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).
Contrary to what many think, it doesn’t take much to be born again. All that’s required is to come into Christ. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” That’s all the sinner needs to do.
Once the sinner comes into Christ, suddenly, old things are passed away. The Bible doesn’t say he or she should try to change the old things. God isn’t waiting for sinners to change their old ways before coming to Him. If they could do that themselves, they wouldn’t need Jesus.
Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” How gracious the Lord is! We were reconciled to Him at a time we didn’t even know Him—while we were still enemies. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”
He loved us even when we were dead in sin: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Romans 4:4-5 shows us how this happened. It says, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Our God justifies the ungodly. 2 Corinthians 5:19 says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” This is the Gospel: it’s about Christ Jesus and His great love for all humanity! It’s about the eternal life and righteousness that He’s freely made available to all, which becomes a vital reality in the life of the one who accepts this truth by confessing the lordship of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I pray for the unsaved around the world, declaring open channels for the Gospel to reach and impact them today. Every resistance is broken and they receive the truth with understanding, and embrace your Word for their salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
|| 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. ||
|| Colossians 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: ||
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 9:18-38 & Genesis 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 5:31-40 & Genesis 12 3
We trust you have been blessed by this devotional. We invite you to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life by praying thus:
“O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He’s alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I’m born again. Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! I’m now a child of God. Hallelujah!”