A New Beginning III ...

Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Faith is like a new birth - we have heard this, it can be found in John 3,3 and other parts of the New Testament. But what does it mean in practically? How do you start it, how is it carried out?

New Birth …

First, we need to see that a birth is not something the baby could carry out itself. A birth is something which happens. Of course, someone needs to beget the child. Something needs to happen before. But then, there is a natural process towards a birth which cannot easily be changed by our actions. In unfortunate circumstances the upcoming baby can die before it is born - yes, that is possible. But we cannot directly control the growth at this point.

With the birth which is taking place in faith, it is similar. First, someone hears of God, someone starts to get to know Christ. You start to be interested, you want to know more, you want to get to know God, you want to live with him. Perhaps you have difficulties here or there with faith, you do not want to give in to the Lord, you fear loosing something. Many of us have habits which do not fit to the Lord, and we do not want to give up our habits. They are an obstacle on our path towards faith.

But when the new life, which is growing in us, is mighty enough to overcome the obstacles, then we grow towards the birth, and we are born one day. The day of a birth is often difficult to determine exactly. You know, that the baby is mature enough to come. You know, it is about 9 month. But you cannot determine the exact day when it all starts - it just happens.

Birth takes place …

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The birth which faith talks about takes place when someone comes to faith. As we said, it is a process. But there is a day when things become obvious. The birth is when the baby starts to breath. Our birth in faith is when our faith starts to show itself, when we know that we now live with the Lord.

Faith can show itself in many parts of our life. It WILL show itself, indeed. Often, people formulate particular prayers, when they come to faith. Some say: God, take my life, guide me, be my Lord and God, I want to live with you the rest of my life. There is the image of a marriage, which is also used for faith. It is a firm commitment, which changes your life deeply. Many believers experience sincere changes in their habits. Some are freed from addiction in one instance. Others change their behaviour or habits the day they come to faith. They know: in the presence of the Lord some things cannot stay as they are.

We need to know that God accepts us as we are. It is not a condition, to have changed already. We might want to change, without the power or knowledge, how we could achieve the change. But over time, God will help us to go the steps which are good for us and for everyone around. We do not put conditions onto a baby to be born. We are just happy: here it is. We will feed it and hold it and care for it. That is how God treats us, when we come to him. He just loves us deeply, and he has the will and the power to care for us. (Roland Potthast) ... more texts