Monday, March 8, 2021

A BORN AGAIN looks at sin

 

Ephesians 5:8 

King James Version

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, 

but now are ye light in the Lord: 

walk as children of light:


How does a born again view sin?

You face it squarely.

You look it in the face, and look into your own heart, reviewing your own errors.

You do not blame others.

You know the error was yours.

And you ask God for forgiveness, aiming never to do those mistakes, ever again.

And when those errors become clear -- under the Light of Christ -- prepare for boatloads of tears.

A dam will break loose, when you have realized how ignorant you were, how asleep you were, how unaware you were, how cruel you were.

You cannot turn back the clock, but you can start where you are now.

Never again will you want to sin.

You have been made aware of what sin is, what it has done to you, and others, how it has grieved God, and how happy its perpetrator had been.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 

but against principalities, 

against powers, 

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 

against spiritual wickedness in high places.


Never again will you give that principality the satisfaction.

You are now Christ's, and you follow only Him.

You will be guided each day by the Holy Spirit of God, who has become your teacher of all things Jesus.

You need to know everything about Jesus, His heart, His ministry, for He is the Way back to God.

When we sinned, we turned our backs on God.

No wonder our lives lost meaning.

When you're born again, your life is full of meaning.

You serve the Lord -- what could beat that?

You have seen the world for what it is, and now refuse to have anything to do with it.

The jig is up, and all has been revealed.

Being born again is being sealed by the Holy Spirit of God.

You have become a new person in Christ.

Ephesians 4:24 (KJV)

24 And that ye put on the new man, 

which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


You have become brave, for now, you can see sin for what it is, and not be afraid of its perpetrator, for now, you have Jesus.

Evil will attack you, more than ever.

We are all flesh, and the lusts of the flesh, of ambition, of greed, of vanity, will work triple time to mock you and Jesus.

But now you are equipped with the full armor of God.

Now, you are reading the Bible, and getting to know the Word of God.

Scripture has become your main reference for all things God.

And with a repentant heart, you are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 (KJV)

38 Then Peter said unto them, 

Repent, 

and be baptized every one of you 

in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


With Spirit comes liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV)

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: 

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is liberty.


With Spirit comes power.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, 

and of love, 

and of a sound mind.


With Spirit comes peace.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

7 And the peace of God, 

which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


Jesus assured us:

John 14:27 (KJV)

27 Peace I leave with you, 

my peace I give unto you: 

not as the world giveth, 

give I unto you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid.


Walk in the Spirit, and conquer the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

16 This I say then, 

Walk in the Spirit,

 and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.


With Spirit, you have the peace you've desired for so long.

Romans 8:6 (KJV)

6 For to be carnally minded is death; 

but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.


In submitting to God, evil cannot take root in you any more.

James 4:7 (KJV)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. 

Resist the devil, 

and he will flee from you.


The peace of God is achieved -- through Christ.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

7 And the peace of God, 

which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


That's what being born again means, as you face the constant threat of sin each day.

A spiritual battle is what we face each day.

Only by the grace of God -- through Jesus -- can we be saved.

Read more on sin here.


Updated 25 January 2022


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