Born from Above
Wayne Duncan
Possibly the most underestimated aspect of Christianity , is the understanding of the degree at which we were changed when we became born again.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Here we see a number of things.
John is talking about being born again.
It cant happen from flesh, effort or the will of the flesh.
It cant happen by blood, you cannot be born, born again.
We also see here that there is power involved in bringing life. This is a powerful act of God. The power is not from or in us, but the receiving and believing releases and activates the power of God and we are born of God.
This power is released over those who receive and believe.
Many receive Jesus teachings, but do not believe in Him. Ghandi honored Jesus teachings, and encouraged people to receive Jesus. But there was not belief. Many today in the world call them selves Christians for they have received some aspects of Christianity.
Here is the Greek word for believe
G4100
πιστεύω
pisteuō
pist-yoo'-o
From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one's spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
When we believe in Jesus we place our faith in Him. We trust Him.
We do not trust ourselves, we do not trust what we can do, we trust Him. We cannot save ourselves, we have not the power. We have no goodness of our own to offer God as a reward for eternal life, so we trust Jesus finished work on our behalf to be enough to entirely satisfy God on our behalf. This is to place our trust and faith in Him. We believe that Jesus is able to save entirely those who come to Him. This is trust.
We need to trust Him with our sin. We need to know we have missed the mark, fallen short of Gods holiness. Then we trust Jesus to destroy that barrier between us and God. We place our trust in His promise to do that for those who receive and believe in Him.
Now we rest in confidence in the hands of our powerful savior.
When we have this faith, this belief. When we believe this we are born from above.
Here is the word in Greek.
G1080
γεννάω
gennaō
ghen-nah'-o
From a variation of G1085; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
We are the literal offspring of the trinity. God is our father and mother, and we are His Children.
We are regenerated, made new by the secret act and power of God.
He has brought us forth, something new.
He has conceived us.
We have been delivered of, we are out of all the old and placed in the new.
We have been made new.
We have sprung forth as new creations and new life.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
The new is not a mere mentality. It is a literal powerful new creation. A new creation. Not a new mentality. Not a new awareness, no, a new creation. A new creature. New. Never before existed.
At this moment of being born again we are placed in Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13: In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
How do you become in Him? When we believe. When are we born again? When we believe.
How do we know we are in Him?
I John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
We know we are "in him" and he in us for we have the Holy Spirit. The seal, and guarantee of our salvation. He is the one who convinces and convicts us of our salvation and righteousness.
Is everyone "in him". No. Only those who have the spirit.
Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
All were included in His work on the cross, but until you receive Him, and believe in Him, you do not become a new creature, you will not be born from above or receive the Holy Spirit, or the new nature, or the power of God in you.
Some preach that all were included in Christ, and all are born again, and all are new creations, they just need to see it, to discover it. This is not biblical, these tings are available, but it has not yet happened to them until faith comes, and a person believes, and is powerfully changed into a new creation, and the seal of the holy spirit is placed on and in the believer.
Now what do we call people who are born from above, with power. Those who are in him. Those with the seal and presence of the Holy Spirit, what are those called?
We are called sons.
Ladies you too are sons. The reason is that there is no disqualification for you, you have the full inheritance and equal co heirs with Christ. Were all sons.
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons(See discussion on "sons" in the preface) of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
What can a new creation do?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
You can do anything.
So this is who you are.
A powerful new creation, with the power and righteousness of God plowing in your veins.
You are filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit, he is quickening your body, leading you telling you who you are, and what you can do.
You are a son, with an inheritance from God, a co-heir with Christ.
You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
You have a father in heaven who loved to do you good. He is for you, and what can ever be against you that cannot be destroyed?
Have you received Him? Do you believe in Him?
No comments:
Post a Comment