New Life in Christ

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Focus Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”

In Kenya, I work with a couple named Pastor Eliazar Wambo and his wife Harriet.  The couple was blessed and Harriet just gave birth to a baby boy.  There are several things I think about when I hear that a baby has been born. I think about the miracle of a new life, and how only God can make a human life. I think about what kind of world that baby is entering.  I think about what kind of choices that baby will make when it grows up. 

Jesus said there are similarities when we are born into God’s family as when we are born into our earthly families.  Jesus said in John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  If you want to go to God's kingdom (heaven), you must be born two times.  Jesus was answering the Pharisee, Nicodemus, but he didn’t understand.  Nicodemus said, “ how can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus explained, "unless you are born of water and of the Spirit you cannot enter the Kingdom of God."   

 

Have you been born of the Spirit?  You may wonder, “what does that mean?".  We are all broken with sin that separates us from God.  God made a way to fix our brokenness.  To be born again, we allow Jesus to make us new through faith. It means to confess and repent of your sin to God, accept Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross (He paid the penalty of our sins), and to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then ask for His forgiveness.  Ephesians 2:8 says that "By grace we are saved through faith."    This new spiritual birth brings eternal life and a new life in Christ.    So, if you have never done this, maybe today is your day to make the decision to give your life to Christ.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries