The above photograph is of one of my grandchildren when he was a baby. There is nothing more precious than a tiny new born baby! But spiritually speaking, there is nothing more wonderful and precious and to be treasured than "the new birth; being born again." That occurs at the moment when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior - believing in Him in all sincerity and with all of your very being that He alone is the Savior, the Redeemer, Who gave His life as a ransom so that we might have eternal life if we have faith in Him and the power of His shed blood to cleanse us from our sins, and the fact that He rose from the dead, proving that we may also have eternal life by faith in Him. (Romans 10:9-13)
In other words, at the moment you are saved by faith, you are "reborn" in spiritual manner, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13).
The excellent You Tube Christian Channel "Lion of Judah" has the following 15 minute video which helps to explain what happens to you when you are born again. Please watch !
In the above video it mentions that being born again is not really or exactly you "turning over a new leaf." Watch the video in the beginning where it explains this. It reminds me of many years ago when I worked in a small office environment, and one of the men there was a real character. He truthfully said of himself - with some humor and much truth : " I need to turn over a whole new bush!" Can anyone relate, or do you know someone like that ?
Actually, the above statement by my former co-worker is a good beginning! A beginning of realizing that you are a mess (a sinner) and that you need help ! That can lead you to know Christ, if your heart is right and someone shares the Gospel with you. Or even if you just read the Bible in earnest, the Holy Spirit can convict you of your need of a Savior, and lead you to repentance. The Bible is, after all, "God-breathed", meaning God's Holy Spirit guided and inspired the men of old to write down the words of our Heavenly Father, which later became the Holy Bible.
In todays topsy-turvy world, nothing is certain anymore, or so it seems! BUT GOD! We can be certain that God and His Word and His Promises will always remain certain and true and stable!
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." - Hebrews 13:8
Hang on to that, folks! The way things are going now, (current world events that prove spiritually and also according to Bible Prophecy), that our precious Savior will return very soon and take us to be with Him in heaven. It doesn't get any better than that!
The above video quotes John 14:1-3, where Jesus tells us that He is in heaven preparing a place for us (mansions, KJV) and that He will return for us! We all need that good news today! Hope! Something to hang on to. And of course, our hope is in the blessed Lord!
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." - Titus 2:13-14
Recently, I have re-read a 29 page booklet by Andrew Murray that I have had in my possession for a few years. It's title is "Lord, teach us to pray" and it concerns the "Lord's Prayer" which Jesus taught His disciples. Most of its contents is rather elementary, or would be to pastors or to faithful Christians of many, many years of faith in the Lord. It is good to go over material from time to time that you are familiar with, because often you glean new insights you missed previously; this is especially true of the Bible itself, as you no doubt have observed for yourself. You know, how you may have read the Bible through many times, but one day a particular verse just "hits" you for the first time - really speaks to you as if you had never seen it before!
Anyway, here is a short quote from Murray's booklet: "Yes, to pray. This is what we need to be taught. Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal.. It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfilment, the kingdom for its coming, the glory of God for its full revelation. And for this blessed work, how slothful and unfit we are. It is only the Spirit of God that can enable us to do it aright. How speedily we are deceived into a resting in the form, while the power is wanting." - end of Andrew Murray's quote.
There are many professing Christians today that do not pray - or, if they do, very seldom. And sometimes it is painfully obvious that they probably are not influenced by the Holy Spirit. None of us are perfect, and neither are there any perfect Christians! But it is essential that we believers be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Following is an informative and helpful 10 minute video titled " Undeniable Proof that the Holy Spirit is In Your Life" (by You Tube Channel "Grace for Purpose."
There are many gems in the above video! One of which is that the Holy Spirit will help pray for and with you!
If Jesus were to return to take His Bride (the Church; true believers) to heaven in the Rapture - if it occurred tonight, or next week, or next month, would you be ready? Or would you be "left behind"?
To go to heaven, either when you die naturally or you are "caught up" to meet Jesus in the air at the Rapture, you first need to be born again. That is discussed above in this article. You need to recognize that you are a sinner and in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ. You cannot save yourself or earn your way to heaven by any "good works" or whatever else you may have been taught. God does not grade on a "curve"; like if your good deeds outdo or outweigh your bad deeds, you're okay and good to go! (Good enough to enter heaven, many people think).
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
If you repent, feel a deep remorse for your sins against God and heaven, and you turn to Jesus/God in heartfelt sincerity and pray for forgiveness, you will be forgiven! No matter how terrible you have sinned. It has been said by a pastor, that even if Hitler had repented and asked for forgiveness, God would have granted his request.
Following are salvation Scriptures for a guide for those who have not yet surrendered their lives to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" - 2 Corinthians 6:2
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." - John 14:6
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" - John 11:25-26
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
