Born Again!

“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them.”

1 John 3:9a (NLT)

Parents feel pride and joy when they see reflections of one another in their newborn. In the same way, God delights in seeing the reflection of His Son in every child of God born into His family. What is spiritual birth and how does it happen? “Born again” is one of John’s favorite descriptions of a Christ follower. John is the Gospel writer who told the story of Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, who came to Jesus and Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NLT) Nicodemus needed more than religion. He needed spiritual life! Spiritual birth enables spiritual life.  

We are born into God’s family when, by faith, we respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, turn from our sin and receive the indwelling life of the Lord Jesus. When someone is born again, they do not just turn over a new leaf, they receive a new life! Being born again is more than a fresh start; it is a rebirth that begins the process of spiritual growth. As a member of God’s very own family, every born-again Christ follower shares the indwelling life of the Lord Jesus, by whose gracious presence we are empowered to live a new quality of life. Not only does Christ forgive us of all our sins, past, present and future through His death on the cross, but by His resurrection life, He comes to take up residence in our lives. His Spirit gives us the mind of Christ to think with and a new heart to love with. Through the power of the Holy Spirit God begins to transform us into the image of His Son so that others may see the family likeness of Christ in all that we do and say and are. Our perspectives change as our minds are renewed daily in God’s Word. We begin to think and act differently. God gives us new passions and desires as we release past hurts and hang ups and the sins that once enslaved us. No longer do we make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in us. These are distinguishing characteristics of authentic faith and spiritual birth. This doesn’t mean that a born-again follower of Christ can’t sin or won’t sin, but that true believers do not make a practice of sinning.   

Have you experienced spiritual birth? Becoming a Christian is more than a decision. In Titus 3:5 (NLT), the Bible says, “He saved us not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”  If you’ve been born again, you have a new life, the life of God’s Son dwells in you!  Later in his first epistle, John says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 (NLT) This is the most important question you’ll ever answer. Have you been born again? In what ways does your life reflect the family likeness of Christ?

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.