You Must Be Born Again

Every year at this time people begin to make New Year’s Resolutions. They want to be reborn. I don’t. Maybe I’m a rebel, (not), maybe I don’t care to improve myself (not really), maybe I just see the fruitlessness in saying I’m going to do something I know I won’t, for too long. Maybe that’s it! I’m just a sinner and I don’t know how to change for long. I don’t have the heart. Thankfully, someone already has helped me with this for eternity. (Note: What you are about to read is Christianity 101.)

Romans 3:23 says, “We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. ”There is no room for error in the word “all.” If you’d like some specificity it expounds on this topic earlier in Romans 3:10-18. Then the first part of Romans 6:23 says this, “For the wages of sin is death.” Not just bodily death but spiritual as well. This death as I spoke about in previous writings is really a permanent removal or separation from God. But, it’s your choice. God cares about your freedom so much, He gives you the choice to be with Him in eternity or not. Either way, sins wages are stated quite clearly for us all. The next part of Romans 6:23 states, “But, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Again, the Bible is not vague in who you go through to eternal life; Jesus. Romans 5:8 also says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” Even though we maybe didn’t know we were sinners, or maybe we didn’t know how to fix things with God; He still offered, is offering, and will continue to offer to save us - from ourselves. Romans 10:9 explains how we begin this acceptance, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Just in case you missed it the first time (as most of us humans do with God), Romans 10:13 reiterates, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But this time of salvation will run out. If you are the type who thinks because God is “love” He won’t follow what He says in His Word, you don’t really know God. You should read His Word. In other parts of Romans it speaks to the peace, lack of condemnation, and the fact that nothing will separate us from the love of God that we find in Christ Jesus. But, in this last short bit you read, you will find eternity with the creator of everything we see and don’t; and you will resolve to be born anew.

Now, growing up Catholic, wherever you heard the term “born again” it was almost taboo. Even though Jesus says in John 3:3, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” He repeats in John 3:5, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water (flesh) and the Spirit.” We all believe in more than one component of our existence. We all know we are flesh because we (usually) take care of ourselves. Resolutions are just that, we are trying to take our body to a better level, or a better place by a physical change. Even if this change is just to read your Bible more next year. It’s still physical - you read. I believe that real change comes from the inside out. Our heart needs to change first. No resolution or law will do it. The Spirit can change our heart. Our spirit which is eternal is what God wants us to be resolute about and take His free offer of a place to stay with Him, forever. If you don’t believe that you have a spirit, I have this question. What motivates you? Something has to get you to do something in your life. Whether it's an obligation, a promise, a contract, or just because you want to do it, there is an unseen whim or desire to complete a task. Your heart and spirit moves you. If you’ve ever been to a pep rally in school, and you get juiced up a bit during and afterwards, you know this feeling or inclination to be true. This is the spirit changing your heart, your desires. I don’t know why the term “born again” was so distasteful growing up, and maybe I’ll have to write another time about that. I’m glad I know better now. When we are born anew, our heart changes, a little like the Grinch's in the famous Christmas production, and we will be like the risen Jesus as we go to eternity with God. 

Now, just like not being uncomfortable when I hear those two words about someone’s decision to take God up on His Word, you will (probably) never hear me say, “What’s your resolution?” You can work on your body all you’d like but, I’d rather hear about how your heart is changing this next year. Because when we realize that any great change in our lives takes a change of heart first, we tend not to focus too much on adjusting the physical stuff. It’s not as important. God says it’s all going to burn anyhow. So, how’s your heart? Is it born again? If so, that’s God. If not, know that you’re prayed for, that’s my heart. Happy New Year.