Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a question.
Have you ever been to a rummage sale? Our family has always enjoyed going to them. Sometimes we can find certain used items for a really good price. On the other hand, there are times when we’ve been in the local store and bought inexpensive new clothes right off the shelf. You can find a brand new pair of pants, or a pack of t-shirts that have never been worn before. All you have to do is go back home, take off your old clothes and put on the new ones. one that is being worn for the very first time.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Christianity is about putting on something brand new. God wants us to become a new person, but in order to do that we are going to have to be converted to the truth and become born again inside of our hearts.
John 3:1-7 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.
In we desire eternal life, we need to go through this rebirth process through faith in Christ and His teachings. Being born again is about a transformation process that happens through the acceptance of God’s Word. For that change to take place, it requires putting your faith in scriptural truths, and rejecting the philosophies of this world.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Like sowing a seed into the soil that brings forth a new plant, God’s Word is planted deep inside of us when we hear His Word preached. Through an obedient heart, we can become new creatures, transformed through faith and God’s grace. We are reborn through knowledge and application of scripture. It is a process of relearning, as we are converted to the truth, following God’s way rather than the way of the world.
Colossians 3:9-10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Just like taking off your old t-shirt and throwing it in the garbage, we need to cast off the old man, and put on the new man, filled with a Spiritual mind.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
To renew something means to make it new again, or to restore it to perfection. God is creating a new person inside of us when we place our faith and trust in His Holy Word. We must yield our will unto His through faithful obedience, which will ultimately result in sanctification. When we believe God’s Word with all of our heart, we will have the desire to do it, and become pleasing unto him. The Apostle Paul was very thankful that the Thessalonian church possessed this kind of faith.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Remember that we are saved through God’s grace, but it is through the narrow corridor of faith. When people profess to believe in Jesus, genuine faith will desire to keep His commandments, resulting in obedience and becoming a doer of His will. It’s when we believe the truth that our hearts can undergo the process of transformation. It’s a matter of surrendering your will, to the will of God.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
To truly change, you’ve got to change your mind. God’s Word has been put forth for that reason, to help guide us on the path of God. It is much needed food and nourishment for our spiritual growth.
1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Once again, in order for God’s Word to effectively work inside of your heart, you must possess faith.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-13 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
If you don’t possess sincere faith, you will never be able to be obedient and pleasing to God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So when we speak about being born again, our life begins in the waters of baptism, but it’s completed through sanctification and obedience to God’s Word.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
We can find life, through the teachings of scripture.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The old person must pass away, and a new man must come forth.
2 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.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Are you allowing your heart to be converted to biblical truth? Is your life undergoing a change from darkness to light? Are you walking in the newness of life? The new opportunity presented to us through God’s grace is incredible. It’s like putting on a brand new t-shirt, for…..
……The First Time
Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 