Command 43 : Be Born Again | Day 299

Know What Was Reborn!

When we are born again, we receive a new nature from God (see II Peter 1:4). In fact, the Apostle John declares, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (I John 3:9). Why, then, do Christians still sin?

At salvation the spirit is reborn, but the soul still needs to be transformed, and the body dedicated to God.

In explaining the new birth, Jesus said, “... That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Nothing is said of the soul (mind, will, and emotions), which still needs to be transformed. Thus, we are told, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind ...” (Romans 12:2). In order for this renewal to take place we must “... receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

When we are "born of the Spirit” (see John 3:8), the Holy Spirit indwells the spirit, and we are then able to have continual fellowship with God. Paul explains this in I Corinthians 2:12: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

Transformation of the soul is a process. It does not happen instantly like a birth does. Paul affirmed this when he wrote to the church at Ephesus: “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

The power to transform the mind, will, and emotions comes by a continual filling of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 tells us to "be filled with the Spirit." This instruction is given in the present imperative tense, which is a command to do something in the future and involves continuous or repeated action. We are to keep on being filled with the Spirit. How do we do this? By being in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, Who convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. (See John 16:8.)

In addition to transforming the soul, the body must be presented as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Then, we are to yield our members to God as instruments of righteousness. (See Romans 6:13.) To yield them to sin is to voluntarily make ourselves the slaves of sin.

We should rejoice in the spirit's new birth, but let's not forget the need to renew our minds daily with Scripture and to yield the members of our bodies to God. All of this requires the grace of God and asking Him daily for the power of the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives.