Conversion & Calling, Student Workbook, SW01

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C O N V E R S I O N A N D C A L L I N G

remarkable and joyous time. Jesus used the analogy of new birth to instruct us on the reality of new life through faith in him. The birth metaphor speaks of new genetics, an entirely new source of parental material and life potential. To be born again is to consider entirely new possibilities of life, new directions of growth, and new chances for transformation. To enter the Kingdom of God one must be born again, born from above, becoming sharers in the very DNA of God. When Jesus first declared this radical kingdom teaching, Nicodemus had no idea that he was speaking of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Flustered and confused, Nicodemus asked about how an old fellow might climb back into the womb of his mother in order to pass through the birth canal. He did not have a clue of the fundamental teaching Jesus was giving about spirituality. To receive eternal life, to enter into relationship with God, one must literally be born again spiritually by faith in Jesus Christ. Trusting in him, God uses the Word of God as spiritual seed which creates a brand new nature in the believer, a nature that comes directly from God through the Holy Spirit. The Word of God produces conversion in the new believer’s life; it does more than simply reform or adjust someone’s life--it transforms it entirely. When Christ enters the heart of the converted one by faith, he/she is born again, with the potential to display all the characteristics of the One who brought forth that new life. This is why Christian commitment can never be summarized by external obedience to commands or outward conformity to tradition. God’s intent is to create and display new life in the believer, his very own life becoming the ground and source of the Christian’s service and faith. We share our parents looks, potential, and characteristics. If we are born from the Father, we, too, will look like him, reflect his image, and share his life. John 3.3-6 - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” [4] Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Only faith in the Word of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ can produce new life in the believer. How about you? Do you show the resemblance, those characteristics which prove you to have “your Father’s eyes,” that show you to have been born into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ? “You must be born again!” Look at Jesus’ good Word again:

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