What Happens At Salvation!?!

By Pastor Tim Hodge

Discipleship Lesson 1

In John 3:3b Jesus said, “…I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (NIV). So, have you ever given much thought to this “being born again” thing? Is it just an aspect of joining a church or going to the front and talking to the minister? Is it a pivotal experience in life or just another moment? Consider for a moment the day you born naturally. When you came out of the womb it was a pretty big day for you, your parents, and other family members. It was so important that you celebrate that day for the rest of your life. It is truly a momentous occasion. Your birthday can be look at as the single most important day of your life.

With that in mind we have to contemplate the words of Jesus concerning this “second birth.” If our natural birthday is important then surely our second birth has to rank even higher than that because it is the one that will have eternal value. That phrase “born again” in its original language implies, “being born from above.”

I would like to take a few moments to compare and contrast the natural birth and the rebirth from above.

COMPARISON:

THE NATURAL (FIRST) BIRTH:

Dependence

Natural: when we bring a baby home from the hospital we don’t just bring it home and set it on the living room floor and let it fend for itself.

i. Feedings: these babies are dependent for someone to feed them..

ii. Diapers: these little babies do some pretty bad jobs that have to be cleaned up. They will definitely use our olfactory senses to discern something isn’t right and it needs to be fixed.

Proper Nourishment

These babies can’t eat the same thing mom, dad, and older siblings eat. They require special food, special attention, and special preparation.

They have to be taught how to act.

“No, no!” Are two of the most important words babies must learn. These two words are right up there with “I love you” and “good boy” or “good girl.” We must reinforce what is right AND what is wrong.

Growth

There must be a proper growth rate in a child. One of the reasons for the early checkups of babies and toddlers is to be sure they are growing properly. Where there is improper growth there may be serious health conditions.

SPIRITUAL RE-BIRTH (the second birth):

1. Dependence. People who are born again are spiritual babies and are dependent as are natural babies. Whether a new Christian is 8 years old or 80 years old they will need proper care for they are new babies in the kingdom of God.

a. Feedings: new converts have to be taught the importance of being fed from the Word of God. Without this they die.

b. Diapers: new converts are not perfect. The do “bad jobs” sometimes. Galatians tells the spiritually mature to “restore” fellow Christians when they fall or mess up. Yep, we change spiritual diapers.

2. Proper Nourishment

a. Spiritual babies can choke on weighty spiritual food as much as a new born can choke on a French fry. They have to be “discipled” and built up in the deeper things of God.

3. Taught How To Act

a. People who are just born again have to be taught, by the Bible not by tradition, how to conduct themselves as becoming to the Kingdom of God.

4. Grow Up

a. There should be continual maturity in the Kingdom of God. If a new convert isn’t growing in the things of God then that should be a trouble sign to those appointed to watch over their souls.

CONTRASTING

THE NATURAL (FIRST) BIRTH:

Death. When born into this life we are automatically dying. Millions of cells in our bodies are dying and being replaced on a daily basis.
Self. Little babies aren’t crying because mom and dad are running short on money or because an abortionist is killing other babies. Babies cry because they are concerned only with their own immediate needs: a bottle or a diaper change. Babies are self-centered.
Slow maturity. Think of the number of years it takes a person to come to their full stature. 18 years or so.
Depression. Babies are born into a world that is primarily immersed in depression. Anti-depressants are one of the most prescribed drugs in America today.
Debt. Babies are born into a world of debt. Babies in the U.S. automatically inherit a multi-trillion dollar deficit. Mom and dad may even bring the baby home and place it in a crib that isn’t even paid off on the Master Card yet.
Anxiety. Stress is flooding our society. Who would have ever thought Americans would have to invent a term like “road rage”? That is only coming about because people are snapping under the anxiety found in our world.
Sin. Babies are born with the element of sin in their lives.
Hell. Babies are born with hell as their eternal home of punishment unless the grace of God intervenes in their lives.
Hate. Our world is riddled with hate bullets. Kids killing kids in schools and on street corners. Ethnic groups hating their neighbors and attempting to “purge” the earth of their presence.
Evil. Like it or not children are born evil. There is a sense of innocence in little babies. However, there is a seed of evil waiting to flourish. When they get old enough to break something of mom and dad’s they often lie during the initial interrogation. Why? Not because they just want to avoid punishment, but because the nature inside of them wants to deny the truth.

SPIRITUAL RE-BIRTH (the second birth)

    1. Life. (contrasted to death) At the moment one becomes born again they experience the supernatural life of God coming into them.
    2. Others. (contrasted to self) At the moment one becomes born again there is an inherent desire to be selfless in leading others to new life.
    3. Accelerated Growth Rate. (contrasted to slow maturity) The more you want the faster you grow in God’s kingdom. There are some
        Christians who have been saved for two years and are more mature than some Christians who have been saved for twenty years.
    4. Joy. (contrasted to depression) When a person is born again a supernatural essence of joy comes into their life. The situations around them
        may remain the same, but there is an energizing source of joy which comes from the Holy Spirit.
    5. Kingdom Bank. (contrasted to debt) All spiritual blessings are laid up for us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Heaven’s streets are paved
        with gold. You are re-born into a kingdom of wealth.
    6. Peace. (contrasted with anxiety) Peace is a tranquilizing. It is an aspect of the Kingdom of God.
    7. Righteousness. (contrasted to sin) At new birth God’s washes away our sin. Righteousness can be looked at as right standing with God.
    8. Heaven. (contrasted with hell) Heaven will be our eternal home… paradise.
    9. Love. (contrasted to hate) When reborn a person is moved by the love of God. The love of God sees no difference in class, color, or gender.
    10.    Good. (contrasted to evil) When reborn it becomes the innate nature of the Christian to do good, do right, and operate in benevolence.

MADE BRAND NEW AT SALVATION

Titus 2:11-3:7, KJV

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (v12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (v13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (v14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (v15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (3:1) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (v2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. (v3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (v4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (v5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (v6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (v7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (emphasis mine)

The words in bold faced type in this passage needs special attention. The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. The word “regeneration” means “to put back into its pristine condition.” When a person is born again the Holy Spirit washes them in the blood of Jesus. There is a spiritual transaction that takes place. When the person is “baptized into the blood of Jesus” this word “regeneration” implies they are made completely new. With our sins we may have looked like a charcoal briquette. We are nasty and smutty. However, when we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the blood of Jesus we are brought out looking like a clean, white cotton puff.

FREE FROM THE POWER OF SIN

Matthew 26:27-28, KJV

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

This word “remission” in the Greek text is the word “aphesis” and it is defined as, “freedom from the power of sin, but not from the presence of sin.”

At salvation the blood of Jesus is applied to your life and at that point that same blood not only washes away your sin, but delivers you from the power of sin. That does not mean you will not be tempted. The definition implies freedom from the power of sin, but not from the presence of sin. Temptation will definitely makes itself available, but if you concentrate on the available power of the blood of Jesus in your life you will realize your FREEDOM in Christ Jesus.

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