Day 23 of 30: "Born of the Spirit"

I vividly remember the day in August 1986, that Jesus became Lord and Savior of my life, including the emotions and feelings that accompanied the experience of becoming a "NEW CREATURE" in Christ Jesus.  

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Romans 10:9-10

"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

Being a new creature in Christ Jesus was just the beginning.  

What happened that day?

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http://www.transformedblog.com

Many Christians believe that when a person confesses with their mouth the Lord Jesus, and believes in their heart that God has raised him from the dead that God fills their spirit up by pouring His Spirit into your spirit.  And, they call this "being filled with the spirit."  This is not what happens when you receive Jesus. 

Before receiving Jesus (by confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead), Satan was the father of your spirit (we are a body, soul, and a spirit - this is another teaching for another posting).  When you said, "Jesus come into my life, and received Him as your Lord and Savior, God reached in to your life and replaced your stony heart.  He takes your old spirit man out, and gives you a new spirit man.  That is being BORN OF THE SPIRIT. 

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."  1 Corinthians 12:13

"...but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"  Luke 3:16

As we are born again, the Holy Spirit baptizes us and places us into the Body of Christ.  We are born again, once of water (our natural birth into the world) and again of the Spirit (becoming a new creature).

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5  

This is automatic in every new believer's life.  Salvation is the baptism into the Body of Christ. This is the born again experience.  

This experience provides us a new spirit man, but it is up to us to feed our minds and change our thinking, thus affecting our body (the flesh).   This is very important to growing and maturing as a believer in Christ Jesus.  

"If we continue to think the same, talk the same, and act the  same way we did before we met Jesus, then we're missing out on the good things God has in store for us in heaven." ---Jerry Savelle

While a new believer may experience and exhibit outward change as a result of the new birth in Christ Jesus, the outward transformation in the body and the soul is a process of renewing the mind and applying what is learned from the Word of God in ones life.  

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15

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http://www.theopenedbox.com

Even as a seasoned believer, I find reading and studying passages of scripture over and over, regardless of how many times I have read them before, produces new revelation (new understanding revealed to me) each and every time.  Each revelation deeper than the one before it, causing me to always see something new in God's Word that I did not see before.


Today's passage is Revelation 1: 1-8.  John opens this book naming it "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". Read this passage praying for the wisdom and understanding in the revelation of Him.


Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:


Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.


Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.


Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;


Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,


Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.


Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.