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Salvation
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THE BELIEVERS CONGREGATION
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FRANK TURNER
MINISTRIES
“WHAT YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR”
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What It Means to Be Born Again
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).
There are several promises of the new birth in Christ that are summed up in Paul’s statement. He tells us that a person in Christ is "…a new creature…" and that "…old things are passed away…" and that "…all things are become new."
The assurance of these statements is that being "born again" (John 3:3, 5, 7) is much more than the adoption of a religious practice; it is secured by God Himself; and it involves a real and substantial change in your entire being.
Let’s consider the promises of what it means to be a "new creature."
The "new creature" is better translated: "new creation." Believers in Christ are actually a new creation. God actually takes you as the person you were from your first "natural" birth and then "re-creates" you through the spiritual new birth of faith in Christ. This means there are dramatic differences.
First of all, a born again person will not only see, but enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5), while the unregenerate, unsaved, unbeliever (one who has not been born again) cannot enter into or even see the kingdom of God but instead faces eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
The "new creation" of a born again person has been taken from death in trespasses and sins and made alive (Ephesians 2:1).
A born again person has been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
A born again person has been sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). And the gift of the Holy Spirit is merely the "earnest" or down-payment of an inheritance for the born again person that is unchanging, pure and unfailing (1 Peter 1:4).
So you see there are many real, tangible and substantial changes that are involved in being a new creation. These are not things that occur merely as a consequence of sitting in church, or making up one’s mind to be different or becoming "religious." Christianity is merely a religion, BUT THE REALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS BEING IN CHRIST!
To truly grasp the idea of a born again "new creation," you must look at the difference between a caterpillar and a butterfly.
The caterpillar is fuzzy, has a long body with many legs built to be earthbound and has no hope of flight. But it reaches a point when it is ready to be "born again," and is secluded and separated from the other caterpillars and is wrapped in the mysterious world of a cocoon.
A transformation happens in the cocoon and the caterpillar is changed inside and out. When it emerges, it is no longer a caterpillar at all, but is now a butterfly. This new creature is different in every way: it is sleek and aerodynamic; it has beautiful wings and is specifically designed for flight.
This new creature, this butterfly is certainly not a caterpillar that has "gotten religion" and it’s not a caterpillar that has decided to turn its life around and it is not a caterpillar that has merely decided that the time has come to live a butterfly lifestyle! This butterfly is a former caterpillar that is now an entirely NEW CREATURE!
This physical transformation I have described mirrors the spiritual transformation described by the prophet Ezekiel to the nation of Israel about the new birth of the New Covenant.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:24-27).
Just like the caterpillar, God takes the person in their natural state. They have a body and soul that are definitely "earthbound." In our natural state we love the lusts of the flesh and to satisfy every sinful and carnal desire of the flesh. We love to smoke, drink, intoxicate ourselves, fornicate and disobey God with every form of infidelity, adultery, deceit and covetous greed. We entertain ourselves with movies, music and TV shows heavily themed with murder, prostitution, homosexuality, illicit sexual activity and violence. We are unforgiving, selfish, obsessive and impatient.
But one day, we reach a point when we have the desire to be "born again." We realize that the way we’ve been living is really not "living" at all, but a walking death in our sins and trespasses.
Ezekiel describes how God takes us away and separates us from the other "caterpillars" and sprinkles the clean water of His life-giving word to cleanse our thinking and turn us away from false gods and filthy living. He performs heart surgery upon us and removes the old wicked desires and feelings and replaces them with a new heart that loves Him and desires to serve Him. With the new spirit of God within us, we now desire to walk in His statutes and follow His commandments to love.
We emerge from the "cocoon" of His care by and through the faith that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord and that He was crucified for our sickness and sins and raised from the dead and by His sacrifice we are justified (considered righteous) before God and healed of every affliction.
And as we emerge, we are born again! We are new creatures! We are new creations of God with new hearts, new spirits, new desires, and new positions with God as temples of His Holy Spirit who are sealed to receive an eternal inheritance from Him! Hallelujah!
Friends, right now, place your belief and commitment where God judged your sickness and sin: at the cross of Christ! If you can and will confess (agree) openly, unashamedly and truthfully right now that Jesus is your Lord and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead because He has paid your penalty for sin in full, then you will be saved! (Romans 10:9-10, 4:23-35)
The heart in which you believe unto salvation is the new heart Ezekiel promised you as a basic element of the new covenant of the new birth! Glory! You’ve been born again!
But even as a butterfly, you can still be aware of the shadow of your old caterpillar memories, former desires and tendencies of the past. Transformation will begin to take place by the renewing of your mind. You must learn how to fly and experience the joy of soaring as the new creature God has made you rather than returning to your old caterpillar ways.
You now have victory over sin and death, over lusts and desires of the flesh, over habits, addictions and strongholds! You are no longer a slave to sin but rather, one who can soar above it on godly wings made specifically for your new birth!
YOU ARE A NEW CREATION! HALLELUJAH! AMEN!
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Upcoming Events
Thursday, February 23
- The Believers Bible Study
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The Bible Study of the Believers Congregation of Frank Turner Ministries is a unique and wonderful interactive session of teaching, discussion and questions and answers. Bring your questions concerning grace, salvation, communion and healing and join us!
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