Born Again Identity
1 Peter 1:10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
Who are you? Who am I? When I came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ my identity changed drastically. Early on I did not know what it meant to accept that identity. But it didn't lessen the FACT that I was now a born again believer with a Born Again Identity. I did not have anyone come alongside me and disciple me in what it meant to have this new identity, so I struggled along, finding my way as a new Christian and it was not a pretty picture. I stumbled many times and drew personal conclusions about Christ. Some were right and some were wrong. It wasn't until I had a passion for God's Word and began studying His Word that I began to have many lights come on in my mind and heart and that began a process of sanctification and life change. I found out what it meant to be born again.
At one point during Jesus' time here on earth a teacher of the law, Nicodemus, came to Him to find out who He was and what He was teaching His followers. The following scripture speaks to their discussion. John 3: 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” 9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. 10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? If it was hard for a man like Nicodemus to understand, just think about me a new 11 year old believer!! Here is the difference. Nicodemus studied the Law of Moses and that was all he knew. He did not have the Holy Spirit to guide him into a deeper relationship with Jesus, and thus grow in his faith. I had not studied the Law of Moses and knew very little about the Word of God, except what it meant to receive Christ. But when I received Jesus and the Holy Spirit came into my life, all I had to do was actually read and study God's Word and all of my answers came from there. When I found that out the "sky was the limit."
So if you missed the discipling experience like I did, do not despair. Go straight to the source, God's Word and you will find out everything you need for living this born again life. Our new identity gives us wisdom and and hope and power for living. The name of my ministry, VESSELOGICAL, came out of this realization. I can be a vessel for God's truth and His truth WORKS and in the end has much common sense in it. It is very logical. Logic (def) reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity. Nicodemus needed to see the spiritual logic of this faith we believe in, and so do you and I. You will find that logic is valid when you did deeper into the Word of God. I love this stuff and believe it all, all, ALL! That is my born again Identity!
The Pilgrimage continues.....
David Warren