August 15, 2011
You must be born again —John 3:7
The answer to Nicodemus’ question, “How can a man be born when he is old?” is: Only when he is willing to die to everything in his life, including his rights, his virtues, and his religion, and becomes willing to receive into himself a new life that he has never before experienced (John 3:4). This new life exhibits itself in our conscious repentance and through our unconscious holiness.
“But as many as received Him. . .” (John 1:12). Is my knowledge of Jesus the result of my own internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned through listening to others? Is there something in my life that unites me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior? My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.
“. . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ” (John 3:3). Am I seeking only for the evidence of God’s kingdom, or am I actually recognizing His absolute sovereign control? The new birth gives me a new power of vision by which I begin to discern God’s control. His sovereignty was there all the time, but with God being true to His nature, I could not see it until I received His very nature myself.
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin. . .” (1 John 3:9). Am I seeking to stop sinning or have I actually stopped? To be born of God means that I have His supernatural power to stop sinning. The Bible never asks, “Should a Christian sin?” The Bible emphatically states that a Christian must not sin. The work of the new birth is being effective in us when we do not commit sin. It is not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have actually stopped sinning. Yet 1 John 3:9 does not mean that wecannot sin— it simply means that if we will obey the life of God in us, that we do not have to sin.
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August 15, 2011
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Lord I try to do the right thing, but seem to fail …and fail often. If I have the ability to always do the right thing, then what is wrong with me? I seem to fail way too often. I seem to exhibit my more self-like traits instead of the traits of Jesus.
And God says…”If you were not my child, you would not even be concerned about your actions and traits. Recall that when I see you I simply see Jesus , all the time. And a process begun by faith cannot be completed by good works. You have nothing to do with your sanctification; you need only have faith and accept my grace and mercy. Your transformation takes place, over time from the inside out. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight.”
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