Jn.3:8 – “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
Being born again is impossible to exaggerate. It is the beginning of tasting and then living in the very life of God. This new birth experience also begins to give us awareness of the kingdom of God. In other words, there is way more to life than the things we perceive with our natural senses and reasoning. Being born of the Spirit literally brings us into the family of God. As Hosea said, “We were once not a people, but now we are the people of God.” John made it even more clear in John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Here is how Barclay describes the effect of being born again.
“Here, then, we have three great related conceptions – entry into the kingdom of heaven, becoming children of God and eternal life – and all are dependent on and are the products of perfect obedience to the will of God. It is just here that the idea of being reborn comes in. It is what links all these three conceptions together. It is quite clear that, as we are and in our own strength, we are quite unable to render to God this perfect obedience; it is only when God’s grace enters into us and takes possession of us and changes us that we can give to him the reverence and the devotion we ought to give. It is through Jesus Christ that we are reborn; it is when he enters into possession of our hearts and lives that the change comes.”
This effects every part of my life. First I have a clear identity; it is not republican or democrat, Caucasian, African American, Latino, or Asian but my identity is that I am a child of God. It also effects my purpose. My reason to live is to glorify God and expand His kingdom. This taste of eternity provides my source of satisfaction and joy. Instead of looking to vacations, weekends, drinking parties, or and endless list of “whatevers” – I have found pleasure and extreme joy in this eternal life that comes from knowing Christ. Being born again changed everything for me. This is the life I was born to enjoy.
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Thanks for this wonderful message!
Having our heart searched frequently by the Holy Spirit and then adhering to that advice is the difference between a full time and a part time relationship from our perspective. He forever presents us with solutions, even to the point where we are not even asking, His grace still offers help, He love us that much. What we do with His advice becomes our history.