A Person Reborn - Part Two

The Significance Of Being A Christian
A Person Reborn - Part Two

In Part One of this lesson we introduced the reader to the significance of being a Christian as a person reborn. A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth. What makes such a new creation and a new life a reality? It is more than a mere obedience to some new doctrine. It is possible only when such obedience is the result of a new loyalty. A Christian is a "converted person." As exemplified by the Thessalonians - 1 Th 1:9 "Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God." Conversion inherently involves change, particularly a change of loyalties. From serving sin to serving God - Ro 6:16-18 "Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you obeyed the teaching you received from me. Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God." From serving idols to serving God, 1 Th 1:9 "Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God."

A Christian is converted to Jesus Christ. He or she acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ - Ac 2:36 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross."; 1 Pe 3:15 "Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope." Above family, life, and self, the Christian chooses to follow Jesus - Mt 10:37-39 "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it." When one makes that choice, Christ will become the focus of that person’s life - Ga 2:20 "I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me."

Such a loyalty to Christ results in a new life. In which God blesses the individual through Jesus Christ, Ph 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." In which one finds strength to live the new life, Ph 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything."

A significant thing about a Christian, then, is that he or she experiences a new creation, enjoys a new life and entertains a new loyalty. Such an individual is truly "A Person Reborn". But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth...why is that? They may have not yet truly experienced the new creation. Obedience not rendered in faith will not produce the new birth - Mk 16:16 "Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." For God’s power to be at work, we must submit in faith - Co 2:12-13 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins." Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin. Hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, they have departed from God - He 3:12-13 "My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called "today." If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn." Entangled once again by the pollutions of the world - 2 Pe 2:20 "When they learned about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they escaped from the filthy things of this world. But they are again caught up and controlled by these filthy things, and now they are in worse shape than they were at first." In either case, their loyalty is certainly not where it ought to be!

May the promise of a new creation and a new life in Christ remind us of "The Significance Of Being A Christian", and challenge us to examine our loyalties if we do not see in our lives the evidence of "A Person Reborn" Have you taken advantage of this wonderful gift, by responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Would you like to be reborn in Christ to be a new creature with a new life? If you have not responded to the gospel message and would like to do so, by all means please contact me directly at jimnewy@classicnet.net or jimnewy@gmail.com