THANKS TO GOD, YOU CAN START OVER!

B. Mills

We have all known, probably many times, wished that we could start over. We often know exactly where we got off the track, but, unfortunately, what has been done is history and there is no way that we can change it.

However, God has made a way that we can start life over again. The Bible calls it being born again. Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious leader of the Jews, John 3:5; also John 3:6-7, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This must have been a shock to Nicodemus, who was a leader among his own people. He was confident, as are many today, that he was right with God, but in reality, he did not even know about the Holy Spirit, and he had never been immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins. His parallel, would be a minister today who quotes John 3:16, another part of the same conversation a few verses further on. The “believes,” there means to believe with action. We are told elsewhere that even the demons believe, and they tremble, but they do not repent, and do not obey the command of Jesus to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,” (Matthew 28:19). Their destination is to be cast into Hell. Hell is God’s way of dealing with Satan and his demons, fallen angels. Mankind is a higher creation than angels, and heaven is made for people to be with God for ever. If, they do not go there is because of neglect and disobedience to Christ, to whom was given “All power in Heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18.

Paul assures us that God, who loves his creation, man, has made a way through Jesus for our preparation to live with Him. The answer is to be “in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (King James Version)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (Romans 16:7, John 3:3, Romans 6:4, Galatians 6:15, Isaiah 43:18+, Isaiah 65:17, Ephesians 4:24, Revelation 21:4+)

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (1 Corinthians 11:12, Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:20, 1 Corinthians 3:5)

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (Colossians 2:9, Romans 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:5)

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (Malachi 2:7, Ephesians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:20)

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (Acts 3:14, Hebrews 4:15)

God provided this means of access to Himself through Jesus Christ. His love is that great, but, as he pointed out to Nicodemus, we must be born again of water and the Spirit. Our faith must result in an obedient response.

Let us give praise to God. We can start over, we can be born again and make a complete change in our lives. That is God’s purpose for His church. It began with Peter preaching a salvation sermon answering their question, :”Men and brethren, what shall we do?” with Acts 2:38-39, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”