This graphic begs the question: How DOES ONE KNOW what they were like when they were born; do you? For the overwhelming majority of us, the first two or three years are a mystery.
It is a fact of humanity that no one really enjoys being corrected about anything, but correction has value. Remember, the first time you tried to touch a hot stove; didn’t your mother (or perhaps your Dad) tell you that this was BAD? “I was born this way” is obviously a response to someone pointing out a lifestyle choice that is sinful and this response is nothing less than the shifting of blame from yourself to that of your Creator. Sound familiar? Remember Adam and Eve in the garden? Same thing!
God had regulations (law) even in the garden of Eden and to break them was to put your will ahead of the Almighty’s. Jesus has revealed God’s will for a RE – Generation (a making again, if you will). Unfortunately, when God reveals truth, the disobedient among us will try to twist, distort and outright lie, in order to do what THEY want instead of God’s express will.
I enjoyed this picture because it plainly reveals the human heart: those who love sin want to continue in it and God wants them to begin anew, with a new heart (Ezekiel 36:24-28). This passage from the Old Testament is applied in the new and the verses listed in the picture are very important; so much so that I have listed them for your consideration…
John 3 ( World English Bible )
3 Jesus answered him, "“Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, " * "he can’t 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, "“Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God! "
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "
7 "Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ "
1 John 3 ( WEB )
1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.
3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.
6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him.
7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.
1 Corinthians 6 ( WEB )
9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 5 ( WEB )
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, * all things have become new.
Titus 3 ( WEB )
5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
1 Peter 1 ( WEB )
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
God wants you to both love and obey HIM. His way is ultimately seen in the teachings and life of his one and only son, Jesus. Think about it: Jesus was born and lived a life dedicated to following God’s will, Even to the point of dying for others. He rose again to live forever. This pattern of living for God and doing his will is reflected in baptism; where we die to sin (and are buried [in baptism]) and come out of the water to live again with a purified heart and God-directed life. And Just as Jesus rose from the dead to live again, so will we be on the last day. This is the GOOD NEWS (or Gospel) of God. Our heart becomes God’s heart ( Ezekiel 36:24-28).
Really, only one thing remains; a question: What is your heart like? Is it willing to be molded by God or is it a heart of stone? Answer carefully, for this is truly an ETERNAL question!