A New Man in Christ Jesus
By: David McFadden
Giving Tribute to the Great Men and Women of God
“You must be born again.” — John 3:7
Regeneration is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to take heed that we really are “born again.” I have discovered that there are many who fancy they are saved, but who are not. Be assured that the name of a Christian is not the nature of a Christian. Being born in a Christian land, and professing the Christian religion is of no avail whatever because there is more to it.
The wonder of being “born from above,” is a matter so mysterious that human words cannot describe it. 1 Corinthians 2:7,8-10 tells us, “No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God— His plan (of Salvation) that was previously hidden, even though He made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.” That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit.”
The miracle of “spiritual rebirth” is found in regeneration, which is known and felt: known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural. It is not an operation which a man performs for himself. God infuses His Spirit, which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man. It is not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other.
If you have then, been “born again,” your acknowledgment will be, “Heavenly, everlasting Father, You are my spiritual Parent. Until Your Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ My heavenly life is wholly derived from You, in my Lord Jesus, and today I ascribe my life to You. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Heavenly Father, my life is hidden in Christ for Your glory.”
May the Lord enable us to be well assured on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope.
—Charles H. Spurgeon, adapted from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, Inc. All rights reserved.
Taking God’s Word Back to Him
Heavenly Father, thank You that I can have the assurance of salvation through the regenerative work done in me. I marvel at the mystery of Your Spirit working in me. Thank You for saving me from an eternity without You. You rescued me when I didn’t deserve it; I was still in the depths of sin. I am not the man/woman I used to be, but a new creation in Christ Jesus. Thank You for renewing my nature as only You can do. Heavenly, everlasting Father, You are my spiritual Parent. Until Your spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ My heavenly life is wholly derived from You, in my Lord Jesus, and today I ascribe my life to You. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. ‘Heavenly Father, my life is hidden in Christ for Your glory.’ I proclaim Your work of salvation in me in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Excerpted and adapted from David McFadden’s “Deeper Life Series”.
For more articles from this series go to: https://www.deeperlifeseries.com/devotional-archive
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