Today, Tuesday July 27
“Born of God” 1 John 2:28-29 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
Three words that really help us to understand the reality of what it means to be a genuine authentic follower of Jesus Christ are found in these last two verses of 1 John 2. “Abide, appear and ashamed”. Remember John wants us to “know” that we have both sonship and fellowship with the Father.
The very last phrase of verse 29 is “born of Him”. What is interesting is that John uses this same phrase at least seven more times in this letter. And all seven times he says, “born of God.” If you go back to John’s Gospel, you will find that he uses the word “born” at least eighteen times. As I think of this, I believe John is making it very clear that there is only one way to “know” that you are in the family of God and can experience intimate fellowship with Him, and that is by being “born again.”
To come into existence as a human being into this world physically, you must be born into it by a father and a mother! Jesus makes it clear that to be in the family of God and enjoy this special relationship as a child of God, you must be “born again” spiritually by a heavenly Father. Let me remind you of a few verses in the Gospel of John.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
Jesus was having a conversation with a very religious man in John 3 about this same subject: Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 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?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8)
When we abide in Christ and He abides in us by His Holy Spirit, it is evident that we “have been born of God” into a new family! Because He lives in us and through us, we now can “practice righteousness”. In other words, we can consistently do what is right according to His Word in every situation and circumstance in life!
Has there ever been a time in your life that you were “born of God”? If not, why not come to the cross of Jesus Christ today and trust Him to be your personal Lord and Savior!
God bless!