Born of the Gospel

When looking at biblical genealogies, we make the search with one reason in mind; to track the Messiah which was to come into the world. Matthew begins his gospel with this in mind, showing the generations from Abraham, through David, ultimately leading the Jesus Christ. What great way to begin the book, knowing the historical importance of Abraham and David as it relates to being individuals who were children of the Most High God in heaven, and men who promises were made unto. All month long we have been discussing what it means to be Born of God, and this one must conclude that this rebirth comes through the obedience of the gospel. In realizing the relationship of Christ to Abraham, we read that a blessing would come to all nations through his seed (Genesis 22:17-18). The reader then realizes the seed in this context was not Abraham’s progeny, Isaac, for the same promise was reiterated to Isaac a few chapters later (Genesis 26:4 cf. Galatians 3:16). The explanation is that Abraham became the father of many nations by his example of faith and that Christ descended from this man’s lineage according to the flesh in order to fulfill the promise of God. Furthermore, we read about the relationship between Jesus Christ and David, the great king of Israel, who God assured by covenant that a seed would come from him that would set up the house of the Lord and have a kingdom established which has no end (2 Samuel 7:12-14). The scripture teaches that Solomon’s kingdom certainly came to and end, but the everlasting kingdom would come through Jesus Christ. Imagine how the audience of Paul felt when stringing these very points together in the synagogue when given the opportunity to preach the word. The speaker refers to the men as “stock of Abraham,” and declares the scriptures fulfillment through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which proves He was begotten of God (Acts 13:1-41 cf. Psalm 2:7). To confirm the proposed idea of our rebirth connecting to our reception and obedience of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul states, “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).

Born of the Word

God has always wanted mankind to have an appreciation for His word, due to its significance and endurance. Therein, He created the means for rebirth and salvation. As we place a spotlight on its endurance, we surely remember the words of the prophet, Isaiah, and reiterated by Peter, which states, “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever” Isaiah 40:6-8, 1 Peter 1:24). The relevance this has for us can be found in the preceding verse which states, “…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and birds forever…” (v. 23). Not only will God’s word continue you in perpetuity, but all mankind has the ability to be born again and made new by this very word. Hence, we must keep a proper perspective of the scriptures, giving ourselves over to reading and studying so that we can know the will of the Lord. Peter emphasizes its importance by explaining the word’s value over that of silver and gold. From a secular worldview, we understand the importance of the material good, as it can be used in merchandise and trade, but from a spiritual perspective, the word of God has the power to accomplish much more than what material could ever. It is imperative that we believe on Jesus Christ, as the Word that became flesh, because of who he was sent from and the power of His words. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Our obedience to the will of God through his word and Son, Christ Jesus, we have an opportunity to live and abide forever through the wonderful hope committed to us!

Born of the Spirit

We have to appreciate the humility of Nicodemus, for when questions arose of what was being taught by Jesus Christ, he availed himself for further study and discussion of God’s will. As he speaks with the Messiah when coming to him by night, Jesus teaches, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” and “Most assuredly, 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 flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit” (John 3:3-6). This statement certainly confounded Nicodemus, when it should have resonated with the knowledge he would have possessed being a teacher in Israel. The question that inevitably arises from Christ’s statements is, “What does it mean to be born of the spirit?” The New Testament unveils this information when deduced properly. In the immediate context, Jesus explains that one must be born again, and conjoins the water birth to that of a spirit birth (v. 5 cf. Titus 3:5). When the apostle, Paul, writes to the church in Galatia, he shows through the story of Abraham, God’s intent to have children born or the spirit and born according to the promise. “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now” (Galatians 4:28-29). What Paul is explaining is the process in which those early disciples were being mistreated due to their obedience to God, through the allegory of Ismael and Isaac. We ultimately gain the understanding that God gave the promise of the blessing of an everlasting covenant to and through a specific seed, which would come through Isaac. This seed is Jesus Christ, and those who believe on him, and are baptized into him, are those who are not only born of water, but also of the Spirit (Galatians 3:16, 26-29, Romans 8:1-11). 

Born of God

Little effort is needed for one to say that he or she identifies as a Christian. In a country where our religious liberties are still supported, there is little resistance if one makes this bold proclamation of faith. But as we search the scriptures, we quickly glean that the great God of heaven is not much interested in our lip service or self identification with Christ, but rather our obedience to Him. Isaiah brings this point into focus as he prophesies against Judah and Jerusalem during the divided kingdom (Isaiah 29:13). God desires our obedience, just as a father to his children. In this same vein, if we our children of Jehovah, the logical necessity would yield that we must have been born of Him. In other words, we need not fall for the traps of the world, which purports that individuals can belong to or be born of God after the teachings of men, or by some other means than what is taught in the scriptures. Many suppose to belong to Christ and his Father, but simply have not received him the way the Bible describes. In the gospel book of John, the writer explains, “He cam to his own, and his own did not receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13). This text, like others, explains that in order to be children of God, we must believe on His son, and hold the proper reception of him. This, of course, cannot be limited to a lip-service form of belief, but one that moves us to receive Christ’s words and keep his commandments (John 14:15). Additionally, by receiving Christ, this indicates that the believer has received His Father (Matthew 10:40 cf. John 12:44-45 cf. 1 John 5:1). The scriptures show that we are in one of two categories: born of God, or born of the wicked one, so we must be diligent to ensure we are of the right seed (John 8:37-47). 

