Many people wonder what it means to be “born of God.” Sometimes there has no explanation given, and other times they have been misinformed. In today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse one, John the apostle helps us to understand who can be born of God and what this means. He wrote:
Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.
Let us first notice to whom this is available - “whosoever”. This word makes it abundantly clear that everyone, everywhere who will believe may be born of God. But John doesn't leave us with just the whosoever, he makes it more specific. John says “believes that Jesus is the Christ”. It is not as though we may believe anything that comes along. No, rather those who are born of God are specifically those who believe that Jesus is not only the Christ but their Christ as well.
This word Christ in the Greek language is “Christos” which means “messiah.” John says that for us to be born of God we must believe that Jesus is the messiah. Now I realize that many people do not believe that Jesus is the messiah, but nonetheless, John has written that He is. Just because someone doesn't believe something is true makes no bearing upon the reality of the truth. Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God, and “whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”
Next John continues his theme of love by saying “and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.” John says that we who love God, “him that begat”, will also naturally love others who are the “begotten of him.” Once again remember that this is John the beloved disciple of Jesus. He is well into his years when he wrote this. He walked, talked, spake and ate with Jesus. He has not only known the Lord Jesus personally, but he also has been tortured, imprisoned and martyred for Jesus' name. He now as a blessed fatherly teacher is sharing some of the deepest insights into the relationship with God, and his emphasis continues to be “Love God and Love others.” Those who will believe that Jesus is the Christ are born of God. They love God, and from this they naturally love others.
The question for today is, “Do we believe that Jesus is the Christ, our Christ?” If so, we are born of God. We love God and others. If not, perhaps you are a candidate to do just so.
Next time we will take a look at evidence that we truly love others and don't just proclaim it. So read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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