Thoughts from the Well

What does it mean to be born again?

Like so many Christians, I have struggled for years with sin. Sin that has, at times controlled me to the point of living a defeated Christian life. And I was tired of living that powerless life. When I looked at the early church in the Book of Acts I was immediately struck by the power that the first Christians demonstrated on a daily basis. The transformation they went through was beyond human explanation. Love was the ruling factor in their life and their love was supernatural. They were holy. Sin was not controlling their life any more. Not like the Pharisees with their legalistic doctrine that simply told them what was right and wrong. And if they did all the right things they could hopefully take part in the resurrection.

No, this was like nothing the world had ever seen before. A people totally committed to their God! They had an excitement about themselves that was seen and felt by their friends, their neighbors and even the Pharisees. They were so filled with the love of their Lord that only a few weeks after Jesus had died on the cross, they went out into the streets and even into the temple proclaiming a risen savior who loved them beyond anything they could have ever possibly hoped for.

I want to experience that transformation. I want to be so filled up with that love that the world will notice. I pray for a day where the Church of Christ is so filled with power of God that the world will have to stand up and take notice that we "have been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

So, what's the mystery? Why do we all to often live a powerless, defeated Christian life? I have found that when I ask God to change me, and claim His promises, that He is faithful and will empower me to grow and be more and more like Him. But I had to realize something first. I have to ask. I have to ask Him on a daily and even on a moment by moment basis to change me.

Titus 3:5-7 says, "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (NIV)

Notice that the verse says that we experience a "renewal by the Holy Spirit". We are born again and then God, the Holy Spirit begins to renew our minds. Our part is to continually ask God for that renewal. We have to enter into our relationship with the Holy Spirit. He doesn't simply wave a magic wand and we become sinless perfectionists. We have to surrender our lives up to Him.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer 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." (NIV) We have a choice now that we didn't have before coming to Christ. Before Christ, we were controlled by our sinful nature. Powerless to overcome our shortcomings. Now we can choose to "not conform any longer" to this world but be "transformed by the renewing" of our minds.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, "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." (NIV) We have to "put off" our old self! We have to believe that God will change our attitudes and thoughts. We have to ask Him daily to transform us.

When we surrender ourselves to Christ, our lives will be empowered to change. The love and compassion that the early Church demonstrated will be seen in our lives too. Colossians 3:9-15 says, " . . . since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (NIV)

We can have a transformed life today! We can put on a new set of clothes, given to us from above. It is a gift from God. When we come to Christ with the right attitude we can claim His word and be renewed by His Holy Spirit. Our part is to give up on ourselves and surrender our lives to Christ's care. Matthew 16:25 says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." (NIV)

God is able, give Him a try!

In Him,
Bill Fritz
July 20, 2001

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