Born Again, And Again, And Again
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: Christians need a comprehensive understanding about what it means to be born again.
There are differences in opinion among Christians concerning what "being born again" entails. We should make efforts to clarify these misunderstandings. Eliminating the different ways people will interpret that concept is not possible. However, we should help persons appreciate why those different beliefs are held.
a. There is not one pattern of being born again! A perusal of conversion experiences of religious leaders would suffice to reveal the differences in each event. Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Andrew, Paul, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and the thief on the cross present a variety of initial religious experiences. Jesus explained to Nicodemus (John 3:1-8) about being transformed by God's Holy Spirit. (The mention of the "water" could, like the "great commission" at the end of Matthew, be considered an addition of the early church. Surely, God does not condemn someone who has not been baptized. We wouldn't. Why believe in such a heartless God?) Jesus speaks of the ambiguity of the experience with the analogy of the wind blowing we know not where. It is mysterious and we do not understand it, but it happens. It could be sudden and it could be gradual. And it can happen in many ways. Not many of us have had fire drop down on our heads as we picture it did at Pentecost.
b. There is backsliding. Frankly, the notion that once you are saved, you can never sin again is preposterous. Don't you wish. How can anyone with a straight face make such a claim? Of course we continue to sin. It is unfortunate that some persons aren't recognizing their sins. The rest of us see their sins just as we recognize our need for repentance and forgiveness daily.
c. Being born again is a continuing process. Even when the born again experience is sudden and dramatic, it still remains a continuing process after that. How many self-righteous Christians have we seen who, after a conversion, now know everything and are perfect in their own opinion? Being a Christian means to choose to be reborn regularly or every day. It is a growing process of worship, prayer, and discipline.
A woman -- a real saint -- asked on her deathbed with serious apprehension, "Am I reborn?" She should have never needed to ask that question at that point in her life, a life that had been of impeccable Christian witness and service. She was led to her fears and doubts by a certain kind of preaching that unequivocally stated she must be reborn -- their way!
There are differences in opinion among Christians concerning what "being born again" entails. We should make efforts to clarify these misunderstandings. Eliminating the different ways people will interpret that concept is not possible. However, we should help persons appreciate why those different beliefs are held.
a. There is not one pattern of being born again! A perusal of conversion experiences of religious leaders would suffice to reveal the differences in each event. Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Andrew, Paul, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and the thief on the cross present a variety of initial religious experiences. Jesus explained to Nicodemus (John 3:1-8) about being transformed by God's Holy Spirit. (The mention of the "water" could, like the "great commission" at the end of Matthew, be considered an addition of the early church. Surely, God does not condemn someone who has not been baptized. We wouldn't. Why believe in such a heartless God?) Jesus speaks of the ambiguity of the experience with the analogy of the wind blowing we know not where. It is mysterious and we do not understand it, but it happens. It could be sudden and it could be gradual. And it can happen in many ways. Not many of us have had fire drop down on our heads as we picture it did at Pentecost.
b. There is backsliding. Frankly, the notion that once you are saved, you can never sin again is preposterous. Don't you wish. How can anyone with a straight face make such a claim? Of course we continue to sin. It is unfortunate that some persons aren't recognizing their sins. The rest of us see their sins just as we recognize our need for repentance and forgiveness daily.
c. Being born again is a continuing process. Even when the born again experience is sudden and dramatic, it still remains a continuing process after that. How many self-righteous Christians have we seen who, after a conversion, now know everything and are perfect in their own opinion? Being a Christian means to choose to be reborn regularly or every day. It is a growing process of worship, prayer, and discipline.
A woman -- a real saint -- asked on her deathbed with serious apprehension, "Am I reborn?" She should have never needed to ask that question at that point in her life, a life that had been of impeccable Christian witness and service. She was led to her fears and doubts by a certain kind of preaching that unequivocally stated she must be reborn -- their way!
