Marks of a Born Again Believer (2/2)

Marks of a Born Again Believer (2/2)

(Acts 10/Acts 15)

5 Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

When a baby is in the mother's womb, the baby cannot see what is outside..no see his parents. But when the baby comes into the world, he finally sees what's beyond the comforts of the mother's womb. So when we want to live in God's kingdom and walk in it and benefit from being a son and daughter of God...we need to be born again not in the flesh but in the Spirit.

Being borned of water is to be born thru repentance. Turning away from the world's rebellious nature of not acknowledging God (Rom 1:28) to Him as God and King. We begin respond to His word as not just refuge but our pillars to go forward from. How ? grace?..Yes..Grace is God's attitude towards us..Love is God's passion for us..However its not just that. 

Ezekiel 36..tells us that God will give us a new heart and put His spirit in us that we will walk in His ways. John 7:38-39 tells us that the promise of the Father to us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit is deposited in us as a mark of ownership..that we belong to God. But when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit when we ASK JESUS FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT...we submit to the Lordship of the King.

But more than just ownership. How do we know the Holy SPirit is in us ?..Don't you want to have assuarance that you belong to God and that God accepts you ? Faith yes..but faith is always proven and materialises in matter that we can (Heb 11:1) see, hear, feel, smell, hold, taste etc.

How ? 

Lets look at what happened at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.

7 And after there had been a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, Brethren, you know that quite a while ago God made a choice or selection from among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] and believe (credit and place their confidence in it).

8 And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;

The Jewish believers were debating about the authencity of the faith of the gentiles here. Peter got up to defend the gentiles who have to turn to Christ. What did he use to justify his argument ? See in vs 8 of Acts 15..."God, who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;" What was Peter referring to ?

Peter was referring to Cornelius household in Acts 10:44-47

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.

45 And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.

46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked,

47 Can anyone forbid or refuse water for baptizing these people, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

Peter based his reasoning to accept Gentile believers on 2 occasions when the Holy Spirit "baptised" or fell on the people. He used what happened to the 120 in Acts 1:8, and Acts 2:4 and right here in Cornelius household in Acts 10:44-47..On both occasions when the Holy Spirit fell on the people what happened ? 

In  Acts 10:46 "For they heard them talking in tongues and extolling and magnifying God".   It was Tongues and gloryfying God that convinced the Jewish believers that the gentiles have been accepted by God !

So when I pray in Tongues...I know the Holy Spirit is in me. and I know that God accepts me as a genuine believer for Jesus Christ..Isn't that so comforting and empowering !!!

Its a powerful truth that sets believers secure in their faith and hopefully moving on to discover their purpose ! ...

But not many people speak in Tongues..but are they genuine believers...YES ! but don't you want to have the guarantee like above ?

Luv Edwin Koh

30/9/13