How Many Births Have You Experienced?

In other words, how many times have you been born?

 

There are two births which every man born of a woman should experience. They are the first or natural birth and the second or spiritual birth.

The first or natural birth occurred by the will of our parents. That is, the natural birth was by the will of man, and the will of the flesh. The natural birth is that which brought us into the world and makes us members of a human family.

The first or natural birth makes you and I a sinner and this birth qualifies man for two types of death – the physical or natural death and the second or eternal death. The physical or natural death applies to all men who must return to the dust irrespective of having first or second birth (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Hebrews 9:27 says, ‘’ it is appointed to all men to die once and after death is judgment.’’

The second or eternal death is an eternal separation from God. Those who experience the second death are those who die in sin without repentance; who rejected God’s offer of salvation. Their eternal abode is Hell, the place of eternal torment and punishment and total hopelessness.

The second or spiritual birth is by the will of God, not the will of our parents.  John 1:13 says, ‘’ which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’’

The second birth makes you a child of God and member of the family of God. The second birth makes you a saint in the eyes of God.  The second birth is for those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ and have been empowered to become the sons of God. 

John 1:12 says,

‘’ but as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’’

They are the ones who have been resurrected from spiritual death to life and are children of a heavenly father. John 3:3 says, ‘’…verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’’

For those who have the second birth, who are born-again, the second or eternal death has no power over them. Revelations 20:6 says, ‘’blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power.’’

The second birth reconciles man back to God and reconnects his spirit to God. Without the second birth, men will die in sin and end up in eternal Hell because nothing unclean can inherit the Kingdom of God.

For those who have been born only once via the natural birth and who miss the second birth, they will experience two kinds of death –the physical and the eternal death. Their physical death will be their door to eternal death. Those who have the two births will experience only one death – the physical death which will be their door to eternity with Christ.

The second birth involves a moral and a spiritual change; a change of heart that transforms one into a new creature (John 3:3) (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is a change of masters that adopts one from the satanic family into the family of God. 

It is a consecration of the body, soul and spirit of man to serve God and holiness rather than Satan and sin (Romans 8:1-13). It translates a sinner from the broad way that leads to destruction to the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

The second birth is a renewal in righteousness and true holiness; a change of favour and a new standing before God and also a change of character, state and service (Ephesians 2:1-9; 4:23-24) (Titus 3:5).

The moment one is responsible and accountable enough to recognize that he is a sinner, and he repents and believes the gospel, the moral and spiritual change will take place (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

How can we experience the Second Birth?

Ø Accept and acknowledge that you are a sinner heading to destruction (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23)

Ø Believe in the Lord Jesus, the Risen Christ. Confess Him as your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9-10) who alone can save

Ø Confess your sins to Jesus and ask for His mercy and forgiveness (1 John 1:9)

Ø Determine not to return to your old life of sin (Isaiah 55:7)

Ø Open the door of your heart to Jesus and allow Him to come in to dwell in it (Revelations 3:20)

Act now, the next minute may be too late. You are only one heartbeat away from eternity. Today is the day of salvation. Further delay is dangerous!

If you have taken these steps, you have been born into the family of God and the angels are rejoicing over you, celebrating your new birth (Luke 15:10). 

You are welcome into the family of God.

Quotes

Ø ‘’ Sadly, many Christian believers are secretive about their faith because of their double lifestyles. They are in ‘secret service’’ in their offices and neighborhoods like Nicodemus who was a secret disciple. They are afraid to show up publicly for Jesus.’’ (copied: Our Daily Manna, October 12, 2017)

Ø ‘’ if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father (Matthew 10:33)

Ø ‘’ Many Christians mark their bibles, but their bibles never mark them.’’ (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 11, 2017)

Ø ‘’ Be a Man of One Book: Read the Bible! (copied: Our Daily Manna, October 10, 2017)

Ø ‘’ What is right for one soul may not be right for another. It may mean having to stand on your own and do things that are strange in the eyes of others. But do not be daunted. Do whatever it is because you know within that it is right for you – Eileen Caddy

Ø ‘’Be yourself and do not struggle to be someone else. The elephant does not need to envy the lion because its purpose is different and that makes everyone unique. Stand on your own and do things that you believe are right even if they are strange to others (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 8, 2017).

