Thought for the Month -November 2009                                                                        

Born Again ..................

The New Birth is one of the metaphors the bible uses to describe introduction to, inclusion in and involvement with, The Family of God.

The classic text is found in John 1 verses 12-13.......

'As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become children of God, even to them that believe on His name which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God'.

John first describes what the new birth is not.....

It is 'not of blood' - nothing to do with genealogy, family trees, or parental preferences.  Furthermore, it is 'not of the will of the flesh', nothing to do with biology, procreation and reproduction and the miracle of natural life.  Finally it is 'not of the will of man', nothing to do with demography, geography or the privileges associated with where and how we live in the 21st century.

John then describes what the New Birth is..................

John 1 verse 13 - Born .............. of God.   It is first an unmerited gift.  John 1 verse 12 says, 'To them gave He power to become children of God.'

The issue is whether to accept or reject the gift.

John 1 verse 8  '...........born of the Spirit.'

It is furthermore an unfathomable mystery.  The whole quotation says, 'The wind bloweth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth.  So is everyone that is born of the spirit.'

The issue is whether to acknowledge or deny the mystery.

John 3 verse 7 says, 'Born from above' 

It is finally a unilateral act.  'Marvel not that I said unto thee ye must be born again (from above).

The issue is whether to co-operate with or oppose the act.

John continues his theme in his epistle when he says, 'Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God.'  1 John 3 verse 1.

Praise God for that wonderful love.........