The Second Most Important Birth
II Corinthians 5:17, If anyone is in Christ (bornagain), he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The term “new creation” refers to the spiritual transformation that occurs on the inside, where we live and think, when a person believes in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This concept of newness may be traced to an important choice between two Greek words, both meaning new. One word means new in the sense of renovation or repair, the other word means new in the sense of renovation or repair, the other word means new in the sense of fresh existence.
The divine inspired Apostle Paul used the second word, and I feel for certain he used it deliberately. The born again Christian is not just renovated or refreshed; the born again, spirit-filled Christian is a brand “new” person with a new set of values, new motivations and a new family — the family of God. Such a man or woman becomes different in every important way, including the way they look at others and how they evaluate people, including themselves. As a “new creation, born-again” believers are committed to new purposes and supernaturally endowed with new possibilities and opportunities.
The effect of the second birth is that it gives us something to live for. We are able to escape the prison of self-absorption. We have more energy because our attitude is more positive, more hopeful. We age better because we do not isolate ourselves in depression and despair. We are involved in Church. We are involved with people. We have peace and contentment within our souls. We live openly and joyfully. Such are the effects of the second birth.
From the internet, some unknown author put it thoughtfully and beautifully:
At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really did not know Him. But later on, when I was “born again” and I fell in love with Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus was in the back helping me to pedal.
I thought He'd wreck the bike, but Jesus knows bike secrets. Jesus knows how to make it handle to take sharp corners; He knows how to jump to clear high rocks and how to shorten scary passages. I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places and beginning to enjoy the cool breeze on my face with my constant companion, Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just cannot do anymore, Jesus just smiles and says, “Pedal.”
This Christmas are you ready to leap onto God's bicycle? You will find the old life you were living was not the life you really wanted to live This spiritual opportunity is yours. Open your heart and mind and respond to the call of God to become a new person, “a new creation,” with a new life, in Christ, by being spiritually “born again.”
It is the second most important birth in the history of this world and it will make a magnificent difference in all your living — and dying.
Chris Voss is a pastor at First Christian Church, 317 S. Main, Donna.