John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Isn’t it an awe-inspiring fact that one can become reborn? When I think of the awesomeness of natural birth and its wonderful process, the thought of actually being reborn can be even more mindboggling.
The curious Pharisee, Nicodemus, one who apparently knew of, or observed some works that Jesus had done, wondered how this could be. He questioned the Lord: “How can someone be born when they are old?” “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born” (John 3:4)! Jesus responded telling him that “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit to spirit” (John 3:6).
The magnificent Holy Spirit is the one who gives this new birth to our spirits! In as much as we have believed on the Lord Jesus as the Son of God and repented of our sins, we are not the same people. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “… if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Not only that, but we have been “… born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
Of all the millions of people on the earth, the Lord has created the standard that “…no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit…‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:5-7) Hence, we must come into this new existence in Christ, in order to enter His Kingdom. As stated in the Bible, this can only be done by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord, God’s only begotten son.
How refreshing to know that no matter what we may have experienced that we wish to forget in our pasts, before knowing Christ, it’s as good as gone when we have been reborn. It’s stated to be under the blood of Jesus, through the atonement of His death on our behalf, and we are given the gift of a new life, eternal life.
So I highlight this fact today so that we don’t forget that in being reborn, we should not see ourselves as the same as before this amazing supernatural act. “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).
In addition, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18, “… we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
It is a wonderful act of God’s grace that He “chose us as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
Hence, we should not see ourselves as the persons we were, slaves to the same old habits, laden with the generational strongholds, addictions and maladies of old, never changing. Our old selves were crucified with Christ. We now walk in newness of life in Christ, in the Holy Spirit.
Moreover, Jesus himself said we are now the “…salt of the earth, the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:13-16). So, now we may rejoice that we have an awesome birthright: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Biblically, a Christian’s inheritance contains both present and future realities. We can count on blessings in this life, such as forgiveness of our sins through Christ, adoption into God’s family, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It also includes eternal life with God in heaven, and a new heaven and new earth. This inheritance is secured by faith in Jesus Christ and is a gift from God. So, let’s praise the Lord today that we’ve been reborn!
Ms. Rita's Minute 