iCrucified

What does it mean; “You must be born again”?

I can’t help but wonder why so many people that profess Christianity as their faith push against the teachings of Jesus and interpretation of those teachings by his disciples in the New Testament writings. Jesus promises us “new life,” a life that is lived and led by the Holy Spirit of God; a life that yearns for oneness and unity with the Triune God; a life that desires to be fully transformed and living (today) in physical form the life of Christ… Why do so many professing Christians reject this teaching, or at the very least, fail to exhibit this transformation of life. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have it mastered; I am however a believer in it. I do believe that Jesus meant what he said. I do believe it is possible through complete submission to God’s Spirit, that we can live this transformed life…so I strive for it. It is all consuming. I believe there is nothing on this planet and in this life more important than seeking the fullness of this promise. I yearn to make the prayer of Jesus Christ (John 17) real in my life and I shall teach and preach this truth of the New Birth at every opportunity that is availed me.

iCrucified…

SIGNS OF THE NEW BIRTH: My Utmost for His Highest – Oswald Chambers

Ye must be born again

The answer to the question “How can a man he born when he is old?” is – When he is old enough to die – to die right out to his “rag rights,” to his virtues, to his religion, to everything, and to receive into himself the life which never was there before. The new life manifests itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness.

“As many as received Him.” (John 1:12.) Is my knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned by listening to others? Have I something in my life that connects me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour? All spiritual history must have a personal knowledge for its bedrock. To be born again means that I see Jesus.

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.) Do I seek for signs of the Kingdom, or do I perceive God’s rule? The new birth gives a new power of vision whereby I begin to discern God’s rule. His rule was there all the time, but true to His nature; now that I have received His nature I can see His rule.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” (1 John 3:9.) Do I seek to stop sinning or have I stopped sinning? To be born of God means that I have the supernatural power of God to stop sinning. In the Bible it is never – Should a Christian sin? The Bible puts it emphatically – A Christian must not sin. The effective working of the new birth life in us is that we do not commit sin, not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have stopped sinning. 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin; it means that if we obey the life of God in us, we need not sin.