W E L C O M E  

 TOUCHING LIVES & BECOME ALIVE IN CHRIST

Rebornlife is about sharing the Gospel of Grace to of all people. 

FEELING A BIT LOST? THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE IN CHRIST

If you do not know Jesus Christ personally, this is the place to be. 

Be encouraged by the following verse in God's Word 

"For the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) came to seek and save that which was lost"  Luke 19:10

If you feel unwanted, rejected, broken-hearted or just lost - know that Father God loves you and that He did not leave you helpless or hopeless in this difficult world we live in. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save you and to give you eternal life. You may not feel that you are loved, but you are! 

A WORD OF HOPE & ENCOURAGEMENT

Many people are broken, they suffered loss, rejection ... filled with worry and fear as well as anxiety about the future. 

What is your concerns? 

Do you struggle to cope with devastating challenges such as the loss of someone you loved?, or perhaps loneliness, physical or emotional pain, abandonment, rejection or financial loss or strain?

Jesus warned us that we will face many trials and sorrows in the world. The fact that we are faced with difficulties, challenges and trials should not surprise us - but it confirms the reliability of God's Word. 

The good news is that He also encouraged us with a hope and told us: “be encouraged, because I (Jesus) have overcome the world". The good news is that those who lean on, trust in and have confidence in Him, can have peace in the eye of the storm. It is in Him that we find peace in the storm and the perseverance to endure - not giving up! 

We all need a strong foundation

It is during these unforeseen events, challenges or trials that we all need something to hold on when everything around us falls apart. Jesus Christ is God's only only answer to eternal life and the issues we face in the world.

He is the unshakable Rock, the Anchor of hope for you in these trying times we live in. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, remember, you have a heavenly Father who is called the God of hope. (Romans 15:13)

WE ARE LOST AND SEPERATED FROM GOD

Since the fall of man in Genesis, mankind were spiritually separated from God due to sin. Through imputed sin we are all born in sin as we are in Adam. Sin is sin and must be punished. Since the penalty for sin is death, the only way to be restored again in relationship to God was through paying the penalty for sin  - death. 

CHRIST TOOK OUR PLACE

We are born into sin, then we are exposed to sin, then we practice sin. We are all sinful. And the wages of sin is death - eternal separation from God. But took the punishment on Him. He willingly died on the Cross of Calvary in our place (as us), to redeemed us (to buy us back) with His life-blood. 

JESUS GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR US

Jesus speaks about His life: ‘’No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.”

- John 10:18 AMP

Through the Cross He also delivered us from the curse. Only Jesus' blood can give peace and right-standing before our Heavenly Father. Only His cross can deliver us from the curse of the law.

FROM CURSED TO BLESSED

'We read this amazing promise in the Word: ''Yet, Christ paid the full price to set us free from the curse of the law. He absorbed the curse completely as He became a curse in our place. For it is written: ''Everyone who is hung upon a tree (cross) is cursed''.

Jesus Christ dissolved the curse from our lives, so that in Him all the blessings of Abraham can be poured out upon gentiles. And now through faith we receive the promised Holy Spirit who lives in us.''  Galatians 3:14

GOD's GRACE, OUR CHOICE

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] Jesus, God’s only Son, the One who is truly unique, the only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16

THE ONLY WAY AND NAME GIVEN FOR SALVATION

Jesus said::I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Jesus is the way, and the Father is the destination (Our Father in Heaven)

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation] - Acts 4:12 AMP

It's God's unmerited grace, but our choice to receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. We are born with a free will and the condition for receiving any gift is acceptance. The gift of eternal life is only made available through Jesus Christ. 

WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS AS OUR LORD

When we receive Jesus as Lord we are no longer in Adam, but in Christ as He becomes our righteousness, holiness and redemption. The Holy Spirit makes His dwelling in us and brands us as God's property when we respond to the good news in faith and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. 

Reading: Ephesians 1:13; Romans 10:9,10; 1 Corinthians 6:19

FREE WILL

God will not force you. He gave His Son, and His Son willingly gave His life. You have the choice to accept or reject what Jesus Christ had done for you on the Cross of Calvary.

When we receive Jesus as Lord we are not in Adam anymore, but in Christ. The Holy Spirit makes His dwelling in us and brands us as God's property when we respond to the good news in faith and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. 

