Main Summary: Now That You Are Born Again by Pst Chris Oyakhilome guides new believers through the transformative experience of spiritual rebirth. It emphasizes understanding the new identity in Christ, overcoming trials, the significance of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of joining a local church for spiritual growth.
Lessons You’ll Learn From This Post
- What Happened at New Birth
- Composition of The New You
- Handling Wrong Thoughts Now That You Are Saved
- You Have Being Sanctified and Delivered
- What to do When Faced With Trials
- What Do You Do With Your Old Friends
- The Holy Spirit And You
- The Importance of Joining a Local Church
What Happened at New Birth
- When a person’s body dies, their spirit continues to exist, maintaining consciousness.
- Jesus shared a story about two men who died: Lazarus, a righteous beggar, and a rich man. Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man went to hell.
- In hell, the rich man could see, talk, feel, hear, and remember, indicating the continuity of his spirit’s existence.
- Being born again refers to the regeneration of the human spirit, not just a change in outward appearance.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 highlights that those in Christ become new creations inwardly.
- Although outward appearance may not change, internally, a born-again person becomes a new species of being.
- After being born again, outward circumstances may not drastically change.
- The significant transformation lies in the internal shift of values and beliefs.
- Being born again grants you the power to become a child of God.
- God imparts His nature to the human spirit of those who are born again.
- You become a partaker of God’s divine nature.
- Through spiritual birth, you become a child of God, inheriting His nature and privileges.
Also read The Name of Jesus by Kenneth Hagin [Summary]
Composition of The New You
- When you are born again, you are born of God, not of blood, flesh, or man’s will. But of his word and Spirit.
- As a member of God’s household, you are now a citizen of Heaven, under His care and provision.
- God’s eternal life now resides in you, which is the same life within God Himself.
- This eternal life is received through Jesus Christ and ensures victory in every situation.
- Through Jesus, you have been made the righteousness of God, able to stand before Him without guilt or fear.
- You now possess the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, ensuring their victory and impossibility of defeat.
- You have also been Justified. Justification means being declared ‘not guilty’ by God.
- This justification happens by faith in Jesus Christ, granting you peace with God.
- Jesus took the punishment for your sins on the cross, though He was sinless.
- Therefore God no longer holds your sins against you because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
- You can now stand before God without guilt or condemnation, irrespective of your past.
Also read The Power of Your Mind by Pst Chris Oyakhilome [Summary]
You Have Being Sanctified and Delivered
- Sanctification is a process that takes time and effort.
- Upon being born again, believers are immediately sanctified, set apart unto God.
- Sanctification involves a continuous process of renewing the mind through the Word of God.
- Renewing the mind allows you to see things from God’s perspective and speak His words for desired results.
- You’ve been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son.
- As a member of God’s Kingdom, you are now free from the power of demons, covenants, habits, sins, sicknesses, and diseases.
- Through Jesus Christ, you are truly set free.
Handling Wrong Thoughts Now That You Are Saved
- Being born again doesn’t exempt believers from temptation, but God always provides a way of escape.
- When tempted, you must remember your identity as a new creation in Christ.
- Temptations come from outside forces and should not be entertained in your mind.
- You now have the mind of Christ and must focus on your new identity.
- Obedience to God is crucial when faced with temptation; you must resist yielding to wrong thoughts and instead refuse them.
- You should now replace bad habits with good ones deliberately, and train yourself in godly character traits found in the Word of God.
- Being a doer of the Word involves remembering and acting upon it, with the help of the Holy Spirit who brings truths to remembrance.
- Sin cannot have dominion over you anymore because you are under grace and have been delivered from the power of darkness into God’s Kingdom.
Also read How to Pray Effectively by Pst Chris Oyakhilome [Summary]
What Do You Do With Your Old Friends
- You must maintain your identity as a child of God and be light to those still in darkness, sharing the Gospel with them with every opportunity you find.
- Refuse to be discouraged by scoffers or those trying to draw you back to their old ways.
- Being unequally yoked with unbelievers is discouraged by God.
- God wants you to be equally yoked with other Christians, not in companionship with unbelievers.
- God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance when assessing individuals, and so only those who are born again qualify to be your best friend according to God’s standards.
- Your focus now should be on pleasing God and keeping your heart aligned with His standards, not men.
What to do When Faced With Trials
- Some people eagerly accept the Word of God but lack deep roots, easily offended when faced with affliction or persecution. Don’t be such a believer.
- That you are now saved doesn’t exempt you from trials and temptation.
- However, in the face of temptation, foster a strong love for God through continuous fellowship, prayer, and meditation on His Word.
- Allow God’s Word to take root in your heart so that you can speak His promises over your life in the face of trials and persecution.
- Persevere and stand firm in your faith, knowing that God will see you through every difficulty and trial.
- Understand that as a born-again believer, you have the victory through Jesus Christ, and you are an overcomer in every circumstance.
Also read Understanding Divine Direction by David Oyedepo [Summary]
The Holy Spirit And You
- The Holy Spirit is a divine person and the third person of the Trinity.
- He imparts power and ability, guides, comforts, instructs, and bears witness with believers.
- The Holy Spirit now dwells within you, enlightening you in the Word of God and providing understanding and application.
- Having a relationship with the Holy Spirit is important, it involves recognizing His presence, spending time in His presence, and obeying His promptings.
- He’ll remind you of God’s Word and empower you to be an effective witness of the gospel
- Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a continuous, daily experience, achieved through praise, prayer, studying the Word, and adhering to His instructions.
- Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit. It allows you to communicate directly with God and edify your spirit.
The Importance of Joining a Local Church
- Christians are members of the Body of Christ and cannot function effectively in isolation.
- Attending church is obedience to God’s will and allows believers to bless and edify each other with different gifts.
- Participating in a Spirit-filled church will enable you to develop spiritually, find community, and walk in the Word more effectively.
- Now that you are saved, you should identify with a local assembly, participate fully, and not forsake gatherings with other believers.
In conclusion, we have seen in this book the transformative power of salvation, the importance of spiritual growth, and the necessity of joining a local church. By embracing these teachings, it is sure that you can fully experience the new life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Finally, here is a question we’d love you to answer.
Reflect on your own experience of new birth in Christ. What significant internal changes have you noticed in your values and beliefs since becoming born again?
We would love to hear from you, please leave your answer and comment in the comment box below.
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