Ø ‘’it is not possible to feed lambs and catch fish at the same time. The man who desires to be ahead of others must single out his specialty (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 8, 2017)

Ø ‘’One great cause of failure in life generally is lack of concentration.’’ (Andrew Carnegie)

Ø ‘’ the Me I see, is the Me I will become.’’  (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 1, 2017).

Ø ‘’ Walk in my shoes, see what I see and feel what I feel, then you will understand why I do what I do. Until then, do not judge me. (Anonymous)

Ø ‘’ The strongest are not those who show strength in front of the world but those who fight and win battles that others do not know anything about.’’  – Jonathan Hamisch

Have you believed another gospel?

Have You Believed Another Gospel?

The central theme of the gospel is Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for the sins of men. Placing complete trust in Christ’s atoning death is the only way to eternity in Heaven. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) (Acts 4:12). Trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation is what the Bible teaches.

·        Have you believed another gospel that deceives?

Another gospel deceives. Many are blinded by vain teachings that have no real value, worthless and empty. The only message of real value is that salvation comes by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4) (Ephesians 5:6). The gospel of Christ is the only soul-saving system that reveals a Saviour.

·        Have you believed another gospel that damns?

Those who believe another gospel shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

·        Have you believed another gospel that perverts God’s Word?

Those who preach another gospel and another Jesus, which deny God’s Word; that denies the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; that deny the virgin birth and the deity of Christ; that deny the existence of a Hell and a Heaven are accursed persons heading for destruction (Galatians 1:7-8,11).

The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation unto everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). It teaches that one can be forgiven if he believes God’s Word and places complete trust in Christ’s atoning death.

Romans 10:9-10 says,

‘’ if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart, man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.’’

Have you believed another gospel?

False Doctrine: ‘’Once saved, forever saved’’

 This doctrine also known as the doctrine of eternal security is saying that a Christian who has received salvation through the second birth can never lose it even if he returns to habitual sinning, careless living and flagrant violation of the laws of God.

It says that once salvation has been received via the new birth, it is secure forever and cannot be lost and a child of God is a child of God forever even if he transgresses.This false doctrine teaches that the eternal security of the soul is the responsibility of the Shepherd, Jesus Christ and not of the believer at all.

This position is inconsistent with John 15:10 that says, ‘’ if you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:10 teaches that the saved believer has a responsibility to obey the gospel throughout life as it is impossible to have a pardoning grace from God without an obedient grace.

The false doctrine also says that the gift of eternal life given through Christ cannot be revoked or withdrawn even if the believer departs from the Lord. Further, it teaches that when a believer sins, he loses the joy of salvation only for a time, while the salvation and relationship with the Lord remain intact.

The doctrine of ‘Once saved, forever saved’ is a fallacy from hell which the Bible’s teachings do not support. According to the Bible, salvation is not an UN-forfeitable possession as it can be lost through negligence. A Christian may fall from grace and be lost eternally if he dies in his sins.

The Bible teaches that when a man recognizes that he is a sinner, repents and believes the gospel, a spiritual and moral change occurs in his life (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). But when he sins again, he experiences a moral fall, he incurs the penalty of death again and comes under the sentence of death (Ezekiel 18:24) (James 1:13-15).

If he repents again, he is forgiven and restored. The Bible makes provision for the restoration of a Christian who falls from grace if he is repentant (Galatians 6:1) (Revelations 2:5). If he fails to repent and dies in sin, he will be eternally lost (Ezekiel 18:24).

A believer who acquires salvation during the second birth has a responsibility to maintain and keep his salvation in order not to lose it. The Bible gives many commands in this regard which include:

 Hebrews 12:1 says, ‘’…let us lay aside every weight and the sin which easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.’’

 Hebrews 3:6says, ‘’hold fast the confidence and hope of rejoicing to the end.’’

 Luke 9:62 says, ‘no man having put his hand on the plough, and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’’

 Luke 17:32 says, ‘Remember Lot’s wife.’’
She was saved by the grace and mercy of God from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but looked back contrary to instruction and was destroyed. She lost her salvation and is lost eternally.

 Ezekiel 18:4 says, ‘the soul that sins, it shall die.’’

