Reborn as a Child of God

Scripture

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But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)

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Observation

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There are two "wills" here regarding our new birth as children of God. First, the new birth is not of blood nor "of the will of the flesh". One cannot become a Christian by heritage or being born into a Christian family. Being raised in a church, going to Sunday school or theology courses to study about Christianity does not make one a child of God too.

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Second, the new birth is not "of the will of man", that is through the effort or decision of others. No one can make you a Christian, not even a minister or a Bishop. Neither can one be a Christian by going through a ritual or reading a creed. It is what has happened in your heart that makes you a Christian. It is done by God, "of God". This is beyond any human effort, cleverness or manipulation. It is about receiving Jesus and surrendering to His Lordship that one becomes a Christian.

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Application

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To start off the new year, it would be appropriate to evaluate our posture as a child of God. Let us reflect on what it means to receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and what it means to believe in Him (and the transformation and actions that back up that belief). Jesus is always knocking at the doors of our hearts, but do we receive Him daily?

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Prayer

 

Grant me the assurance as a child of God that I am special and privileged and to be able to live as one for Him in 2022.