New Birth

Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Passover

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The Passover feast was prescribed to mark a critical transition from the bondage of Egypt to freedom found in a life based on faith and trust in God. As the children of Israel prepared to leave Egypt, the blood of the sacrificial lamb was washed over the doorposts of the home to spare its inhabitants from the angel of death which would strike the first born of Egypt.

God was preparing the people for a whole new way of life. He had some good surprises in store for them. He wanted to give them a new perspective on life. He would be revealing a new way to receive His amazing grace and experience life in His awesome presence. He was about to demonstrate to them a new dimension of life whereby they would find favor by actively trusting Him. He has the same message for us today!

Upon crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel had truly entered into a new kind of relationship with God. God would begin the process of renewing and proving their heart. Through this process, God would reveal His presence, and demonstrate His awesome power, provision, and divine protection.

Through the 40 year journey, God would demonstrate His love and way to walk with Him in the new life, ”that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”  (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV)

RELEVANCE

The LORD, likewise, began His ministry by spending 40 days in the wilderness.  At the end of that period, He quoted this very Scripture when tempted. When questioned by the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, the LORD uttered a profound statement:

Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit. (John 3:5-8 JNT)

Being “born again” is a gift of God’s grace. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, changing the disposition of one’s soul, inclining the heart to God. The “new nature” of this renewed heart has a new set of values and motivations; but must be cultivated and nurtured by a deliberate choice to grow in this new life.

Effective spiritual growth is accomplished through Bible study, prayer, meditation on God’s Word, active fellowship, faithfulness, a willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit, and a heart inclined to worshiping God in spirit and truth. 

The message of a time of a new birthing has great relevance to all with an ear to hear, eye to see and heart to believe new things God is doing! A wise person maintains a posture of being observant and attentive to new and emerging things God may be doing in this season. As Creator, God is always birthing new things: creative ideas, character traits, ways of doing things, new opportunities, etc.

God truly watches over our affairs and has foreordained plans and purposes in which we have opportunity to participate. He, therefore, desires that we be mindful of changes in seasons, seek Him, and engage with Him to discover and discern such new things and opportunities that may bless us.

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

How are you cultivating and nurturing your new nature as a born again believer?

With whom do you fellowship to build yourself up in faith?

How are you ordering your time to include God in the equation of your life?

In what ways can you lock in a posture to be observant and perceive and discern new things God may be doing?

REFERENCES

John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.