New Life in Christ

GOLDEN TEXT: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” —John 10:10

JOHN 3:5-7; ACTS 16:25-34; II CORINTHIANS 5:17

JESUS came to “seek and to save” that which was lost. (Luke 19:10) Man lost the privilege of living eternally in an earthly paradise. Through Christ this opportunity will be restored to all mankind. Thus it was that Jesus came to give life. But to a few, in all a “little flock,” to whom it is the Father’s “good pleasure to give the kingdom,” (Luke 12:32) will be given life “more abundantly,” that is, life on the divine plane—“glory and honor and immortality.”—Rom. 2:7

This “little flock” class are the ones Jesus referred to as being “born again.” The human race generally, during the millennial judgment day period, will simply be “regenerated” to life on the earth. (Matt. 19:28) But the footstep followers of Jesus will be “born again” on a higher plane of life—the highest of all planes of life, even the divine.

However, a misunderstanding has existed in that many have thought this new birth takes place now, in this life. This is a mistake. Concerning those who are born of the Spirit, Jesus said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”—John 3:8

In this text Jesus explains some of the characteristics of a spirit being; that is, a spirit being, like the wind, is invisible, yet powerful: so, he said, “is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Spirit birth, therefore, describes the great change which takes place when a Christian, in the resurrection, is given a “celestial,” or heavenly, body.—I Cor. 15:42-50

The misunderstanding on this subject has arisen through a failure to note that the Greek word gennoa, translated “born” in Jesus’ statement, “ye must be born again,” can also properly be translated “begotten.” In the Greek language there is just the one word for both begotten and born, and the meaning in any text in which it appears has to be determined from the subject matter under consideration. In Matthew 1:1-16 the word is used thirty-nine times, and in every instance is properly translated “begat.”

Paul wrote that “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature.” (II Cor. 5:17) This is true, but this “new creature” condition of the Christian, prior to the resurrection, is only in the begotten, or beginning stage. This “new creature” still has a fleshly body, so cannot come and go as the wind. It is not invisible. In the begotten stage, however, the new creature is nourished by the word of truth and thus prepared for birth in the resurrection. It is when this mortal puts on immortality that spirit birth takes place. Then, like Jesus after his resurrection, the new creature will be a spirit being, invisible and powerful.

The account of Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi is always interesting and inspiring. They had been severely beaten and cast into the inner dungeon of the prison, and their feet were locked in the stocks. It was, to say the least, a very unhappy situation in which to be, yet under these trying circumstances they “prayed and sang praises unto God.” (Acts 16:25) And they were loud enough in their praise for the other prisoners to hear them.

“Suddenly,” we read, “there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s hands were loosed.” (vs. 26) The keeper of the prison was awakened by the noise and commotion, and seeing what had happened, and supposing that all the prisoners had escaped, decided to take his own life rather than to face the wrath of his superiors.

But Paul cried to him, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” The keeper of the prison was greatly impressed. He knew that Paul and Silas were religious workers, and that they had been imprisoned because of their faithfulness to the God whom they served. Reason told him that their God had now intervened to rescue his servants from prison.

He was impressed, and inquired, “What must I do to be saved?” Whether the prison keeper was thus referring to eternal salvation or to avoiding punishment from his superiors for not properly guarding the prison, may be a question. In any event, Paul used the opening to tell him of the eternal salvation which could be had through Christ, saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” We are told that “they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” This was doubtless a full explanation of the Gospel, and the privilege of walking in the footsteps of Jesus. The prison keeper believed, and also his family, and were baptized that night. What a glorious experience for all concerned!

QUESTIONS

What is the difference between life, and the more abundant life?

Describe some of the qualities of those who are “born of the Spirit.”

What is the proper way of describing the new life of the Christian while he is still in the flesh?

What is a “new creature” in Christ Jesus?

Relate the circumstances leading up to the conversion of the keeper of the Philipplan prison.

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