“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [John 3:3]
'Are you born again?'
Are
you born again? This is one of life's most important questions. Jesus
answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he
cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
First of all, John wrote: “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning...” (I John 3:9). “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” (I John 5:18).
A person, who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (I John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appealing in both his words and his actions. He knows that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2).
Second, John wrote: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God...” (I John 5:1).
A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Savior who can pardon his soul, which He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and beside Him there is no Savior at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven.
Third, John wrote: “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (I John 2:29).
The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Savior and to prove himself to be Christ's friend by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.
Fourth, John wrote: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death” (I John 3:14).
A man who is born again has a special love for all true Disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Savior, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when he is in their company.
Fifth, John wrote: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:4).
A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the world's ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people. To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.
Sixth, John wrote: “the one who was born of God keeps him safe' (I John 5:18).
A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that evil communications corrupt the heart and that evil is more catching than good, just as disease is more infectious than health. He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitable.
How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion—only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come. Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?
First of all, John wrote: “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning...” (I John 3:9). “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” (I John 5:18).
A person, who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (I John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appealing in both his words and his actions. He knows that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2).
Second, John wrote: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God...” (I John 5:1).
A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Savior who can pardon his soul, which He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and beside Him there is no Savior at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven.
Third, John wrote: “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (I John 2:29).
The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Savior and to prove himself to be Christ's friend by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.
Fourth, John wrote: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death” (I John 3:14).
A man who is born again has a special love for all true Disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Savior, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when he is in their company.
Fifth, John wrote: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:4).
A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the world's ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people. To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.
Sixth, John wrote: “the one who was born of God keeps him safe' (I John 5:18).
A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that evil communications corrupt the heart and that evil is more catching than good, just as disease is more infectious than health. He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitable.
How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion—only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come. Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
"Give us this day our daily bread"
“Give
us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts, as we also have
forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil” [Matthew 6: 11-13]
but deliver us from evil” [Matthew 6: 11-13]
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