Pathfinder Club

Human nature leads us to grasp our hopes and dreams in the temporary and superficial but sometimes life hits us hard and finally raises the hopelessness, disappointment and discontent. Although it appears that change is difficult, there is something you can do. Read the following article and I hope you will do much good.

Club members attending conquerors counselor card can take some ideas from this article to address the issue proposed in requirement no. 2 Bible Study.

The day my life changed forever

It was a warm summer evening, and Patricia, a young and educated woman, had made an appointment with his spiritual adviser. She felt she could not find him flavor to life and wanted to vent. "I'm tired," he said, in this world there is no happiness. " Like many others, Patricia wanted a better life.

The desire for a happy life full of joy is inherent in human nature. From an early humans learned to dream and desire something better, but for many, happiness is unattainable and his search produces more frustration. Fortunately, you and I can get better results. We can achieve our dreams. We can have a happy fate. When? The day we make a decision.

The key to changing your life and achieve their dreams lies in a decision, the decision to be different. "Never in my life I have made a good decision," continued Patricia. When I look back on my life, all I find are problems and headaches, which I am quite sure, are the direct result of my bad decisions. Sometimes I think, what if I could change my life if I could erase everything and start again? "

Can a person change the root? Jesus answered this question in conversation with a man named Nicodemus. This man was a leader of Israel, one of a very prominent group of leaders called the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night with an inquisitive mind (John 3:1, 2). Regardless of their concern Jesus looked at him and said, "Truly I say to you, unless one is born again he can not enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Stated more directly, Jesus was saying, "Nicodemus, if you want to enter heaven, you must be born again."

It is obvious that Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant, so he replied: "Can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? "(Verse 4). Many people ask just this: "Is it possible to start again?" Possibly you may have had the same question. And if possible, how can it be achieved? How can I start over? The Bible has an answer for this question.

Why do I need to be born again?

According to Jesus the new birth is essential for salvation. The Scriptures declare that man is in a condition completely lost, alienated from God because of sin (Isaiah 59:2), and for death, because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23) . The good news is that Jesus was born, died and rose for us we live, we die to sin and rise to new life (Romans 6:3-5), a life completely transformed by God.

The Bible teaches that Jesus died on the cross as our substitute. He took upon himself the guilt of our sins in his body and received the punishment that we deserved. On the cross Jesus paid the debt of all of us, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." But he adds that we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23, 24). Is that free justification received by faith the sinner giving access to heaven.

How is the new birth?

People want change. In fact, all major industry marketing is based on the assumption that most people want positive changes in your life. They want to look better, feel better, think better, act better and live better. They want to change your life but with the exception of some external features, can not be achieved.

Only Christ has the power to transform people and free them from sin, Satan and the upcoming trial. Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no other, because no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".

We are sinners and we can overcome our sinful condition. That's why we need an external power to transform us. The unlimited power that can transform our lives comes from God. Today many people undergo plastic surgery to change some aspect of their physique that they do not like, but Christ performs surgery that is not superficial troubleshooting. It involves a true change of heart.

It is a procedure carried by invisible hands, but their results are visible. It is a spiritual operation that God made the day that we give ourselves to him and receive salvation (Ephesians 2:1). We were raised with Christ by faith. We died to the life of sin, our sins are forgiven and we have been cleansed of all evil (Colossians 2:11-13). God has everything ready for a new birth, but that decision rests with you.

Birth of the Spirit

The new birth begins with the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person (Romans 8:9-14). No human being can do this work, only God can do through his mighty power, when the person submits totally to Jesus.

The new birth is not a reworking of the old life. Not even a reform old habits. The new birth is just that, a new creation by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). When the Holy Spirit comes to the human heart transformed. The husband becomes rough kind and gentle, like Manuel, a man who mistreated his wife until the Holy Spirit touched his heart, and then began to be more loving with his family.

When the Holy Spirit comes to the human heart becomes the drunken sober. I remember a man who was so angry with me because I preached Christ, I threw bottles whenever he went outside his home. But one day, I threw more bottles. The Spirit of God took hold of his heart, and turned it into a Christian kind.

When the Holy Spirit comes to the human heart becomes the pious deceiver. I am reminded of an 18-year-old who entered the church to make fun of everything that was done there until the Holy Spirit touched his heart and changed him into a powerful preacher of the Word of God.

The new birth is not by chance. Occurs when the human soul in his heart choose to receive the Holy Spirit of God. In fact it is the Spirit who fills us with love, joy, peace, patience, faith and goodness (Galatians 5:22). You can be born again, but that depends on your decision.

Birth by the Word

The Bible study is central to God's plan for creating new people who live according to His will. "Being born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23). I remember the first time I went to church. My intention was not to hear the Word of God, but make fun of what was done there. But God had other plans.

When the Word of God comes, never returns empty, always produce fulfilling God's will (Isaiah 55:11). That's why all those who receive the Word of God and believe, experience the new birth. "But when they believed Philip preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women were baptized" (Acts 8:12). Before being baptized, a person must believe the gospel, ie, receive the Word of God (Acts 2:41). You can be born again, but that depends on your decision.

Water birth

Seeing that Nicodemus did not understand what it meant to the new birth, Jesus told him (John 3:5, 6). The new birth means birth of the Holy Spirit, as it is the Spirit who touches the hearts and calls people to repentance.

The new birth includes the change wrought in the person of the Word, for the gospel in the Word of God is what has the power to turn the hearts (Romans 1:16). But the new birth means the birth by water. This new birth is baptism. Baptism is essential for salvation "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

Importantly, the new birth occurs when a person is baptized "in" water, ie, immersed in a "tomb" liquid. Many are baptized "with" water, but there is a difference between being baptized "with" water and be baptized "in" water. Jesus was baptized "in" water (Matthew 3:16). Water baptism is the only biblically can connect to a new birth, as Romans 6:3-5 says.

In the sermon of St. Peter at Pentecost are three elements which we have spoken. The Word of God was preached. People were impressed by the Holy Spirit and were baptized in water (Acts 2:37, 38). In the story of Philip and the eunuch of Ethiopia also find these three elements (Acts 8:26-40).

"I have made many wrong decisions," Patricia said, but I'm glad I made the most important decision a person can take the decision to give my heart to Jesus and be born again. That day my life changed forever. "

Dear reader, and Patricia, perhaps you're weary of life. Maybe taste is not their existence. Possibly has made so many mistakes because he believes God can not forgive, and he is lost. I want you to know that no matter what you have done, Jesus will never stop loving him. I you do not know, but I think if you took the time to read this article it is because you feel sympathy for Jesus.

I venture to think that maybe she loves him in the depths of his heart and wants your help to be different. Perhaps you yearn to be a better parent, better spouse, a better son or daughter. Come to Jesus, read the Bible, pray and ask to be baptized. As you get closer to Jesus more will resemble him, for it is the contemplation as we are transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18). Your life can change forever, but that depends on your decision.

by Ramon Canals
Taken from the Times ®