2. When a man first came to the United States from Russia he was not prepared for the variety of instant products available in USA stores. He said, “On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk, where you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice, where you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, “What a country!”
3. But what about Christian Transformation, that people can change at salvation. Called repentance and renewal? When someone gives his or her life to Christ Jesus, there is an immediate, miraculous change in habits, attitudes, and character. A new birth, becoming a new creation!
4. There is no such instant powder that followers of Jesus Christ are instant perfect, but they are slowly change through many trials, suffering, and temptations. Why? Because true life change only begins at salvation, takes more than just time, is about training, trying. It is a new birth, a new start, new ways of living.
5. Salvation comes by this “new birth.” Jesus said “you must be born again.” I have 25 years experience of bring up three children. Each of our children had to learn, how to sit up, how to crawl, how to walk, and how to talk. Each had its ups and downs (more downs then up when learning to walk). Yet through the effect, sometimes pain each learnt to become adults.
6. It is the same through a “new birth” in Jesus Christ. We need again to learn to sit up, walk and talk again. I have seen drunken men walk straight and upright again after Jesus and salvation has changed their lives. Foul speaking fools; speak the wisdom of God, when their lives have been changed by Christ Jesus in His salvation.
7. Lives are changed, when salvation is accepted in the person of Jesus Christ. Some lives take on a new change overnight, others take a little longer. Yet when Jesus enters into the lives of men and women, EVERY life is changed! No other faith or religion in the world can truly change a man or woman for good so quickly.
8. Many, many men and women cry out “If only I could have a new start in my life.” Sadly many are just escapists in thinking a new life, a new marriage, new house, new car, new children or a new job will change life from bad to good. But the very habits that made that life unbearable will bring a new life into the same pit.
9. What we truly need in a new life is new habits, a new character change! Do you agree? Those habits are called “sin” in the bible, sadly there is NO POWER ON EARTH that can break those habits, wrong doing in word, thought or deed in your life or mine. So we are a people without hope! The bible says “ALL have sinned and fallen short.”
10. But, here is the “good news” called the “Gospel.” When you see a Christian church speaking about a “gospel meeting,” it is speaking about good news to those that will listen. There is no power on earth to change a man’s life. But, there is a POWER FROM ABOVE that can change the live of any and every man and woman who will accept it!
11. Here is the catch, for your life and my life to change. We must be “born again.” I MUST accept Jesus Christ as my help mate. I must follow Him, I must learn from Him, and He in turn will change my life around! Not only a new birth, a new start, but a new slate to write on. All out past wrongs (sins) are wiped away, because His love, grace and mercy has forgiven we from all my wrongs. I have a new start, a new life and a new heart, giving me a new character!
12. Now what must I do to know this “new birth”? It is nothing that you can do! No good works will be good enough, for you to earn this new birth, called salvation in the bible. No! Dear friend, God has done it all for you. God the Father sent His only Son to die the death of ALL sinners (those that have done wrong in word, deed or thought).
13. So what part do I have in this new birth? Only to believe that Jesus Christ bore away your sin (wrong choices) and then He will give you a new start, a new life! I come from a coastal area where I would expect to see life guards in the summer months to rescue those in danger of death, a cry for help was often acted upon and that person in danger was SAVED! A word often used in the bible. We are SAVED from our sins by Jesus Christ! He rescued me from my sin that leads to death and has given me a new life!
14. I will end now with a few bible verses that you can read. This is a simple message shared that all should understand. Yet only God Himself can give you true understanding. May H e open your eyes, heart and life to receive this new life? If we can help you e-mail Internetpreachersforchrist@gmail.com John 3:1-18; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:8; 1 John 4:10.
15. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' John 3:7 (NKJV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV) That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NKJV) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NKJV) Internetpreachersforchrist.co.uk