There’s a video clip I’ve seen of a well-known TV ‘evangelist’ who looks into the camera and leads people to repeat the ‘sinner’s prayer’ which can be recited in about 30 seconds. Upon completion, this ‘preacher’ again, looks into the camera and informs any and all who just said those words have now been ‘born again’.

I’m sorry...but that is about as shallow and ridiculous as greeting a newlywed couple the next morning, after consummating their marriage ...with a hearty: “Congratulations, you are parents now!” May I just state the obvious here? ‘Copulation nor conception equates to birth!”

And as much as we have grown up hearing the expression  ‘Immaculate Conception’, which is what Mary, the mother of Jesus experienced, we forget that she first had to ‘receive the seed (word) as the Holy Spirit moved upon her (Luke 1:35-38)...but no birth took place until about 9 months later.

Then, it would be 30 years down the road before God, the Father, publicly announced that Jesus was His ‘beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased’(Matt. 3:17) And no, I'm not suggesting Jesus was not God's 'Son' when He was born, either.

You might disagree with me here, but I think we can be too quick at times in our church circles to declare that someone is 'now a child of God’. John 1:12 informs us that as many who have ‘received Christ, to them God gave the right (or the capacity) to BECOME ... children of God...”but Romans 8:14 reminds us that it is those who are ‘led by His Spirit...these are the children of God’.

Can I just tell you now that there are more than a few folks out there who claim to be ‘children of God’...and are not. Jesus had to break this news to a group of religious Pharisees in John 8:44. I’m pretty sure that did not ‘land’ well with that crowd either. John actually spends a bit of time explaining the difference in his epistle suggesting how one could clearly tell the difference between those who were children of God and those who were children of the devil (1 John 3:1-10).

I also have a hunch that as much as we are predisposed to getting caught up in timelines, when it comes to the mysteries of God’s kingdom...we would do well to back off a bit when it comes to getting attached to those timelines. i.e.- “When is a person ‘saved’, When does one become a child of God, When is the ‘rapture’...etc.”

There’s an interesting reference found in Romans 8:19 that you might glance at, as well as vs. 29. Then take a peek at Galatians 4:19. Now, just set those verses aside for a later time for more clarification.

My point in addressing all this is to present the idea that maybe we have oversimplified this process of the new birth, or being ‘born again’, that Jesus said we would need to undergo and experience if we had any hope of entering in, let alone seeing...the kingdom of God (John 3:3-8)

Looking at both letters written by Peter, he offers up some insightful observations that pertain to this new birth, reminding us that we... “have been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...” (1 Pet. 1:23). In the same way that Mary had to ‘receive the seed/word’, as the miracle of ‘immaculate conception’ took place, we too must have good, fertile hearts in order for that ‘seed’ to produce fruit. This is clear as you read the parable of the sower. Can we agree that a lot of that ‘seed’ never reached full maturity in bearing fruit as it fell on all kinds of soils (hearts). Now before you quote the verse that says God’s word “will not return void” (Isa. 55:11)...have you ever considered the fact that may there is a lot of ‘spiritual abortions’ taking place today in those hearts that never bear fruit? (Luke 8:11-15)

I would make the case that the characteristics of a ‘good fertile heart’ which reaches ‘fruitful maturity’...is one that is humbled and repentant (mixed with faith) when it hears...the true, unadulterated word of God. Oh, and here is where that ‘abiding thing’ comes in to play: “Apart from Him...there can be no fruit...” (John 15:4-5)

Now let us look at Peter’s second letter in that opening chapter. Read what we are told has been made available to us: “His divine power has given to us ALL things that pertain to life and godliness...and through these exceedingly great and precious promises...we may be partakers of the DIVINE NATURE....” (2 Pet. 1:3-4)

How else ...could any of us ...fulfill the great commandment of loving one another as He first loved us (John 13:34-35)...unless we had HIS divine nature residing in us? Is that not the mark of a true child of God who has been conformed to the image and likeness of Christ...who was to be the ‘firstborn of many brethren’? (Rom. 8:29)

Friends....none of us can ‘walk as He walked’ unless we have been truly...’born again’ and continue to abide in Him. (1 John 2:6; John 15:4-5). Now, if you would, one more time, turn back to 1 John 3:9...and read that aloud to yourself...nice...and slow. You might even read it 2-3 more times.

Join me tomorrow?