“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1Peter 1:3 ESV)

Often there are questions about being “ born again.” We can simply look at Nicodemus, who questioned Jesus, “Truly, truly, 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? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:3-6) Born of flesh is not born again. We are born again when we come to faith in Christ as our Savior. It is then the Holy Spirit indwells us. The Holy Spirit lives in us and we are reborn by the Spirit.

When Christ was crucified, the gate to heaven was opened for those who believe in Him. At the time even the spirits entombed and sleep were release from their rest and seen in Jerusalem. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:50-53) The cross is where the Christ gave up his life having paid for the world’s sin. While Jesus uttered Tetelestai (τετέλεσται), it is finished, the true power of the resurrection shook Satan and the pits of hell with fear and terror.

It was prophesied by Isaiah who wrote, “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.” (25:8) Despite the disbelief, reproach, and persecution of Christ, He opened the door to heaven in His resurrection. It is where we find hope and assurances that despite our defiled nature, we can be saved. We can be resurrected. Just as Christ raised Himself from the grave, so too can He raise us. The power of the resurrection cannot be overcome by man, nor the enemy for those who by grace, have come to faith in Christ Jesus as their Savior.

Without Christ, I am nothing. With Christ I have been given the keys to heaven and my Savior dwells within me. The power of the resurrection has dismissed the old man of the world and given birth to an adopted child of God. Paul, a model for each of us in faith said about the resurrection, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:10-12)

If you do not know Christ as your Savior seek Him today. If you do know Him as your Savior, live as Paul spoke, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but press on to make it your own, because Christ Jesus has made you his own.” (emphasis mine)

In the name of Christ, I pray that if you come to In Messiah you will come to seek and know Christ.

If you have questions about Jesus and salvation, contact us here, we can point you to the Scriptures that will show you the truth of the good news of Jesus, the Euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον), the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God.

Grace and Peace!