We’re Reborn: From a “the Family of Trinity” to a Family of Greatest Diversity Loving God and People… In Unity!

Welcome race runners (1 Corinthians 9:26; 2 Timothy 4:7)!

This is the second in a series of feasts cooked-up to remind us what our FELLOWSHIP, COMMUNITY is in reality, and how it can work in the best way… practically.

By God’s sovereignty and unmerited and favor, we are born-again: The Holy Spirit first touches (regenerates) our heart so that we’re capable of, willing to see, our heart as being way short of perfect compared to God’s absolute purity and holiness: And so we are given the privilege of repenting of our “capital S” Sin (inherited from Adam), and our sinfulness (daily transgressions against God, self, and neighbor)—Romans 7.

Each birthday for me includes two celebrations: Being biologically born on April 17, 1952, and being spiritually re-born in October of 1983. How about you?

From the perspective of our free will choice, from moment (not taking into account “God’s time” and eternal plan of salvation that His elect are included in—Ephesians 1:4) we repent from the heart and beseech Jesus to come into our life as first Savior (from inherited and everyday sin), then the Lord of our life (as His disciple)—from this moment we are a granted the gift of no more shame, and being adopted into a new family… of God’s Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This Training Table fare of the richest sort is placed in front of us to sup on: Savor every bite, Beloved of God.

How It Occurs “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

A Gift From God “You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8)

Adopted into a New Family “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:3-14)

Rebirth Doesn’t Take Sinful Desires Away All at Once “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:24-26)

Privileges That Comes From Rebirth “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Rebirth Comes Only Through Jesus Christ “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.” (John 14:6-7)

Rebirth Brings Evil Forces Against the Believer “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

What it Means to be a New Person “So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ so that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” (Romans 7:4)

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” (1 Peter 1:23-25)

Eternal Life Begins at Rebirth “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3:36)

See you at the Training Table next time when we’ll share in some chow on The Fellowship of “One Team, One Dream!”

In love and truth,

JohnDoz

Resources on Community:

A New Kind of Community, Redeemer Presbyterian Church