From Religion to Transformation: The Journey of New Birth
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound distinction between being merely religious and being truly born again. The religious person, while aware of moral rights and wrongs, remains oblivious to the deeper spiritual reality that the New Testament refers to as "the world." This world is not the physical universe but rather a mindset and lifestyle that operates independently of God. It encompasses both what society deems good and bad, yet it is fundamentally devoid of divine influence. The devil, described as the god of this world, can even encourage moral behavior if it keeps individuals away from Christ.
Being born again, however, transforms one's perception. It opens spiritual eyes to see the world for what it truly is—a temporary, deceptive facade that ultimately offers nothing of eternal value. This new birth brings a shift in desires and affections. The born-again believer begins to lose their taste for worldly things, not through forced abstinence but through a genuine change of heart. This transformation is marked by a growing distaste for the world's values and a deep-seated hatred for the sin that separates us from God.
Moreover, the born-again individual experiences a profound sense of deliverance. Though still in the world, they are no longer of it. They have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. This awareness of deliverance is accompanied by a new understanding of sin—not merely as a legal transgression but as a personal offense against a loving Father. This leads to true repentance, characterized by a heartfelt sorrow for sin and a desire to turn away from it.
Ultimately, the journey of being born again is one of continual growth in grace. It involves a deepening hatred for the world and its values, a growing love for God, and a reliance on His grace. It is a journey marked by the realization that we are nothing without Christ and that our only hope and foundation is in Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding the World: The world, as described in the New Testament, is a mindset and lifestyle that operates independently of God. It includes both good and bad as defined by society but lacks divine influence. This understanding is crucial for recognizing the spiritual battle we face. [15:40]
2. Transformation Through New Birth: Being born again transforms our perception of the world. It opens our eyes to see its temporary and deceptive nature, leading to a genuine change in desires and affections. This transformation is not forced but is a natural result of the new life within us. [20:41]
3. Deliverance from the World: The born-again believer experiences a profound sense of deliverance from the world's influence. Though still in the world, they are no longer of it, having been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. This deliverance is a key aspect of the new birth. [30:21]
4. True Repentance: True repentance involves a heartfelt sorrow for sin, not merely as a legal transgression but as a personal offense against a loving Father. This leads to a desire to turn away from sin and a deeper reliance on God's grace. [36:00]
5. Growth in Grace: The journey of being born again is one of continual growth in grace. It involves a deepening hatred for the world's values, a growing love for God, and a reliance on His grace. This growth is marked by the realization that we are nothing without Christ. [44:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [13:10] - The Religious Man's Awareness
- [13:52] - Love Not the World
- [15:08] - Born Again and Spiritual Insight
- [16:47] - The Comprehensive Term "World"
- [18:29] - The Devil's Influence
- [19:35] - Overcoming the World
- [20:41] - New Eyes and Understanding
- [22:17] - Vanity Fair
- [23:40] - Losing Taste for the World
- [25:17] - The Change in Disposition
- [26:06] - Hatred of the World
- [28:06] - Consciousness of Deliverance
- [31:08] - Temptation vs. Sin
- [36:35] - Changed Relationship to the World
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1 John 2:15-17
1 John 5:4
Galatians 1:3-4
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 John 2:15-17, what are the characteristics of "the world" that believers are warned against loving? How does this relate to the sermon’s description of the world? [13:52]
2. In 1 John 5:4, what is said to overcome the world, and how does this connect to the concept of being born again as discussed in the sermon? [14:50]
3. How does Galatians 1:3-4 describe the deliverance that believers experience, and how is this deliverance reflected in the sermon’s message about being born again? [28:38]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the difference between a religious person and someone who is truly born again in terms of their awareness of the world? [15:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the transformation of desires and affections in someone who is born again? What does this transformation look like in practical terms? [23:40]
2. The sermon mentions a "profound sense of deliverance" for the born-again believer. How does this deliverance manifest in a believer's daily life, according to the sermon? [30:21]
3. What does the sermon suggest is the role of true repentance in the life of a born-again believer, and how does it differ from mere remorse? [36:00]
4. How does the sermon describe the ongoing journey of growth in grace for a born-again believer? What are the key elements of this journey? [44:08]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be more influenced by the world’s values than by God’s? How can you begin to shift your focus? [15:40]
2. The sermon talks about a change in desires and affections for those who are born again. Can you identify any desires in your life that have changed since you began your faith journey? How did this change occur? [20:41]
3. Consider the concept of deliverance from the world. Are there specific situations or environments where you feel particularly challenged to live out this deliverance? How can you prepare yourself to face these challenges? [30:21]
4. True repentance involves a heartfelt sorrow for sin. Is there a sin in your life that you need to address with true repentance? What steps can you take to turn away from it? [36:00]
5. The sermon emphasizes growth in grace. What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel called to grow? What practical steps can you take to pursue this growth? [44:08]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper reliance on God’s grace in your daily life? Are there specific practices or habits that could help you in this area? [44:08]
7. The sermon suggests that being born again leads to a realization that we are nothing without Christ. How does this realization impact your daily decisions and interactions with others? [44:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing the World's Deception
The world, as described in the New Testament, is not merely the physical universe but a mindset and lifestyle that operates independently of God. It includes both what society deems good and bad, yet it is fundamentally devoid of divine influence. This understanding is crucial for recognizing the spiritual battle we face. The devil, described as the god of this world, can even encourage moral behavior if it keeps individuals away from Christ. Recognizing this deception is the first step in understanding the profound distinction between being merely religious and being truly born again. [15:40]
"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:16, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you seen the world’s values subtly influence your decisions? How can you actively seek God’s perspective in these areas today?