 Ezekiel 18:24 teaches, ‘but when the righteous turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked do, shall he live? All his righteousness shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he trespassed and in the sin that he hath sinned, in them he shall die.’’

 Hebrews 10:26-29 says, ‘’ for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall consume the adversaries.

He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace?’’

 1 Corinthians 10:12, ‘’ he that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.’’
This tells us that no one is above falling. He that is standing stands by the grace and the power of God (1 Peter 1:5) but is required to watch and pray not to fall into temptation. He is required to flee appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and there are many other related commands in Scripture to guide one from falling.

 2 Corinthians 13:5, ‘’examine yourselves whether ye are in the faith…’’

 1 Peter 1:16 says, ‘’ be ye holy, for I am holy.’’

 Hebrews 12:14 says, ‘’…without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.’’

 Hebrews 2:1-2 says, ‘’wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies and evil speaking, as new babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.’’

 Matthew 24:13 says, ‘’he that endures to the end shall be saved.’’

 2 Peter 3:18 says, ‘’ but grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’’

 Luke 13:24, ‘’strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able.’’

Hebrews 3:7-17 is a strong warning to us to learn from Israel’s failures in the wilderness. God brought them out of Egypt with full assurances of blessings, prosperity and eternal rest. But by their sins and unbelief, they came short of the promised blessings and were cut off from God and lost.

This teaches us that any Christian, saved and born again, who returns to an evil heart of unbelief, and departs from God, who is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin will be cut off and be lost.

Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He was a genuinely chosen and empowered apostle (Matthew 10:1-20), and he was a preacher of the gospel of salvation and a healer (Mark 6:7-13).
He had a part in the ministry and was a saved man (Acts 1:17) but he fell by transgression (Acts 1:25). He regretted his actions (Matthew 27:4) but he did not repent. He did not return to God for forgiveness, died in his sin and is eternally lost.

Prayer:
 Lord, have mercy on me for I am a sinner (Luke 18:13) in Jesus name
 Lord, deliver me from presumptuous sinning (Psalm 19:13) in Jesus name
 Lord, make me holy (Leviticus 11:44) in Jesus name
 Mercy of God, overshadow my life (Romans 9:15) in Jesus name
 Power and the grace of God to endure to the end, possess my life (Matthew 24:13) (1 Peter 1:5) in Jesus name

False Doctrines: The Good Works Approach

 Rather than diligently seek for the truth that sets free, many are seeking and following after popular opinions instead of convictions and are being led astray by false doctrines.

There are many false beliefs in this Last Days. One of them is known as the Good Works Approach. Another is the doctrine of eternal security that says ‘Once Saved, Forever Saved’’.

Those who believe in the Good Works Approach say that God will add up all their good works and their bad works and if their good is greater than their bad, they have passed the test and will be admitted into Heaven. They think that their external religious works settles the matter and earns them favour before God.

This was the major error and undoing of the rich young ruler in Luke Chapter 18:18-24. He had great riches and a powerful office as a ruler. He had good morals and manners and claimed he kept the Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments to the letter.

This young ruler measured his obedience to God by his external actions but not by his inward attitudes and was convinced that he was blameless before God. However, in his inward attitudes, he was not blameless before God.

He was a covetous man who had a love of money, who trusted in his great riches and was not willing to use his riches to glorify God. His covetous attitude violated the tenth commandment in the Law of Moses, indicating his inability to keep the whole Law he boasted about.

He lacked a living faith in God. He made money his god and wanted salvation and eternal life on his own terms. He did not see himself as a sinner before God, rather boasted about the laws he kept from his youth, trusting in his own self-righteousness.

Isaiah 64:6 says,
‘’ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags…’’

Jesus offered him salvation and eternal life on His own terms which the young ruler turned down. He was told to liquidate his estate and give the money to the poor, then take up a cross and follow Jesus.
Because the deceitfulness of riches had choked his heart and was unwilling to give it up, he rejected God’s greatest gift to man: eternal life. He lost eternal life because he could not humble himself.

Sin is rooted in the heart. Mark 7: 21-23 says,
‘’for from within, out of the hearts of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within and defile the man.’’

