John 3:9-13
Ever since the first sin (Gen. 3:6), all human beings have been born with a sin nature, separating us from a holy God. In order to commune with Him, we must be born again. This is how we receive a new nature, a new spirit, and a new eternal destiny.
Spiritual rebirth is a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit—He doesn’t simply freshen up our old nature but instead brings about a transformation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature” (emphasis added). As a result, believers can worship, praise, and serve the living God out of genuine love and devotion to Him.
This rebirth process involves forgiveness of our sins, and to accomplish that, God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross. Our Savior’s substitutionary atonement is the means by which a holy and righteous God permanently removes our sin and makes us holy like Himself. Our cleansing doesn’t come from being religious, or even from confession of sin and repentance. Rather, it comes from the blood that Jesus shed on the cross at Calvary. By believing that He died to pay the penalty we owed and then accepting His sacrifice on our behalf, we are forgiven of our sins—God wipes them away! (Eph. 1:7; Ps. 103:12). Praise Him for the blessing of His remarkable saving love.
Bible in One Year: Romans 1-3
