Newspaper Article Published 3.29.19 “The Blessings of Being Regenerated or Born Again”
Dr. Gary M. Barker
In my meditation last week, I shared the biblical truth that a person must believe in Jesus Christ and be born again before he can begin to grow spiritually. Spiritual birth is an absolute necessity as taught by Jesus (John 3:3-8) in order to be saved and enter the Kingdom of God. The results of being born again will enable a believer to live a spiritual life that pleases God. In my meditation today, I want to share the various blessings that are received from God the Holy Spirit when a believer is regenerated.
First blessing is God gives a believer everlasting life (John 3:16). This life is God’s own life that resides in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:9-12). When a person believes in Christ as his Savior from sin, Jesus comes to live in the believer and gives a person the ability to live spiritually as Christ lives His life thru a believer (Galatians 2:20). The Christian Life is Christ living His life thru a believer by controlling his intellect, emotions, and will.
Second blessing is that a believer becomes a child of God and receives a new nature that will enable him to live a godly life (John 1:12, 2 Peter 1:3-4). The Greek word for child in the New Testament literally means “born one”. A child has the same nature as his father. Our heavenly Father has caused us to be begotten (James 1:18) and in doing so has given us His nature. This will enable a believer to act in a godly manner.
Third blessing is that a believer receives a new mind thru regeneration. Jesus taught that being born again takes place in a person’s human spirit which involves a new ability to think in a godly manner (John 3:6). The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:16 and Philippians 2:5 teaches that every believer has the “mind of Christ”. Thinking is the basis of living and having this new mental ability will enable a believer to live a spiritual life.
Fourth blessing of being born again is that God makes a believer a “new creature” with the new potential to change his behavior and be transformed into a Christlike person (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation is possible because God has given every believer the ability and potential to change as a “new creature”. Spiritual growth is developing this potential for change. The Christian Life and spiritual growth in essence is learning how to sin less and less and become more and more holy and righteous like Christ.
These four blessings of being born again will enable a believer to effectively grow spiritually and become Christlike. Spiritual growth and maturity could never occur without being born again. This is why Jesus said: “Marvel not that I say unto you, You must be born again” (John 3:7).