The young ruler by his inward attitudes was a defiled person before the Lord yet did not want to acknowledge that fact. His good works religiosity fell short of God’s standards for salvation and eternal life. Good works alone without the new birth and the right changes in the heart and opening one’s heart to Jesus is vain.

Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness that is acceptable to God must be within and without i.e. both inward and outward. Man believes in outward holiness only.

We cannot be saved from sin by keeping the law or keeping some laws. The Law is a mirror that shows us how unclean we are but it cannot wash us clean. The Law can bring us to Christ but cannot make us to be like Christ. Only grace and faith in Christ can do it (Ephesians 2:8-10) (Galatians 2:16-21).

Another prominent scriptural example was the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 who went into the temple to pray. He boasted before God about his tithes and fasting while condemning the publican beside him as a sinner. The Pharisee was proud and did not see himself as a sinner. He thought his self-righteousness was sufficient.

Many today are like the rich young ruler and the Pharisee who are trusting in their self-righteousness and external religious works as their key to salvation and do not want to humble themselves before God.
Justification before God is by our faith in Christ and not by our works of the law, for by the works of the law, shall no flesh be justified (Galatians 2:16).

We need to act like the Publican in Luke 18:13. He humbled himself, acknowledged his sinfulness and asked God for mercy unlike the proud and boastful Pharisee. The Publican was justified for his humility and sincerity.

We need to receive salvation on God’s own terms by coming to Him through Jesus Christ who alone can save. Reconciliation with God is effected through Jesus Christ who is the only name given for the salvation of men (Acts 4:12). Salvation is by grace and by faith in Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says,
‘’ ‘’for by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.’’

Prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. I am a sinner (Luke 18:13)

Salvation: What is it and who needs it? (4)

Although man by his freewill choices separated himself from God through disobedience, God still loves him. God greatly desires to restore us to harmony with Him so that we can share an eternal salvation with Him.

In saving man, sin must first be dealt with because it is sin that introduced the sorrow, sickness, death and chaos experienced in the world. For a man to be saved, he must first be saved from sin. Man cannot save himself and cannot enter into fellowship with God in his state of disobedience. God cannot receive man to Himself as long as sin reigns in man.

Evil has a power over man that no man can shake off or deliver himself from. Man must have a mediator, who can take his part and suffer in his stead, and pay the penalty for his sins. Jesus Christ was the one who came into this world to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21).

The sin of the world, of all men, was placed upon Him. Jesus became sin in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He died physically on Mount Calvary where He was nailed to a Cross. He went down to Hell where He preached to the saints in prison. He rose again from the dead to everlasting life and has the keys of death and hell (Revelations 1:17-18). Because He lives, you and I shall live also (John 14:19).

The sacrifice of Jesus is enough and sufficient. We must believe and accept the love sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Unbelief is man’s greatest enemy. We must accept Jesus’ words that He Is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).

All men born of a woman need salvation because sin has passed unto all men (Romans 5:12).  Through one man Adam, sin and death came into the world but through another man, the Lord Jesus who died for all, we have eternal life restored to us.

Why must we choose Jesus for eternal life?

§  It is Christ who came to give us life (John 10:10)

§  It is Christ who died for us (Hebrews 2:14)

§  It is the Blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all sins (1 John 1:7)

§  It is Jesus Christ who rose from the dead (Romans 6:9) and because He lives, we shall also live if we trust in Him.

How to Reconcile With God

o   First, admit that you are a sinner who cannot save himself

‘’all men have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God’’ (Romans 3:23). 

o   Secondly, come consciously to God through Jesus Christ

‘’ therefore, He (Jesus) is able to save those who come to God through Him’’ (Hebrews 7:25)

o   Third, repent of your sins. Be sorry enough to quit sinning

‘’repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.’’ (Acts 3:19)

‘’except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish (Luke 13:3)

o   Fourth, confess your sins to Jesus

‘’ he that covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confess and forsakes them shall have mercy’’ (Proverbs 28:13)

‘’ if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’’ (1 John 1:9)

o   Fifth, receive Jesus into your heart and life. Only you can open the door of your heart and invite Jesus to come in.

