Life begins with a birth. Physical life begins with a birth; spiritual life also begins with a birth. We become members of the human family by birth; we become members of the family of God by birth—by being “born again.”
There is no way to get into the human family except by birth. There is no way to get into God’s family except by a new birth.
Education will not do it. Reformation will not do it. Joining a church will not do it. Trying to do your best will not do it. Turning over a new leaf will not do it. What is needed is not a new “leaf,” but a new “life.” You “must be born again” (John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)).
By physical birth we become partakers of the human nature. By being born again we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:44Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4)). The second birth is not an improvement of the old nature; it is the receiving of a new nature—entirely new.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:1717Therefore 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)). The old nature is unimproved and unimprovable in God’s sight; it is hopelessly bad and incapable of being made fit for the presence of God.
Christianity is not “religion.” Christianity is LIFE—the life of the Lord Jesus Christ given to us the moment we are born again. “He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:1212He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)), and “to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:2121For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)).
“Trying to follow Christ” is not Christianity. Christianity is not imitation of Christ; it is the indwelling of Christ. Christianity is not trying to do anything; it is trusting Christ who has done it all.
He finished the work of salvation, and there is nothing left to do—simply receive and trust Him who said, “It is finished”! He shed His blood on the cross, and the work is all done once and forever. Stop trying and begin trusting!
You are born again, you become a Christian, by trusting a person—receiving the person of Christ. The very moment you do this, the Lord Jesus Christ comes in, and life—His life—begins in you.
The important question then is: Have you been born again? The Lord Jesus says, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). Have you thus believed on the Lord Jesus? If so, then you are saved, you are born again, you have “passed from death unto life” —God says so! Take God at His word and go on your way rejoicing!