WTW 2022
29 April
Matthew 5
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
Peter, James, John & Paul all wrote about the new birth and being born again. Paul also wrote about adoption into God’s family. To the Jews, new birth. To the ethnics, adoption. We’ll just leave that there for now.
Matthew was a companion of Peter, as we understand it. His account does not say anything about new birth, at least not directly.
What can we learn about new birth and the new creation as we continue reading, studying, discussing and living out the message passed on to us in Matthew?
Were those JESUS was speaking to in the Sermon on the Mount born again? They were Jews so they had no need of being adopted or grafted in. Were they all born again? Were the disciples? Were the crowds?
This is not merely for discussion. This has to do with life and death, even today.
Can Jews today be born again without any of the usual evangelical trappings and procedures? Can Hindus be born again simply by hearing and receiving and beginning to live according to JESUS’ WORD? Muslims too?
Share what you see in Matthew (and for that matter in Luke & Acts too) which pertains to being born again. And share the insights the LORD gives you both here and with those you see today.
Let us be active in sharing THE Faith, and listen closely too. We likely need to unlearn and relearn some things in order to recognize that God does not follow our plan for salvation. Rather, He works new birth in hearts by the simple hearing of His WORD, and He will do this miracle whether we cooperate and colabor with Him or not.
Let us not quench the Spirit, but find out what pleases the LORD.
Amen.
Wisdom in the WORD 
Being born again is not orthodox. It raises eyebrows. True experiences of being born again will also always jar the religious. There will be things which should not be because they do not align with what we understand to be sound doctrine and acceptable teachings.
“If this man were a prophet he would know what type of woman this is.”
“Come see a man who has told me my entire life.”
“That’s funny. You don’t know who he is, yet he restored my sight!”
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Amazing testimony!
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We often focus on new birth and being born again as being an end requirement. We must be born again, not be BEING born again. Being born again is not a constant state of being.
Birth is important yet the whole point is the life which results.
New birth is important yet the whole point is the life which results.
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