Understanding The New Man: Part II

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

     "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

     Salvation is only through the "New Birth," not by any other means, keeping the law, being baptized, going to church or doing good works cannot save you! There is only One way and that is through the shed blood of Jesus, believing in His death, burial and resurrection that forgives all of our sins!

    One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews came out to Jesus to ask Him about His Teachings and said to Him, "We know you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old?

    Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said, "Are you a teacher of Israel and do not know these things?" This is because Nicodemus only knew about the old covenant, not knowing about the new covenant God was initiating! This is why Israel has to be saved just the same as the Gentiles!

     "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:5

 BORN OF THE SPIRIT

     "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6

     Nicodemus didn't understand the new birth, being under the law of the old covenant! Jesus was explaining how someone is born of the flesh but has to be born again to live forever in the Spirit. In order to be born again one must believe in Jesus, ask for forgiveness and repent of his sins!

    In essence Jesus was the first New Man, born of a virgin, living a sinless life and dying for all mankind. He was buried and resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit. From the resurrected life of the Lord Jesus came the new birth of the New Man! A chosen generation of people washed in new covenant blood, anointed with Holy Spirit power and crucified with Christ!

    We are born again as spiritual beings destined to rule and reign in the power of God's Holy Spirit, more than conquerors we have all authority over the powers of darkness and have spiritual giftings that heal, deliver, transform and bring about edification to other believers! Through the shed blood of Jesus, we have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed (transferred) into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

    And so, it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam (Jesus) became a life-giving Spirit. I Corinthians 15:45

 WE SHALL BEAR THE IMAGE OF JESUS

     The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from Heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. I Corinthians 15:47-49

     When we are born of the flesh, we inherit the characteristics and certain traits of our parents, so it is when we are born again, we inherit the characteristics and supernatural traits of Jesus. In other words, we are re-created in the image of Christ!

    As born-again new creations in Christ we become the supernatural representation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth! Vessels of honor who contain the Holy Spirit and have the vison and mission of Jesus with the mind and heart of God! From men and women of dust we through the divine metamorphosis become men and women supernaturally transformed into heavenly beings who become His body in the earth!

    Who could have ever dreamed of such a miraculous feat, to change human beings into heavenly ones? Only by the divine plans drawn from the vaults of heaven's splendor through the thoughts and visions of the Most High God could something so wonderful come forth!

     Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." I Corinthians 15:50-52

 Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