herald2
Joined: Apr 09, 2007 Posts: 70
Status: Offline
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject: The New Birth |
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"A new heart also will I give you, and  a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them." Ezekiel 36:26,27.
We are born sinners and in need of redemption. Â God robed Himself with flesh in the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to bear away our sin.
He gives us a new heart, a new spirit and puts His Spirit within us, enabling us by His Holy Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29) to walk with Him in holiness. Â He "causes us" to walk in His Word - His law.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20.
The old man of sin was crucified with Christ, so that we may walk in newness of life. Â When His Spirit lives within us, we are empowered by His Spirit to obey His Word - His law.
The mark of false religion, is the idea of earning our salvation by our own works. Â "...the plowing of the wicked is sin." Proverbs 21:4. Â As long as we are in bondage to sin, it is impossible to earn our salvation.
Jesus said, "Not every one that SAITH, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that DOETH the will of My Father, which is in heaven.
MANY will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (lawlessness) Matthew 7:21-23.
Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." John 3:3
When we are born of His Spirit, we become children of God, having His life within us. Â And the Father knows us, because we are His children. Â And we know Him - "And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I AM the Lord..." Jeremiah 24:7.
We are incapable of earning salvation by our works, because we are sinners. Â It is by putting our faith in the works of the sinless Lamb of God, - the Lord Jesus Christ, that will bring us into the Father's kingdom.
Frist, we must agree with God, that, we are sinners. Â Then, we believe, that, Jesus Christ bore our sins upon the cross. Â Finally, we receive Him as Lord, inviting His Spirit to live within us.
This brings us to eternal life, and we will live with Him in His kingdom forever! |
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