The Lord created us to be separate from Himself, so that He could love us. He thus allows us to act contrary to His will -- to want what is evil and to believe what is false. When we accept the Lord, though -- by learning what's true and determining to live according to it -- we can let Him place inside us a love for what is good. That is our "inheritance.
What the Bible Says about Being Born Again
Napsal(a) John Odhner
I was talking recently with someone who was looking forward to becoming a father. He asked me, "Is it hard to learn how to be a good father? How did you deal with that change in your life?"
"One of the nice things about becoming a father," I said, "is that it happened one step at a time. First we got engaged, and then some time later we got married. During that time, talking about parenting helped prepare me mentally. A few months after our marriage, my wife became pregnant, and then we still had nine months before our child was actually born."
"Of course, having a new baby was a big change, but still there were many parenting tasks that came later. For example, discipline wasn't an issue for the first year, and it was two years before we had to help our son learn to get along with his new baby sister. Being a good father all at once would be impossible, but the Lord gives us a chance to learn slowly."
Most changes in our lives are gradual. An inch of growth may take a child half a year. It can take several years to learn to speak a new language or play a musical instrument. Two people can be married in a day, but the actual marriage of minds takes decades to accomplish.
Changes in our spiritual life are also gradual. They take place one step at a time, and spiritual growth will be easier if we know that it does not take place in a moment. It is an ongoing process. Jesus said,
"Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Many passages in the Bible indicate that being born again spiritually will be just as much a step by step process as physical conception, gestation, birth, growth, and development. For example, Peter describes it in seven distinct steps:
"Add to your faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love." Only by completing this process can we be sure to enter the Kingdom of God. (2 Peter 1:5)
One reason why being born again must be a gradual process is that it involves a complete change of character. Paul describes it this way:
"If any one be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:5)
Rebirth involves new knowledge, new habits, new activities, new loves, and new awareness of the Lord.
New Knowledge
Rebirth does not take place through a blind leap of faith, but through gradual education, study and enlightenment. Jesus said,
"If you continue in My Word, ...the truth shall make you free." (John 15:3)
Truth is the tool of change, the means to a new life. Jesus said,
"Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15:3)
Instead of accepting dogmas without question we must make sense of the truth in order to be reborn. Being "childlike" does not mean being childish in our beliefs.
"In malice be children, but in understanding be adults." (1 Corinthians 14:20)
In one of His stories, Jesus describes a good person as one "who hears the Word, and understands it, and also bears fruit." (Matthew 12:23)
Most important of all is the understanding of God. If God's nature is a mystery to us, we can hardly say that we are born again, or that we are His sons. (Compare John 15:15.)
Knowing God goes hand in hand with being born from Him. (1 John 4:7)
"The pure in heart shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)
When we are born again, God "shines in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
New Habits
Anyone who is in the habit of doing or thinking evil things is living the "old" life, and is incapable of the genuine goodness of the person who has overcome them.
"Can the leopard change its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13:23)
"He who commits sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34)
Receiving the new life requires fighting against the old habits.
"Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die? ...Turn and live!" (Ezekiel 18:21, 31-32.)
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doing from My eyes! Cease to do evil, learn to do good." (Isaiah 1:16.)
This kind of repentance cannot take place merely by praying for forgiveness. It requires a struggle, an ongoing battle to overcome the old ways of life. Paul called this a struggle between the "flesh" and the "spirit." (Galatians 4:29, Romans 8:7.)
It is a battle that requires our greatest effort -- "all your heart and all your soul and all your might." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Eventually, through constant effort, God gives us such power over our habits that we no longer would think of doing something evil. When this time finally comes, we can be called "born again."
"Whoever is born of God does not commit sin.... He cannot sin, because he is born of God." (1 John 3:9)
"Whatever is born of God overcomes the world.... We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who is born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him." (1 John 5:4, 18)
New Activities
Along with new habits come new activities. A person who neglects to be useful cannot be born again, and cannot go to heaven. Jesus indicated that some Christians would not be saved because they lacked good works.
"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, ' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in the heavens." (Matthew 7:21)
In one of His parables, Jesus told of some people who would go into everlasting punishment, not because they had lacked faith, but because they had failed to help people who were in need. (Matthew 25:41-46)
After death, the Lord "renders unto everyone according to his deeds." (Matthew 16:27)
A person who is born again is concerned for others, and orients his life around the work he can do to help others.
"Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead... A person is justified by works, and not by faith alone." (James 2:17, 24)
To be born again, you must "bring forth fruits worthy of repentance." (Luke 3:8) Service and usefulness are marks of the new life.
New Loves
Even more than faith and more than works, the power that causes a person to be born again is love. Peter tells us that we are reborn by means of loving and for the purpose of loving others.
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, being born again...by the word of God." (1 Peter 1:22, 23)
John also makes it very clear that only those who love others can receive the new life:
"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." (1 John 3:14)
"Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)
New Awareness of the Lord
We must take it upon ourselves to have faith, to fight the evil impulses within ourselves, to serve others, and to love others if we wish to be born again. Yet in all these things we need also to realize that it is the Lord who is working within us.
"You have also done all our works in us." (Isaiah 26:12)
"There are many forms of work, but all of them, in all people, are the work of the same God." (1 Corinthians 12:6)
In the process of rebirth we come to realize that it is the Lord working within us that enables us to work, believe, struggle, and love. These abilities are His merciful gift. He says,
"I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you...and cause you to walk in my statutes." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
Patience
In order to be reborn we must renew our knowledge, habits, actions, loves and relationship with the Lord. All this takes time, even a lifetime. Just as childbirth and growth require patience and endurance, so does being born again.
"In your patience you will possess your souls." (Luke 21:19)
"Whoever endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
God will give eternal life to those who seek it "by patient continuance in doing good." (Romans 2:7)
We cannot expect to be born again in a single moment. Again and again, the Bible advises steadfastness and endurance if we wish to gain the promise of heaven.
"It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:26, 27)
For although it takes time, if we do our part, the Lord will certainly make it happen.
"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalms 37:5, 7)
Matthew 24
1
Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
2
But he answered them, "You see all of these things, don't you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."
3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4
Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
5
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.
6
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.
8
But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
9
Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake.
10
Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
11
Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
12
Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.
13
But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
14
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15
"When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.
18
Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
19
But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!
20
Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,
21
for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
22
Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
23
"Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it.
24
For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
25
"Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26
If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' don't believe it.
27
For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28
For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.
29
But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;
30
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
31
He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32
"Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
33
Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34
Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.
35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36
But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37
"As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38
For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
39
and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;
41
two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.
42
Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.
43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44
Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.
45
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
46
Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
47
Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
48
But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,'
49
and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
50
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,
51
and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
