The last 3 weeks have been full of new beginnings in my life. Graduation at Memphis School of Preaching meant a new beginning to my new home here in Valdosta, Ga. Then once I arrived it was time to set out to make new friends and meet new people. Monday night I asked my girlfriend to marry me and that too started a new chapter of my life that I am blessed to start. And last night I baptized a man into Christ and I couldn’t help but think of the new chapter in one’s life when they decide that they want to serve God and are willing to be baptized into his body for the remission of their sins.
In John 3 Jesus told Nicodemus a man had to be born again. Can you imagine the look on Nicodemus’ face? Think of the importance of that moment, when you were born into the world on your journey. Everything is new, there is no sin, you are a blank book and you are ready to fill the pages. Now as an adult you are being told you must be born again. Nicodemus asked him, can a man enter into the womb and be born a second time?? Then Jesus said unless be born again a second time, by the Water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Romans 6 explains this so well. Paul writing tells them in verse 4 that we are buried with him by and baptism and raised to walk in newness of Life. Verse 6 tells us that in baptism we crucified the old man. We have a new beginning to our lives. The slate is washed cleaned, and we have a fresh start in the family of God. Paul knew this as well anyone. Paul had a new beginning.
Paul, known previously as Saul, lived a life where he murdered and imprisoned Christian men and women. But his life changed. After Paul’s baptism he went on to write the majority of the New Testament. Paul had a new beginning, a fresh start. What he had done before was no longer remembered, and when he messed up, when he sinned, he had an advocate with the Father like all Christian’s do. (1 John 2:1) We are all going to make mistakes from time to time, but we have to strive to do our best and when we do, we can be forgiven of those mistakes. It is a new beginning full of Grace and Mercy, and Love, and Obedience to God.
Anyone that has ever decided to serve God has had a new beginning, and the first step had to be made and that being willing to let the word of God mold us into what he wants us to be. We are clay and God is the potter, What kind of clay are we? Are we going to be hard clay that refuses a new beginning or are we going to be soft moldable clay that is shaped and can be used in the service of God and help others find their new beginning.
In John 3 Jesus told Nicodemus a man had to be born again. Can you imagine the look on Nicodemus’ face? Think of the importance of that moment, when you were born into the world on your journey. Everything is new, there is no sin, you are a blank book and you are ready to fill the pages. Now as an adult you are being told you must be born again. Nicodemus asked him, can a man enter into the womb and be born a second time?? Then Jesus said unless be born again a second time, by the Water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Romans 6 explains this so well. Paul writing tells them in verse 4 that we are buried with him by and baptism and raised to walk in newness of Life. Verse 6 tells us that in baptism we crucified the old man. We have a new beginning to our lives. The slate is washed cleaned, and we have a fresh start in the family of God. Paul knew this as well anyone. Paul had a new beginning.
Paul, known previously as Saul, lived a life where he murdered and imprisoned Christian men and women. But his life changed. After Paul’s baptism he went on to write the majority of the New Testament. Paul had a new beginning, a fresh start. What he had done before was no longer remembered, and when he messed up, when he sinned, he had an advocate with the Father like all Christian’s do. (1 John 2:1) We are all going to make mistakes from time to time, but we have to strive to do our best and when we do, we can be forgiven of those mistakes. It is a new beginning full of Grace and Mercy, and Love, and Obedience to God.
Anyone that has ever decided to serve God has had a new beginning, and the first step had to be made and that being willing to let the word of God mold us into what he wants us to be. We are clay and God is the potter, What kind of clay are we? Are we going to be hard clay that refuses a new beginning or are we going to be soft moldable clay that is shaped and can be used in the service of God and help others find their new beginning.
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