THE NEW BIRTH

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew'''(John 3:5-7).

I'm reading a book, for the second time, called, Encounters with Christ, by Mark Moore. It is in Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus that Dr. Moore makes the comment, "The reason we enter as new-borns is because nothing of our old life is relevant to the new . . . The truth is, unless we come humbled and barren, with empty hands and open hearts, then access to the kingdom is denied. There are no shortcuts, no alternate routes. All must pass the way of the cross."

Moore's comment is a great comment, but it set me to thinking, "Are you sure that nothing of the old is relevant to the new? It is true that nothing of the old life is relevant to the attainment of the new life, but in terms of performance, there is much in the old life that is relevant to the new life." Think about it: We are still saddled with the same genetic code; we still have to deal with the negative dynamics of traumatic life experiences; and we are still immersed in a flood of the world's influences. How are we to survive the new birth in view of all this?

We have a new identity--we are God's children now. "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new is come" (II Corinthians 5:17). In Christ, we have a new standing, with new privileges and promises that were not available to us before.

In the new birth there is a new dynamic that is unleashed in our lives that is more powerful than the world, the flesh and the devil; the Spirit of God. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18). If you are looking to our Heavenly Father for guidance and sustenance then you will survive the new birth and grow into a fine child of God. I can't wait for the great family reunion!

Grace&Peace,
Tom