The Joys of Springtime Rebirth
Introduction. Spring is returning to the Rockies where I live. The grass is starting to turn green, the birds are starting to return, and the refreshing smell of rain fills the air. Of course, spring in the Rockies means I'm writing this while 8 to 12 inches of snow is predicted for today. But that will be followed quickly with more warmth, sprouting trees, and flowering plants. After a long, cold winter, most people look forward to nature's "rebirth" and renewal. It is silent testimony to the power and wisdom of the Creator who originally spoke everything into existence and pronounced it as "very good" (Gen. 1:31).
It is also a silent reminder of the joys of spiritual "springtime rebirth" that we can experience after a long, cold period of spiritual "winter". Let's look at three of these as revealed in the scriptures.
The New Birth. John 3 captures an interesting, night discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus, a notable Pharisee and member of the Jewish Sanhedrin council. During the conversation, Jesus confuses him with a declaration that continues to confuse many people today – ". . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God . . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, 5). Based on other scriptures related to the kingdom and becoming saved, we understand this to be equivalent to submitting to Holy Spirit-inspired commands to be immersed in water in order to have the forgiveness of sins (this must be accompanied by faith, repentance, and confession of Jesus' deity). Like the cleansing and refreshing rain of spring, all sins we have committed along with their guilt, shame, and regret can be washed away by the cleansing blood of the sinless Son of God in the symbolic act of baptism.
Ongoing Renewal. The fresh start given by the "new birth" is just the beginning. As Rom. 6:4 says, we "should" walk in newness of life. The problem is that what we should be doing as faithful Christians and what we actually do often diverge. Simply speaking, Christians sin from time to time, and the chilling cold of a dark winter returns. But forgiveness and the warmth of fellowship with God is just around the corner if we will only repent and confess our sin. God is gracious to forgive us, but it requires action on our part.
The Final Rebirth. If we have experienced the "new birth" to become saved initially, if we continue afterward to keep His commandments, and if we continue to seek "renewal" when we sin & repent, then we can look forward with hope to a final "rebirth" in the great resurrection when Jesus returns. Our frail, disease-prone bodies will be changed instantly into an incorruptible form suitable for spending eternity in the springtime-like bliss of Heaven with God.
Conclusion. Are you living in a spiritual winter, walking in darkness and the cold of being separated from the warmth and sunshine of the Son? Or having once experienced the new birth, have you sinned, not yet repented, and experienced a sudden "snow storm" & return back to the cold? In physical nature, winter will eventually yield to spring regardless of what we do. But in spiritual nature, winter will only yield to spring when we humbly obey God's commandments. What season are you in?
It is also a silent reminder of the joys of spiritual "springtime rebirth" that we can experience after a long, cold period of spiritual "winter". Let's look at three of these as revealed in the scriptures.
The New Birth. John 3 captures an interesting, night discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus, a notable Pharisee and member of the Jewish Sanhedrin council. During the conversation, Jesus confuses him with a declaration that continues to confuse many people today – ". . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God . . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, 5). Based on other scriptures related to the kingdom and becoming saved, we understand this to be equivalent to submitting to Holy Spirit-inspired commands to be immersed in water in order to have the forgiveness of sins (this must be accompanied by faith, repentance, and confession of Jesus' deity). Like the cleansing and refreshing rain of spring, all sins we have committed along with their guilt, shame, and regret can be washed away by the cleansing blood of the sinless Son of God in the symbolic act of baptism.
- "‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'" (Acts 22:16)
- "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:3-4)
- "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:9-11)
Ongoing Renewal. The fresh start given by the "new birth" is just the beginning. As Rom. 6:4 says, we "should" walk in newness of life. The problem is that what we should be doing as faithful Christians and what we actually do often diverge. Simply speaking, Christians sin from time to time, and the chilling cold of a dark winter returns. But forgiveness and the warmth of fellowship with God is just around the corner if we will only repent and confess our sin. God is gracious to forgive us, but it requires action on our part.
- "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 1:5 – 2:6)
The Final Rebirth. If we have experienced the "new birth" to become saved initially, if we continue afterward to keep His commandments, and if we continue to seek "renewal" when we sin & repent, then we can look forward with hope to a final "rebirth" in the great resurrection when Jesus returns. Our frail, disease-prone bodies will be changed instantly into an incorruptible form suitable for spending eternity in the springtime-like bliss of Heaven with God.
- "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. . . . For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. . . . Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. . . . The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. . . . And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. . . . " (1 Cor. 15:22-53)
Conclusion. Are you living in a spiritual winter, walking in darkness and the cold of being separated from the warmth and sunshine of the Son? Or having once experienced the new birth, have you sinned, not yet repented, and experienced a sudden "snow storm" & return back to the cold? In physical nature, winter will eventually yield to spring regardless of what we do. But in spiritual nature, winter will only yield to spring when we humbly obey God's commandments. What season are you in?
- "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:57-58)