Originally published on James and Dave’s Bible Page
A few years ago, I was working in children’s church on a Sunday night. Paul, the praise and worship leader, had us sing a catchy little song with a very profound message. The song was called Bullfrogs and Butterflies. The theme of the song is that both bullfrogs and butterflies undergo a dramatic transformation. The bullfrog starts out as a tadpole, the butterfly as a caterpillar. It takes this transformation, i.e.”New Birth” to bring them into what God wants them to be. If the caterpillar never enters the cocoon, or the tadpoles never goes through its change, they will never become bullfrogs or butterflies.
This concept is at the very core of Jesus’ teaching. In John 3:3 Jesus says “…I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is Born Again (anew, from above,) he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the Kingdom of God.” (Amplified Bible)
These are strong words from the lips of Jesus. It is especially amazing when you consider who Jesus was saying this to. He wasn’t talking to a person that many people would consider to be a sinner. He was talking to Nicodemus, a very devout, highly respected religious leader. This is a powerful illustration of the fact that being devout, sincere, and religious are not enough. In spite of his piety, Nicodemus was still a lost man.
What is this “New Birth?” It is the wonderful, dramatic transformation done in a person’s life when they surrender their life to Jesus Christ. When you receive it:
- Your sins are forgiven ( Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:7,9)
- You are adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:4-5;
Ephesians 1:5) - You become a totally new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Ephesians
4:24) - You receive eternal life, to live with God forever! (John
3:14-21)
The New Birth is a gift of God. Being a gift, it obviously cannot be earned. It is given to us solely by the grace and love of God.(Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not a “religion.” This is vitally important. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God. In the person of Jesus, we see just the opposite. We see God lovingly reaching out to man, loving us in spite of our sin, and willing to pay the ultimate price in order to have a
relationship with us:
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the
world that He (even) gave up His only begotten (unique) Son so that
whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not
perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting)
life”(John 3:16, Amplified Bible).
Friend ,there is no other way. Jesus Him self said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, NO ONE comes to the Father, BUT BY ME.” (John 14:6)If there was another way, then Jesus died the most brutal, agonizing death imaginable-for nothing.
“But I’m a good person.” It really is not a matter of “this person vs. this person is a bad person” (click Here to find out why). God says that “ALL have sinned and come short of His glory.”(Romans 3:23) Furthermore, He tells us of the result of our sin, “The wages of sin is death”(Romans 6:23).
This has a twofold meaning. It does mean physical death, which exists in the first place because of sin. However, it also means SPIRITUAL death, which is far worse. Spiritual death is eternal, conscious torment in a place called hell (Revelation 21:8).
The good news, however, is that you can be Born Again right now, right where you are. God, in His love and mercy, has provided us with a way out. His name is Jesus. If you have never been Born Again by giving your life to Him, here is how to do it;
- ACKNOWLEDGE-“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) “God be merciful to me a sinner”(Luke 18:13)
- REPENT-“Except ye repent, ye will likewise perish”(Luke 13:3)
- CONFESS-“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
- BELIEVE-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life”(John 3:16)
- RECEIVE-“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name”(John 1:12)
Friend, this is the most important decision you will ever make. If you have never given your life to Jesus, please don’t put it off. You can’t be sure you will have a tomorrow. Nothing in the world is worth missing out on this for. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to write to me .Remember;
“Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible)
Keep It real,
James