‘’behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.’’ (Revelations 3:20)

‘’ but as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name.’’ (John 1:12)

o   Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He was raised from the dead. Salvation is by faith in Christ.

‘’ That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved: For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’’ (Romans 10:9-10)

Sample Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me on the Cross for my sins. I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done. I believe that you are my Lord and Saviour. I ask you to come into my heart and life, to live in my heart forever. I trust you to make my heart clean. In your name I pray, Amen.

o   Lastly, follow Jesus

‘’…whoever will come after me, let him take up his cross, and follow me.’’ (Mark 8:34)

Today is the day of our salvation. Tomorrow may be too late. Do not postpone your decision any longer because no one knows what the next minute or hour will bring (Proverbs 27:1) (2 Corinthians 6:2). Death will come like a thief in the night but after death is judgment…sure and certain!

There are no second chances for repentance and salvation in the grave. It is dangerous for anyone to reject God’s offer of salvation and continue to harden his or her heart in unbelief. Unbelief in God’s Word has always been man’s undoing since Adam.

John 5:24 says,

‘’Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hears my word, and believes on Him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life’’

John 8:24 says,

‘’ I say therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.’’

We enter into God’s kingdom by faith: helpless, unable to save ourselves and totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God. There is nothing else we can do besides faith and trust in Jesus to earn or merit eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says,

‘’for by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.’’

Close.

Salvation: What is it and who needs it? (3)

Salvation: What is it and who needs it? (3)

 Eternal death
The third type of death that resulted from the sin of Adam and Eve is eternal death meaning eternal separation from the presence of God forever and ever, time without end. To experience eternal death means to die in sin without salvation, without repentance and conversion, without regeneration of the soul.

Eternal death means to spend one’s eternity in Hell, the place of eternal torment for all sinners who died in sin. Hell is described in the Scriptures as an unquenchable fire that burns eternally with sulphur and brimstone where wretched souls wail and gnash their teeth in indescribable, unbearable pain.

By the mercies of God, you and I will not end up in eternal Hell in Jesus name.

In eternity, there are only two places of abode which are Heaven where God lives and Hell which is the eternal home of the lost souls who rejected God’s offer of salvation and are not qualified for admission into Heaven because nothing unclean will be allowed into it. When man lost eternal life during his fall in the Garden of Eden, eternal death replaced eternal life.

Man by his own wrong freewill choices fell from the position of great glory, headed for eternal destruction. Man is God’s greatest investment and because of His love for man, He brought up a plan of redemption to purchase eternal life for man. The plan of redemption constitutes the salvation of man. Its characteristics are as follows:

 Sin and death must be conquered to earn eternal life for fallen man. Sin is the problem in the life of man and must be conquered before man can be restored to favour with God.

 Blood must be shed for the remission of the sins of fallen man. Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sins (Leviticus 17:11).The blood of bulls and goats cannot atone for the sins of man who was created in the image of God (Hebrews 10:4).

 The blood of a sinner cannot atone for the sins of fellow sinners. The blood of a sinless person must be shed to atone for the sins of fallen man.

John 3:16
‘’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’’

It was Jesus Christ, the Son of God who offered His life as a sacrifice to die for man to save man. He is God who came in human form and is our perfect sacrifice. He had no sin, knew no sin and did no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) (1 Peter 2:22). His death was God’s plan for our redemption.

He laid his life of his own accord and freewill to save you and me from our sins (John10:18) and there are no other sacrifices that can take away sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Jesus died on the Cross at Calvary but on the third day he resurrected, conquering death. Through his resurrection, eternal life that was lost during the fall of man in the Garden of Eden has been restored. Jesus the Risen Christ is living and lives forever. That He is living and lives forever is our guarantee of eternal life (John 14:19) (Revelations 1:18).

Men now have two options to make a choice from, either eternal death or eternal life. Through the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, eternal life was lost and eternal death which replaced it became an inheritance. But through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Risen Christ, eternal life is now available to man but based on freewill choice.

What choice are you going to make?
Are you continuing on the road to eternal death or want to inherit eternal life? Remember that God forces no man because man is a free moral agent. One of the characteristics of God’s love for man is to allow him make his own decisions.

But it is God’s wish for you and me to choose life, ‘’…therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may live.’’ (Deuteronomy 30:19)