. (Baptism is our burial). When we came up out of that water grave of baptism through faith we were rising to walk in newness of life and power with Him. We went down a sinner, came up with our sins remitted or washed away by His precious blood. We are now heirs of Jesus Christ.
Now that you have risen with Christ
Colossians 3:1
“If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
You have now been baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost discipleship is a requirement. You must lay aside the things of this present world and seek those things which are above. Actually you must seek to do the will of Jesus Christ, who is now sitting with all His rights as God (Power, splendor and might) He is not the second person in a manmade trinity. He is God all by Himself.
Colossians 3:2
“Set your affection on things above, not on things of this earth.”
Things that are eternal should now of the utmost importance to you. You must change your thinking reset your goals and your priorities. You can fail God even while doing good things, if the good things take the place of God in your life.
Colossians 3:3
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
You have relinquished control of your life to Jesus Christ. To Him your old life is dead and forgotten. You are a new creature in Christ Jesus.
The world has it all backwards. Sin is enjoyable and fun they say and even we who have been born again will agree, but we know it is only for a short season, because we know the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. We know that all sinners will have their place in the lake of fire. It is up to you now to live the new life that He has given you.
Conclusion ~ Words of advice and wisdom
Be patient with yourself through your spiritual growing pains. Be patient with
others as they are growing and maturing also.
In the natural a baby will follow the progression of crawling, standing and walking as they mature. It is really no different in the spiritual you must crawl for awhile then as you begin to mature. You must learn to be balanced before you can ever really mature enough to walk like Him.
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