HALLELUYAH! HALLELUYAH!! HALLELUYAH!!!
Topic: The Rebirth Experience
WEEK 43: (Nov 10th – Nov 16th)
Release Date: November 11&th
WEEKLY BIBLE READING:
1 John 5:11-13
[11]And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
[12]He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
[13]These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
INTERPRETATION
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, a profound transformation occurs within us. This transformation is not merely a change in behavior or mindset but a fundamental shift in our very nature. At the moment of salvation, we receive the life of God, which confers upon us His divine nature. This truth is both awe-inspiring and empowering, as it means that we are no longer bound by our old, sinful nature but are now partakers of God’s holy and righteous nature.
The Bible clearly teaches that at the point of salvation, we are born again. Jesus explained this to Nicodemus in John 3:3, saying, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” This new birth is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual one, where we receive the life of God. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this in 2 Corinthians 5:17, stating, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
This new creation is characterized by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 tells us, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” The Holy Spirit is the very life of God within us, transforming us from the inside out and enabling us to live in accordance with God’s will.
One of the most profound aspects of our new life in Christ is that we become partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4 declares, “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” This participation in the divine nature means that we are no longer slaves to sin but are empowered to live righteously.
The divine nature we receive is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These attributes are not merely moral virtues but are the very characteristics of God Himself, now manifesting in our lives through the Holy Spirit.
Understanding that we have received God’s nature at salvation should profoundly impact how we live our daily lives. Ephesians 4:22-24 exhorts us, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Living out our new nature involves a continuous process of renewing our minds and aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s Word. Romans 12:2 encourages us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” As we grow in our understanding of this truth and continually renew our minds with God’s Word, we will increasingly manifest the nature of God in us, bringing glory to Him and drawing others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael.
Dear Father, we thank you for your divine nature that is at work in us. We receive grace to walk in greater consciousness of this nature. We live daily to express this inward divine nature in Jesus’ name. Amen.