Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. — 2 Cor. 5:17
The Message
As I open today’s thoughts, my thoughts are on our celebration of Christmas! Christmas is all about giving. Jesus came to give us new life, a new spirit, soul, and body. The born-again renews our mind and heart in Christ Jesus, we receive a new birth.
The old-sinful carnal nature passes away and we take on a new nature. Our hope now, is looking forward to our new body, when we step into Eternity.
Let us look at this new birth. It is simply, receiving Christ Jesus into your heart, into your life. This new birth is given by God, through belief in His Son’s birth, death, burial, and resurrection. Our new birth is produced by God’s grace and mercy, through the washing away of our sins, by the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, received by faith. Yes, we turn from the old, into the new.
Yes, His shed blood bought our freedom, and Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Again, let me say, Jesus washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.
We have the Word of God – James 1:18: In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession.
1 Peter 1:23: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
By faith we receive – 1 John 5:1: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him (KJV).
The New Birth is, simply (the born-again experience), death to the old ways by accepting Jesus. You are saying no, to the old nature, the carnal nature, putting to death anything and everything that is wrong.
The New Birth will bring these six results in your life:
- New creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (KJV).
- Changed life – Romans 6:4–11: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
- Holy Life – 1 John 3:9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (KJV).
- Righteousness – 1 John 2:29: If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (KJV).
- Love – 1 John 3:10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother (KJV).
- Victory – 1 John 5:4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (KJV).
Yes, God gave us Jesus and the Holy Spirit to live in us, and we as believers can have a relationship with Him. God gave and we are to receive! Christmas Day is a time of celebrating the birth of Jesus and we celebrate by both giving gifts and receiving gifts.
In like manner, we are to both give our life to God and receive His Son, Jesus, as our Lord, and Savior.
This time of celebrating, Christmas Day is to be all about giving ourselves to God all through the year and receiving God’s gift Jesus and the Holy Spirit into our heart, spirit, soul, and body. Yes, His gift to us and our gift to Him, all through the year, until He returns to take us back with Him, unto/into Eternity forever with Him.
Deeper Insight – Peter describes the Word of God as “incorruptible seed.” In biology, a seed always produces after its own kind. An apple seed produces an apple tree; a human seed produces a human. When the “seed” of God (His Word) is planted in the soil of a believing heart, it produces a “God-kind” of life—eternal life.
This new nature is holy, righteous, and victorious. We are not just rehabilitated sinners; we are a new species of being, born of God. The old man was crucified; the new man is created in righteousness.
Prayer – Lord, on this Christmas Eve, I celebrate the gift of new birth. Thank You for making me a new creation. I give myself to You afresh. Let the reality of the New Birth be seen in my life through holiness, love, and victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Day I Received Jesus
Public school was out for the summer and I with my two sisters spent a lot of our days outside enjoying the warm weather. I would play ball with the neighbor boys and spend time with my older brothers as they worked in the garage on their cars.
The summer of 1965 remains unforgettable to me. We got a visit from a personal friend of our family who was also our Vacation Bible School teacher at our church this summer.
Let me first say, I am grateful to the Teacher who invited me to VBS that year. At the age of ten, I was excited to go to the week of VBS because they always had a lot of food and games. Just a fun time to play with the other kids from church and the neighborhood.
During this week, the Gospel was shared and taught vividly with the help of a flannel board, illustrating the concepts of good and evil, God and Satan and the love of Jesus. Again, it was a week filled with fun, games, and lessons about Jesus and the Gospel.
— Experienced by Paul V. Lundmark
POEM: Father I Thank You
Father I Thank You, For My life and My Breath.
Father I Thank You, For I am truly blessed.
Father I Thank You, For the lessons I’ve Learned.
Father I Thank You, For My life you turned.
Father I Thank You, For the Tree,
Where Jesus hung, On Calvary.
I thank you for the blood, That Jesus shed.
For my sins forgiven, Under the red.
Now my sins washed white, As white as snow.
Washed in the Crimson, Now I am whole.
“Completely forgiven,” You spoke to me.
My Burdens lifted, Now I am free.
Father I Thank You, More and more,
For my Past, Present and Future,
And for what’s instore.
— Written by: Gleneva Lundmark
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