Remembering the Apsotles' Doctrine - Part 2

I love the Doctrine!  

Not only was Benjamin Franklin a great statesman and inventor, but he was also a great correspondent and received letters from famous people from all over the world. One day he received what could well have been the most important letter ever to come to his desk. It was from the well-known British preacher George Whitefield.

"I find that you grow more and more famous in the learned world," Whitefield wrote. "As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains."

I like the above story, because it shows us that even though we may be intelligent in areas that are of the natural world, we still need to take the time to understand what God’s Word is trying to teach about what is MOST important!!

The New Birth: It is the hinge of the whole gospel message. It is the point in which all true Christians agree. It is the mandatory occurrence in each man’s salvation. It is the beginning point for our hope for heaven. It is the basic work of faith. Thus we ought to be very diligent and certain that we are truly born again.

It is required (according to the scriptures) that we experience the New Birth in order to make it to Heaven. But, we also need to understand what the New Birth is.

John 3:1-7 (NKJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus we find the means of attaining eternal life and the importance of personal faith and decision. Nicodemus wanted to learn more about Jesus, but he ended up learning more about himself!

Those who come to learn more about Jesus will learn more about themselves also.

Ok, in order for us to understand the New Birth, let’s take a look at verse 5.
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

I have been raised in this my entire life.  But, I must still go back and search the scriptures in order to keep the doctrine new and alive!  Let's take a look into the OT to see where the New Birth actually began. 

Joel, the prophet, spoke of the New Birth:

Joel 2:28 (NKJV)
And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.

Because Joel prophesied this, the children of God new about it; they heard it taught, preached and awaited this to come to pass.

As time went on, they had forgotten about it. Hundreds of years went by.

I feel as though we are kind of in this same place in our Apsotolic society.  Many of us know what the New Birth is, but do we remember it?  Do we live it?  Do we tell it?  Too many people I personally know have allowed they doctrine to be forgotten.  I refuse to allow this to happen with me. 

The doctrine shouldn't just be a "belief".  It should be a lifestyle.  Someone questioned me recently because I called myself an Apsotolic.  The person was kind of irritated that I had given myself that title.  As our conversation went on, it seemed as though "Apostolic" was a bad word.  You know what I say to that, "WHATEVER"!! 

The person's point was that we shouldn't call ourselves Apostolic because it turns people off.  They began to tell me that we should call ourselves Christians. 

There is some truth to what the person was saying.  I am a Christian, but in order for me to be a true Christian I must live an Apsotolic lifestyle.  And in living that lifestyle I need to understand what the Apostles taught.  That is why I'm blogging on this topic.  I want the Christians of today to know that we can still be Apostolic in our lifstyle.  Go ahead: LIVE IT!  LOVE IT! SPREAD IT!  It's okay to call yourself an Apostolic.  Don't be ashamed of it. 

Have a blessed week!!