Spiritual Rebirth
Following God’s plan of redemption of mankind, he sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, that is, for every single soul ever been born and that will ever have lived on earth. This offer is for everyone – regardless of gender, race, social status, professional, or moral standing. It is offered to the righteous and the wicked, to the religious and the pagans, and to the wise and the simple. Everyone is eligible to receive this forgiveness. But not everyone will receive it.
A covenant is a binding commitment or contract between two or more parties. God is the first to initiate a covenant with mankind, as we see in his relationship with Noah and Abraham. Now through Jesus God is offering a new covenant to us. He presents it already signed, sealed, and delivered. Now each of us, as an individual, has the choice to enter this covenant with God. Everyone is eligible, but everyone must decide for themselves whether they would accept this gift of redemption.
Steps to a new covenant
In our previous studies, we learned about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of the world and we confronted sins and their effects in our lives, privately, globally, and generationally. We reflected on our own sins and the pain and destruction they had caused us and others. When we accepted responsibility for our sins, we confessed and repented. And now we come before God, ready to enter a new covenant with him as we are.
Read Acts 2: 22-24 and 36-40
This is the first time after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the message of the cross is being preached. The crowd in Jerusalem had already known about Jesus, in fact, many of them were among those who had called for Jesus to be crucified. So when Peter explained to them who Jesus really was and is – and when they realized the wrong they had done, their hearts were pierced and they asked what they must do to redeem themselves. Here Peter gave them very specific instructions on their next steps.
Repent and be baptized
Receive forgiveness through faith in Christ
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
1. Repent and be baptized
Read Romans 6:3-7
Baptism symbolizes mankind’s participation in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
As Jesus was crucified on the cross, we die to our sins and crucify our old self, the life we have been living in rebellion against God.
As Jesus entered death in his burial, we enter water in our baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. The water symbolizes the blood Jesus shed to wash away our sins.
As Jesus was raised to life, we emerge from the baptism water a new creation. After Jesus ascended to heaven, he sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell among us.
2. Receive forgivness through faith in Christ
Read Matthew 26:28, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 3:25
Blood symbolizes cleansing, hence is required for the forgiveness of sins and for the sealing the new covenant. (Hebrews 9). At baptism, the water symbolizes the blood that cleanses us of our sins, hence the receiving of forgiveness. What is required of us, however, is our faith in Christ. We must go into baptism with the faith that it is Jesus’ blood that has the power to forgive my sins. We enter the water repenting of our sins and pledging to enter the new covenant with God. If someone is baptized without faith, then they just got wet, no forgiveness takes place at their baptism, and they have not entered into the new covenant God has prepared for us.
3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
Read John 3: 1 – 8, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Romans 8:9-10
Just like a mother gives birth to a child, the Holy Spirit gives birth to our new life in Christ. At baptism we are born again spiritually. As we emerge from the water of baptism, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and ‘move in’ with us. This also symbolizes our belonging to God, that he had redeemed us, or purchased our soul with the blood of Christ. On our part, we surrender our lives to God, agreeing to become his and to live for the rest of our lives under his grace.
Reflection & Decision
What does baptism mean to me? If I have never been baptized as an adult, would I like to get baptized? If not, what is holding me back? If I have previously been baptized as an adult, was I baptized according to the scripture:
Where I was fully immersed in water, then rose from the water?
Where I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and my sins are forgiven through his blood?
Where I crucified my old self with repentance and confessions of my sins before I entered the water of baptism?
Where I began to live a new life in his grace, as I am redeemed by God and now belong to him?
Where I made Jesus both the Lord and Savior of my life?
If I has been baptized previously to declare my faith in Christ and to commit my life to follow him, reflect on whether I also had the faith in Christ and his blood to forigve my sins. Did I see myself as one who needed forgiveness of my sins, and had confessed and repented of them before I entered the water of baptism? If I did not have this faith then, do I have it now? Go to God in prayer for clarity on whether you should be baptized again,
Next Study
Study #7 The New Life
The mindset and attitude
Jesus is the Lord
My Ministry
The spiritual disciplines
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