True Bible believing Christians are often referred to as “born again.” This name comes from Jesus’ own words to Nicodemus in John 3:3 “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Being born again means that we are made new. We are transformed and set free from the bondage to our old self. Change is part of what it means to truly be a Christian.
The Ephesian Christians were reminded that they “heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-24)
God instructed these new Christians saying:
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:25-32)
It is evident from this passage, which is just one of many, that change is part of being born again. The passage above concludes with the concept of forgiveness. We need Jesus for the very simple fact that “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Sin requires forgiveness, the kind that only Jesus can provide. Today there are many people who call themselves Christians or even “Great Christians” and yet in the same breath say that they don’t ask God for forgiveness and with great sinful pride declare that they “will never change.”
True Christians must change. We must seek forgiveness in order to be restored. To reject the need for forgiveness is indicative that one in not a Christian.
Change is difficult. There is an inertia to change that is part of our human nature. It is the reason we have such a hard time with working out. It is why we stay in safe places and don’t take risks. Yet, change for good and in particular the change brought on by an encounter and belief in Jesus Christ is a welcome change.
C.S. Lewis once said, “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”
To be born again is to be hatched to a new life in Christ. The wonderful thing about this life as a Christian is that while we are hatched and born as chic, with time God molds us and continues to transform us until one day we are able to fly and made perfect.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
We are being transformed daily until one day we are made perfect reflecting the very glory of God. For this we must be willing to change and accept God’s working in our lives until “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13-15)
Rev. Marcos O. Almonte is senior pastor at Brandywine Baptist Church, the oldest Baptist Church west of Philadelphia. Pastor Marcos is a graduate of Palmer Theological Seminary with more than 10 years working with families with an expertise in theology, trauma and addictions. Pastor Marcos and his wife Mary have three children, Carmen, Joseph, and Lincoln.