Day 2: Transformation Through Spiritual Rebirth
Being born again transforms one's perception of the world. It opens spiritual eyes to see the world for what it truly is—a temporary, deceptive facade that ultimately offers nothing of eternal value. This new birth brings a shift in desires and affections. The born-again believer begins to lose their taste for worldly things, not through forced abstinence but through a genuine change of heart. This transformation is marked by a growing distaste for the world's values and a deep-seated hatred for the sin that separates us from God. [20:41]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What worldly desires or affections do you find yourself clinging to? How can you invite God to transform these desires today?
Day 3: Experiencing Deliverance from the World
The born-again believer experiences a profound sense of deliverance from the world's influence. Though still in the world, they are no longer of it, having been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. This deliverance is a key aspect of the new birth, providing a new understanding of sin—not merely as a legal transgression but as a personal offense against a loving Father. This awareness of deliverance leads to true repentance, characterized by a heartfelt sorrow for sin and a desire to turn away from it. [30:21]
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son." (Colossians 1:13, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt the pull of the world’s influence. How did God’s deliverance change your perspective or actions in that situation?
Day 4: Embracing True Repentance
True repentance involves a heartfelt sorrow for sin, not merely as a legal transgression but as a personal offense against a loving Father. This leads to a desire to turn away from sin and a deeper reliance on God's grace. It is not about feeling guilty but about recognizing the separation sin causes between us and God, and earnestly seeking to restore that relationship through His grace. [36:00]
"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a sin in your life that you have been treating as a mere rule-breaking rather than a personal offense against God? How can you seek true repentance today?
Day 5: Growing in Grace
The journey of being born again is one of continual growth in grace. It involves a deepening hatred for the world's values, a growing love for God, and a reliance on His grace. This growth is marked by the realization that we are nothing without Christ and that our only hope and foundation is in Him. As we grow in grace, we learn to depend more on God and less on ourselves, finding our identity and purpose in Him alone. [44:08]
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to grow in grace? How can you intentionally seek to deepen your relationship with God in these areas today?
Quotes
The world in the scriptures is the whole outlook of men upon life without God. That's what it means by the world. It is everything without God. So you see this can include being good, it can include being religious because there are many such people. They're very good people but God really doesn't come in at all. [00:15:46]
The devil will make people good if he can keep them from Christ. He's very subtle. He can transform himself into an angel of light. Take the Apostle Paul himself. He was always a good man. He was a Pharisee, he was a model man, a religious man, a teacher of the law, zealous in the end he is a Christ hater. [00:18:41]
When a man is born again and is given this spiritual insight and understanding, he begins to recognize what the Bible calls in this way the world. What is it? Well, of course, it doesn't mean the physical universe. It doesn't mean that. Well, what does it mean? It means this: the world in the scriptures is the whole outlook of men upon life without God. [00:15:08]
The Christian looking out at all this, he sees through it. I say by which I mean that he is no longer by it. He no longer judges by outward appearances. Remember I'll not stay saying that very thing judged not by the outward appearance but Judge the righteous judgment. [00:21:42]
The born-again person who knows anything about that so you see when a man is born again, his whole relationship to the world is absolutely changed. It's changed deep down within the exchanging principle. It may take time to show itself in action and in particulars but the great thing is this consciousness of no longer belonging to it. [00:36:35]
The man who is born again not only hates the world but he hates himself and he hates his life in this one. Well, here again is a very important method, a method that we've got a handle carefully because it can be so misunderstood. It has been often misunderstood in the past by people who become monks or Hermits. [00:37:00]
The person is born again doesn't have to force oneself not to belong to the world in its practice. Now the moral men you see is always having to force himself as to exercise great will power. He does it all and he's always having to take himself in hand and compel himself and force himself and he likes laws and rules and regulations therefore and does it by numbers. [00:25:17]
The Christian isn't like that because of the change disposition, because the taste is changed. There isn't this forcing. There is rather this new principle working in another direction. Then I'm showing you the steps. He sees through it, he loses his taste for it, he doesn't enforce himself against it. [00:26:06]
The man who is born again, not only sees and feels all that with respect to the world, he is a man who's conscious of having been delivered from it and this is wonderful. You are in the world still, you're no longer of it. Now this again is put by these New Testament writers in the various waves. [00:28:06]
The born-again person who knows anything about that so you see when a man is born again, his whole relationship to the world is absolutely changed. It's changed deep down within the exchanging principle. It may take time to show itself in action and in particulars but the great thing is this consciousness of no longer belonging to it. [00:36:35]
The journey of being born again is one of continual growth in grace. It involves a deepening hatred for the world's values, a growing love for God, and a reliance on His grace. This growth is marked by the realization that we are nothing without Christ. [00:44:08]
The man who is born again not only hates the world but he hates himself and he hates his life in this one. Well, here again is a very important method, a method that we've got a handle carefully because it can be so misunderstood. It has been often misunderstood in the past by people who become monks or Hermits. [00:37:00]
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