© 2014 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)
Prior to being born, remember the long eons of time during which you wanted to be born but didn’t know how? Do you recall the great desire with which you urged your Mom and Dad to get busy so that you could be born? Remember your great relief when you finally, pulled it off? Sure: your parents deserve some of the credit but, ultimately, wasn’t it your faith and willpower that urged them to get it done?
No! Of course you don’t remember it that way because it didn’t happen that way, did it! None of us chose to be born!
Spiritual life comes about in a similar manner. Scripture tells us that, when we were physically born, we were still dead spiritually. Speaking of those who have been given spiritual life, Scripture says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; …” (Ephesians 2:1). The word “quickened” means “made alive.” Speaking of all humanity, in their fallen state, Scripture reminds us, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). God tells us that we were each so dead that we weren’t even looking for life from Him! Jesus, Himself, said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). He said to each of His disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, …” (John 15:16). Throughout Scripture, God’s people are repeatedly referred to as “chosen.”
What a humbling and glorious thing for Christians to realize that they are chosen! Our spiritual birth is God’s work, not ours! While it’s true that all Christians have repented of their sins and asked Christ to save them, it’s also true that none of us would have ever done that unless God had first breathed, into our dead hearts, life, desire, and, ultimately, faith in Christ, His Son. It was He who caused our hearts to understand that only Christ, who is God, can save us through His finished, redemptive, sacrificial, blood offering at Calvary.
Please read the Bible! It’s God’s channel of spiritual birth and faith! “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
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