Pursuing Love

When scheduling maintenance, one of the least expensive, yet most critical elements for a proper functioning vehicle is the engine’s oil. What oil is to the vehicle is what love is to the Lord’s church. If it were not so, there would not be frequent mentions of our love towards God and one another embedded in the scriptures. Let’s consider the commandment Paul gives to the church in Corinth, when amid the desire to see the spiritual gifts given unto the church in the first century, the apostle implores the church to maintain the proper perspective and prioritization in its pursuit. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). When reading and studying through this passage, one must understand that Paul’s thought commences at the beginning of chapter 12 and runs to the end of 14. During such, we see the Holy Spirit through the hand of Paul explain some key points of the pursuit of love. Initially, He shows the reader that having love is an element, like faith and hope, to the “more excellent way” to be soon addressed (12:31). The author also teaches that this ‘oil’ will have a sustaining factor; that it will continue and exist in perpetuity among the saints (13:8). Additionally, what the reader should take away from this passage is that Christian love will be crucial to ‘that which is perfect’ or complete that was soon to come into fruition (13:10). Finally, of all that is described of this love, one can conclude that the love of the Christian has the power to build one another up (13:4-7 cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1). When considering all that the apostles and prophets wrote and taught about love, from John’s consistent explanation to Jesus’s highest form of love shown at the cross, the Christian must mold his or her pursuit around this esteem and affection so that we may be the glorious church that God intended. With knowing all this, we should keep in mind that pursuing and commending our love towards one another takes work, but this work will not be forgotten in the sight of God (Hebrews 6:10).  

The Pursuit of Peace

When we think about our status in Christ and the commonality we share with our Christian brethren, it is evident that this relationship and bond is like no other. In its proper context, we understand that our communion and fellowship in the Lord is superior to our working relationships, neighborhood friendships, and at times even our physical families according to the flesh for we are to be unified in living for peace (Ephesians 4:3). Throughout scriptures, God’s desired peace from His people. Meditate on what the Psalmist writes, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). Additionally, we read, “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalm 120:7). It is inevitable that in this life we may be met with resistance when standing up for and living for the truth. Despite what may befall us or present themselves as hardships and tribulation, we must be of the ready to pursue, seek and speak peace. You may recall when the children of Israel were heading to Canaan’s conquest and would also be met with the opposition of the enemy. God instructed His children, through His man Moses, to declare peace unto the various nations as they traveled (Deuteronomy 20:10-11). Though the instruction was to declare peace, certain nations took exception to the Israelites requesting passage through their lands (Numbers 21:21-30). What we glean from this precedent is though we may have to engage with the enemy or opposition in this life, we should be represent peace. Christ instructed the twelve to go to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’ to preach of the kingdom of heaven and to bring salutations of peace (Matthew 10:5-15 cf. Luke 10:1-17). If they were not to receive peace, he does not instruct them to fight, but rather to shake the dust from their feet and keep moving. Finally, we see this exhortation of a peaceful pursuit repeated from the the Hebrews writer, “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). What sobering words to know that the pursuit of peace is a prerequisite for us to one day behold the beauty and majesty of Christ upon his return and be granted an entrance into heaven’s eternal glory! 

The Pursuit of Righteousness

The pursuit for the followers of Jesus Christ in this life is multifaceted. What we will first set out to explore is the pursuit of righteousness, which in definition, is to do what is right or what God requires. According to Peter, we are looking for the promise to those who strive toward the goal of righteousness in the new heaven and new earth, which is the new home being set up for the Christian (2 Peter 3:13). The major portion of this pursuit is to ensure that we are hastening toward the righteousness of God, and not of man, by faith in His word. Paul explains that Israel struggled to grasp this concept when writing to the church in Rome. “…but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone” (Romans 9:31-32). Not only should we be pursuing the righteousness of God by faith, but we must put this pursuit to practice, for that is how we prove to be born of God. John writes, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29 cf. 3:7, 3:10). To practice is simply to do, make or perform in this act. Finally, in our pursuit and practice, we must be producers of righteousness. It is certain that the true source is the great God of heaven, as James refers to those ‘good and perfect gifts come down from the Father above,’ but he also states just a bit later, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20). On other words, this life will have its trials, tribulations, and even temptations that we must endure and over come. In so doing, God has given us the ability to accomplish with a sense of thoroughness and bring about the righteousness He intended among men. Despite the persecution that may come, we must pursue, practice and produce a godly righteousness, so in turn, we may be effective preachers of this very state of living! 

The Christian Pursuit

A certain rejoicing takes place when a soul puts on Christ that is like no other. A feel of comfort and relief settles in perhaps to the new believer and those believing witnesses alike, due to the understood promise that God has towards all of his children (Titus 1:2). But then a question generally arises; what’s next? What is the new focus for the one newly added to Christ’s body? What is the goal or what is the pursuit of such a one? The ubiquitous answer to all Christians should be the entrance in to heaven’s eternal glory on that last day, but what about the in between? The New Testament spells out how we should live out our lives and ultimately what our pursuit in Christ Jesus should be through commandments of our Savior and the teachings and examples of some of the early disciples. Paul writes, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The very word ‘press’ in this texts means to hasten, run after, or strive toward a goal. In other words, the apostle has set his life on course to ‘pursue on with a purpose’ toward the goal and prize that God has set forth for Christians. Hopefully scriptures such as this motivate us to not remain stagnant once in the faith, but ever eager to stretch ourselves towards what God has in store for us in the hereafter. The writer likely had in mind the importance of leaving certain things behind when it comes to his station in Christ Jesus. Even the Hebrews writer explains, “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my should has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38). We also find a commandment of God to ‘not look back’ given to Lot and his family when entering into Zoar (Genesis 19:17). Jesus himself references this story when speaking to the Pharisees about the coming of his kingdom (Luke 17:32). Thus, it is vital for us to use examples and follow the commandments given to us so that we may pursue the heavenly goal and those things that will carry us toward that goal in this life!