07.09.08

(Update of a devotional from 1998)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:1-8.

“It’s a boy!!” Ten years ago today our first grandchild was born and I was and still am a very proud grandfather. I marveled again at the miracle of birth. Before our grandson was born he was inside the womb. Inside of his mother, he heard her heartbeat, her muffled voice and the muffled noises of countless other things. But suddenly in birth he is no longer in the darkness, he can see, he can hear, he can smell, taste, and feel. He has begun to learn, to grow in this new world and hopefully will do so for the rest of his life.

Jesus compares the salvation experience to the experience of birth in John chapter three and Paul describes this new birth in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Just as a child is delivered from the darkness of the womb, through believing upon Jesus we are delivered out of spiritual darkness. Just as a baby grows and learns we as Christians should grow and learn.

Before our new birth we have difficulty understanding and comprehending spiritual things as the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” However, once we have become that “new creation” the Holy Spirit dwells within us and speaks to us. After being “born again” when we read God’s Word the words are different than they were before. The Bible somehow seems alive as the Spirit speaks truth through those words to our hearts. Sermons are no longer dull and boring because we know and sense the Spirit speaking to us. Praying is no longer going through some ritual but communicating with the Creator of the Universe - listening for His voice. When we have truly been born again things will never be the same as before because we will have spiritual life that has been breathed into us by the Spirit of God.

Someday there will be another birthing experience, some call it death but really it is another beginning. In 1 Corinthians 13:12 we are told, “For now we see through a glass, darkly (dimly-NKJV); but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” As much as we are able to experience of God, of spiritual reality, of life now, it is only like looking through a dark glass compared to actually experiencing the wonders of eternity!!

Have you been “born again?” If not, I want to encourage you to believe now upon Jesus Christ receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. If you have a desire to do so the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart and today is the day of salvation. Today can be your spiritual birthday. It can be the day that you are born into the family of God.

For more information about the new birth visit this page at my website: http://www.theburningbush.net/articles.asp?columnid=2939