Series | The
Spirit Filled Life
Scripture | John 3:3, “Jesus replied, Very
truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born
again.”
Lesson 1 | Born of the Spirit
Man is a spiritual being with a soul that lives
in a body. What makes man so special is
that unlike angels he has a body with five senses. And unlike animals man has a self-conscious
soul (mind, will, and emotions) that connects him both to the spiritual and
physical world. Mankind’s unique nature
is called the “image of God” or in Latin, the “imago dei.”
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he
created them; male and female he created them.” The image of God in man thus is three-fold,
(1) Man was created to have dominion over the physical world, like how God has
dominion in the spiritual world, Gen. 1:28, (2) Man was created to be fruitful
and multiply in procreation like how God multiplies in creation, Gen. 1:28, and
lastly; (3) Man was created to have self-awareness and free will as God himself
has freedom of choice and self-awareness, Gen. 2:17.
However, when Adam sinned and brought spiritual
death to the world Jesus came to be the “second Adam,” born without sin, to die
for the sins of mankind, 1 Corinthians 15:45.
As a result, when Jesus said to Nicodemus, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again,” He
was referring to man being restored to the fullness of God’s image.
The Spirit-filled life starts when someone is
born again in his or her spirit and then their soul is filled overflowing with
God’s power. Though the body may not be
made perfect in this life, the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit can
be totally saved and purified in this life.
Peter said in 1 Peter 1:9, “for
you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
We are spiritual beings that need to be born
again in our spirits and renewed in our souls- the Holy Spirit is the only one
that can do such a miracle. Therefore,
if you haven’t not been born again do so today and then join with all believers
and call out to God to filled with His Spirit in your inner most being!
Reflection | Are you born again?
Action | (1) Place your faith in Jesus to save you and make you new. (2) If you are born again ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. (3) Lastly, get ready to live a Spirit-filled life!
One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 2 Samuel 18:1-19:10, John 20:1-31, Psalm 119:153-176, & Proverbs 16:14-15. Click here to read online.
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