Thursday, 20 June 2024
BEYOND AN EXPERIENCE
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
When you tell the natural man or those who are unlearned in the things of God, “I'm born again,” they think it’s just another religious cliché that suggests you just had a new experience. Some even think being born again means to turn over a new leaf or make new resolutions to be a better person. No!
Being born again is not an experience, and it’s beyond these outward expressions. When you're born again, you don't essentially “experience” a thing; rather, “you” are the experience; you happened. You came to be, as it were.
It’s like when a baby is born; you don't say, “Oh, this baby has had an experience”; no! It's the baby that happened, and everyone rejoices because the baby has come on the scene. Therefore, being born again is that you were dead but have come alive; you're alive now.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Also, he said in Colossians 2:13, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." The word “quicken” means “to come alive.”
Interestingly, being born again means you don't have a past, so you can’t say, “something happened to me.” The old “you” died in Christ, and the new “you” has the resurrection life. It’s not the same person that died in Christ that’s alive now. That’s why the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your “past” has ceased to exist; buried with Jesus, and backdated to Calvary.
So from the moment you’re born again, you’re like a new born baby before God. That’s why the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The one who’s born again is enjoined to learn and keep growing in the knowledge of the Word. God’s Word builds you and transforms your life from glory to glory.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank you for my new life in Christ; your divine nature in me has made me a master over circumstances, with dominion over the systems of this world. I’m growing unto maturity by the Word. My spirit is built up strong and educated as I study and meditate on God’s Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:2 NIV; Romans 6:4
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 9:1-31 & 2 Chronicles 35-36
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 & Isaiah 7