"Born again" became part of America's lexicon in the 1970's. The 'Jesus People,' counter cultural groups who began to explore Christianity spirituality outside of the larger organized churches claimed to be 'born again.' Jimmy Carter, during his run for the Presidency in 1975, identified himself as a 'born again' Christian. Chuck Colson, who was President Nixon's right hand man, and who was convicted of perjury for his part in the Watergate scandal, wrote a best-seller in 1976 titled "Born Again" in which he told the story of his own conversion that happened in the aftermath of the collapse of his life. And, in a few years, most everybody knew about being 'born again' which was nothing new to those of us who had been part of evangelicalism. We had been talking about conversion, salvation, and rebirth for a long time before the media did.
The phrase was not invented in our era, however. John uses it in his Gospel! A religious leader who came to see Jesus in the night to avoid being seen, was challenged by the Lord with these words - "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, NKJV) Nicodemus found it a strange concept and told Jesus so. "How can an old man enter into his mother's womb and be born again?" he asked. Jesus responded to him with the explanation that just as we are born once naturally, we must be born again spiritually! The Bible summarizes the crisis this way. "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins." (Colossians 2:13, NLT)
By faith in Jesus Christ a person who is alienated from God, without hope of eternal life, and stuck in a rut of guilt and disobedience can be given a new heart, a new start; to use Jesus' words - "born again." The much mocked and maligned phrase is still one of great promise. The fact that God, the Holy Spirit, makes us newly alive has far reaching implications for how we live right here, right now. "Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT) Note the tense. This is not just some legal transaction that gives us access to Heaven when we die. This is about coming into relationship with God in the now. When we are born again, hate is replaced by love. We learn to forgive. A new value system, based on eternity, emerges that causes us to invest our lives in something other than earthly treasure. We begin to enjoy a daily conversation with God and begin to understand that our purpose is to know and serve Him!
Mere religion cannot produce the same results as new birth! Christian churches are filled with good people who are trying hard to do good and noble things. But, because they have not been 'born again,' they are still ruled by Self and Sin. "Slaves" is the word the Bible uses. They cannot save themselves, because they are held captive by the Evil One. Scratch the surface and you find that that the veneer of morality conceals a heart of darkness. Some of you just winced! "Ouch, Jerry! That's harsh, that's judgmental!" Perhaps it is, friend, but it is also Biblical truth. Only those who are truly 'born again' are capable of being transformed by the ongoing work of the Spirit. They are 'becomers,' people who are not who they once were, and not yet fully all that they will be.
Let me urge you to meditate on this amazing passage. It is part of the "Top Ten list" of beloved passages of the Word for me. If you believe the One of whom Paul writes and receive, by faith, the promise of the Spirit, a whole new life becomes possible. Oh, may it true of you and me, for the glory of God.
" As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Now get ready for the change point....
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:1-10, NIV)
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Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch
like me!
I once was lost,
but now I'm found,
t'was blind, but now
I see!
John Newton
Public Domain
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