Issue 871 – Newborns – October 3, 2022

These lambs are only a few hours old. I took their photo at Aveley Heritage Sheep Ranch in Vavenby, B.C., a few years ago. The folks at Aveley have been breeding sheep in the North Thompson Valley for over 100 years. If you are interested in B.C. history or sheep ranching, they have a free downloadable pdf book, “Memories of Aveley Ranch,” about the ranch available on their website.

The newborn lambs are pretty much helpless if left on their own. Although they can stand on their own in surprisingly short order and feed, they have no defences other than the protection of their flock and the shepherd.

It is the same with newborn Christians. When I speak of newborn Christians, I don’t mean physically newborn, but rather those born again in Christ.

The term born again has a lot of cultural baggage even within some streams of Christendom. For many, it brings to mind some form of uncultured, narrow-minded, hate-filled bigot. In fairness, those labels likely apply to Christians, but there are also non-Christians just like that.

You can’t become a Christian without being born again. That isn’t simply my opinion; it is a declaration of Christ.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:1-8

No one can be a Christian from birth, it can’t be inherited, and you cannot buy the rights. You must be born anew through faith alone in the work of Christ alone. 

You cannot be “nearly” Christian. You either are or are not and cannot “try” Christianity. Either you have been born again, or you have not.

When we are born again, we are given a new nature and a new role.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

If you are a Christin, rejoice in your new nature and give God the glory He is due. If you are not, I urge you to examine the claims of Christ most seriously and heed them.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

 Gleanings From The Word

 Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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