"The Truth About Salvation - part 3"

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." 1 John 5:18

Yesterday we said that God's criteria for salvation was to be born-again. This is the whole sum of it all.  This is where most "miss it" concerning their salvation.  They believe in God.  They do religious duties and acts.  They profess to be Christians.  But they have never been born-again.

When God created mankind, He created him in His image.  He breathed His breath into man and made him a living soul.  When man sinned, death came upon mankind. (The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23a)  He died spiritually.  God's image was marred.  Fellowship with God was broken.  Man became his "own boss"-- living as he desired, following his own agenda, doing his own "thing", fulfilling whatever his lustful desires wanted.  So, in reality, we are "dead men walking".  Our spirits "died".  So we have to be "born-again" in order to "come back to life". (The gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23b)

When we repent of our sins-- humble ourselves before God, acknowledge our sins, have true regret and remorse over our sins accompanied by the commitment to change, and look to Jesus as the only way of forgiveness for our sins-- we are then born-again.  We have now come "back to life".  God breathes into us a "second time".  His image/nature/character is restored in us.  His "DNA" comes back alive in us. 

So, this is the key:  we are born of God.  We take on His nature-- which is holy, righteous, etc.  We are no longer sinners-- we have been saved by grace.  The "old man" has died and the new man has come alive.  We become a new person.  (If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things pass away and all things become new. 2 Cor. 5:17)  We are changed.  We don't do what we once did.  We don't live like we once lived.  Sin is not our nature any more, therefore it should not be our lifestyle. (Whoever is born of God, does not sin.) This is what concerns me-- when there is profession of salvation but no lifestyle change.  Nothing is any different in those who profess to be saved.  They keep living for sin and self.  
 
When I was born-- when my mother gave birth to me-- there were characteristics, traits and even physical features that I had that were evidence of who my parents were.  I look like them.  I have the same mannerisms as them.  I carry myself like they do.  As I get older, I think I have "become my mother".  I respond, think, talk and so on just like she did.  The same should be true of those who profess to be Christians.  The very word means "to be Christ-like".  This doesn't mean we have physical features like His.  It means we look like Him in actions, deeds, speech, works, our attitudes, our treatment of others, where we go, what we do, how we respond, etc. etc. etc.  There should be no doubt that He is our "Spiritual Parent"-- because we bear a resemblance to Him.   

Have a great day.  When you were born, you resembled your parent/parents.  When you are born-again, you should resemble your Heavenly Parent.