March 5, 2001 By Bishop LUCIANO MONTES Biblical Foundations for the New Believer Know Your New Life In Christ ""Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."" - 2nd Corinthians 5:17 Introduction Congratulations! We are are so happy to know that you are now a believer in Christ! This means that we are now brethren. When you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your one and only Lord and Savior, a miraculous thing occurred within you. Upon being baptized, you were born of the water and the Spirit. Now you are a child of God and a member of the family in the faith. In this great family you have many brothers and sisters throughout the whole world, and the life of a Christian is one of many blessings as well as many responsibilities. It is a blessing for us to have you become a member of our family, and we want to help you grow and become a responsible participant in this new life which you have just begun. Therefore, we have prepared a series of lessons. Each lesson is base on the Bible and it deals with an important aspect of Christian living. Without regard to Spiritual growth, the Bible is of the utmost importance. Thus, one must take advantage of every opportunity to read the Word of God, to study it, to memorize it, and to meditate on it. In Lesson 2 you will be learning more about the Bible, "the Word of God [which] is quick, and powerful,..."(Hebrews 4:12). In order to obtain the most out of this series of lesson, we suggest that you read each one three times. The first time that you read the lesson, try to do so without being interrupted so that you will be able to grasp the full impact of the teaching. As you read the material the second time, take time to meditate upon each detail, and look up and read the cited scriptures. Finally, the third time that you read the lesson, look for the answers to the questions which are found in the section entitled "A Time for Reflection". These questions are designed to help you apply the teachings to your new life. I. The Experience Of A New Birth ""... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God"." - John 3:5 A. Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. John 3:1-21, relates the story of the new birth of Nicodemus, a teacher and a member of the Jewish legislature. Nicodemus sought to see Jesus by night, probably because he wanted to avoid being seen by his friends, and associates. But whatever the reason for coming to see Jesus by night, it is evident and even though he was a religious teacher, Nicodemus felt an emptiness in his heart and an unabated appetite in his soul for spiritual things. Having heard about the miracles and signs that Jesus was doing, Nicodemus knew that God was with him so he wanted to get close to Him and learn more about Him. Jesus said to him:"... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). However, Nicodemus could not understand how a grown man could possibly be born again. Additionally, him must have asked himself what could possibly be the reason that a new birth was necessary. Undoubtedly, Nicodemus did eventually understand what Jesus was saying, because some time later we see that Nicodemus is defending Jesus before a group of chief priests and Pharisees. "Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?¹" (John 7:50,51 [NIV]). B. Why is it necessary to be born again? The answer to this question is found in the words spoken by Jesus: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". 1) Jesus is saying that a man¹s physical birth is not sufficient to be a part of God¹s kingdom. The mere fact that a person is alive does not make him or her a Christian. Had it been possible for man to be good as a result of his natural birth, then it would not have been necessary for Jesus Christ to give his life for us on the cross of Calvary. He came to the world because of the sinful condition of mankind. 2) Jesus draws a parallel between the spiritual experience and birth. When a child is born, we see in him the hope of a bright future. In like manner, when a person accepts the new birth, we see the hope of a new life in Christ, not only here on earth but also in the kingdom of heaven. 3) Jesus clearly said that man does not need a reformation, but a regeneration. Therefore, Nicodemus needed to be born again and experience a new life with a fresh start based on different principals. C. What constitutes a new birth? "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which 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) This clearly states that the new birth is not a natural process, but a spiritual one. The new birth is not accomplished by the will or whim of man, but by the Spirit of God. There are no unwanted children in God¹s spiritual family. Our father has included all of us in His plans. 1) Before there can be a new life, there must be a death of the old life. That is why it is necessary for all of us to repent of our sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22). John the Baptist preached the message of repentance in preparation for the Messiah who was to come and make things new. His message tells us that it is necessary that people confess their sins and turn from their wicked ways which have produced such misery and bondage ( Isaiah 55:7). Repentance is a complete turning around from sin, and a confession of our need for a savior. (Ezekiel 18:21,31). 2) After the death of our old lives, it is important to be baptized in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Often, in the scriptures, baptism was not expressed as an invitation, but as a commandment (Acts 2:38; 10:48). "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name"(Acts 22:16 [NIV]). 3) The significance of water baptism is found in the scriptures. a. Baptism is for the remission or washing away of sins. "...Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" - Acts 2:38 b. Baptism is the burial of the old life that died in repentance. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3). Therefore, you are "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12). c. Baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God ( Peter 3:21). Galatians 3:27 says that when we are baptized we have put on Christ, or taken on His Lordship and name. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 4) After the death of the old life through the repentance and burial of those sins in water baptism, the scene is set for resurrection of the new man. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4) D. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses..." (Acts 1:8). "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues" (Acts 2:1-4). This experience brought about a transformation in the lives of the disciples. No longer did they cower in fear of being apprehended and jailed by the authorities, but rather were bold witnesses and preachers of the gospel. Therefore, it is necessary that every believer seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. E. Seven Manifestations of the New Birth Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" - 2 Corinthians 5:17. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" - 1 John 5:13. 1) A sense of Forgiveness. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." - 1 John 2:1-2 2) A New Desire to Please God. "He that saith, I know him, and kept not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso kept his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." - 1 John 2:4-6 3) A New Attitude Towards Others. "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." - 1 John 3:10 4) A New Affection Toward the Brethern. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." - 1 John 3:14-16 5) A New Power Over Sin. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:8-9 6) A New Joy and Confidence. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." - 1 John 1:3-4 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." - 1 John 5:10 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:16-18 7) A New Experience in Prayer. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." - John 5:14,15 II. Advice For You To Unite With The Family Of God "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." - 1st John 1:7 At the very moment that you became a Christian, you were adopted into the family of God. Now you have all of God's children as part of your family. God loves you with the special love that he has for all those who love his Son Jesus. This family should worship God together and help each other, but this is not possible unless it is done on the basis of a local fellowship (Church). Even though you can love millions of people who belong to the family of God throughout the world, it is only through the local church that you can help and be helped by your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is for that reason that God has given us instructions to unite in local fellowship. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25 When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, there was the same problem that we have today. Some of the brethren were not attending church, and he was saying that this is dangerous. It is a dangerous because we are surrounded by people who have the things of this world as their objective. Their interest are in the world, while ours are for things in heaven. If a Christian spends most of his time with those who want to go their own way and who try to act in accordance with their own ideas about life, he will find it difficult to swim upstream. His enthusiasm for Christ will quickly be diminished and could even be destroyed. That is why God tells us to come together on a regular basis with other Christians to worship, to praise, and to study His Word. It is perilous to neglect this part of the discipline of Christian living. A hot coal left by itself away from the fire, soon will die out, but if there are several, the flame will become brighter, and could even cause the entire world to catch on fire. Thank you for joining us for the first of many chapters of Luciano Montes' book, Biblical Foundations for the New Believer. Bishop Montes is currently Secretary of Christian Education of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus. Read the rest of the Biblical Foundations book Did you like this book? Send your comments, staff@inspiredchristian.org. Home | Site News | Reviews | Churches | CyberReading | Bible College Copyright, Inspired Christian.org