“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5.1-5
Let’s carefully examine this passage: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” What does it mean to be born of God? In John 3, Jesus talks about being “born again.” John Wesley titled one of his sermons “The New Birth,” and Billy Graham wrote a book called Born Again. There must be something significant about this “born of God” statement.
To be born again means you were first born once, by the flesh through your mother. However, you cannot be born again by the flesh; you can be born again by the Spirit. This new birth happens when a person believes that Jesus is the Christ and receives Him as Lord and Savior. We are saved not by actions but by believing—by faith.
Once we are born again, we gain the ability to love God and others. By loving God, we carry out His commands, which include loving other people. Jesus said the greatest commandment is this: love God and love people. To love God is to carry out His commands. We obey God not out of obligation but out of love. The love of Christ compels us.
Furthermore, as we are born again and begin to love, we become overcomers. We “overcome the world” and all its desires and deadliness. We overcome depression, death, and disease. While living on earth, we aim for eternity.
It all begins with the new birth, and from there, it is a compounding transformation of our actions and souls. We become like God by reflecting His love and glory, thus drawing others into a relationship with Christ.
This week, I am at Revive Youth Camp—a wonderful opportunity for young people to encounter Jesus. Will you pray for us that we might be transforming agents of His love? Pray that this week, people might be born again by discovering the grace of God for themselves and be changed for eternity.
“O Lord God, thank You for saving me. Thank You for allowing me to walk in newness of life. Come now, Lord God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that others might know Your love and find salvation in Your name. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.