Reading: Ephesians 1:13; Romans 10:9,10; 1 Corinthians 6:19

THE BLOOD AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST

The Christian life 

The  following two aspects must be understood by the believer in order to have what God had accomplished through Christ 's atoning death on the Cross of Calvary. (John 10:10)

1. The blood. 

The blood is for the forgiveness. Forgiveness is only possible through the blood of Christ. It is through Christ's shed blood that we receive the forgiveness, or remission for the sins we have committed.

Remission: Is the blotting out, the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty. We read in Isaiah 43:25 (New International Version) 

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.''

There is no way to enter God's presence except by the blood of Christ. Only Christ' blood (not religion, nor good deeds, acceptance by a specific denominational group, a superior background, race, gender or education) can bring us in a position of right-standing before God. 

Jesus becomes our righteousness when we receive Him as our Savior. (Exodus 12:13 "When I see the blood..." Jesus becomes your Passover Lamb who was slain.)

What happens when we fail or sin again?

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, we have a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

The Word of God becomes our new frame of reference as study, pray and worship. And Jesus' amazing promise became true when He said: ''I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth... '' 

We are not alone, we have the Holy Spirit to indwell us, protect us, counsel us, and help us to follow Jesus as our example in our walk with God, and crucify our old nature (old habits) day-by-day that Christ may increase in our life and our self-life may decrease.  

When the Apostle Paul said: ''I die daily'', he amplified how he had to restrain himself from satisfying his flesh (this is not the body), but the part in us that wants to rebel and go against the Word of God, causing us to sin.

The good news is that the blood Jesus is always available when we sin. (1 John 1:9) 

2. The cross. 

It is the cross of Christ that delivers us from the curse. The blood of Christ cannot wash away our old nature, the cross is the only solution to deal with our old nature (character).  

We who believe in what Christ accomplished on the cross of Calvary were co-crucified with him to dismantle the stronghold of sin within us. We also know that we will share in the fullness of his life, since Christ (the Anointed One) has been raised from the dead to die never again! 

One of Jesus' most powerful and life-changing statements for those who believe in Him as the Christ is: 'I AM the Resurrection and I AM Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to Me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever''. - John 10:25 TPT 

The cross ensures victory as our old nature are being transformed and dealt with daily. This is a process and happens ss we read and study the Word and become doers of the Word. As we apply the Word and follow Jesus Christ our model, we will experience victory over our old nature. 

Application: Identify wrong thinking-patterns or habits as you study the Word. Learn what to say 'yes' to and 'no' to. 

Saul of Tarsus, whose goal was to persecute and destroy Christians, became the Apostle Paul after his dramatic encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. After Pauls personal encounter with Jesus Christ he had to repent and be be transformed by renewing his mind. He had to change - he had to let go his old way of thinking and acting. He had to align his will with the will of God. 

The Apostle Paul had crucify old and wrong thinking patterns daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31; Romans 12:1,2)              

Applying the cross (1 Corinthians 15:31 - Apostle Paul "I die daily" ) We need to learn when to say "yes" or "no". To distinguish between good and evil.

 DEVOTION AREA 

WATCH AND SHARE  

ALLOW JESUS TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY! 

 We all fall short and need saving

Jesus came for people like you and me. People who is not perfect and need saving. The Scribes and Pharisees can be compared with the faultfinders and perfect people of our day.  On facial value ''they have everything together'' on the outside, they are self-righteous and proud. 

We see in the Word of God that these "perfect people" (the Pharisees) were not open to Jesus' teachings or miracles and were out to trick, discredit, persecute or kill Him. (Mk 2:17)  

It's the 'messed-up' bunch, who desperately needs saving that went to Jesus for healing. 

Who sought Jesus in the Bible? It's people who needed healing, people who needed to be saved from some kind of illness or oppression, disease or condemnation. If this is you - Jesus is willing to touch your life. (See Matthew 8) 

Jesus never refused a sinner who came running to Him for healing or restoration. He would heal and restore them, because that was His mission. The same miracles what we read about in the Bible are for us today. Jesus is the same - yesterday, today, forever! (Hebrews 13:8) 

A CHANGED LIFE  - REQUIRES CHANGED THINKING

Repentance. The Greek meaning of the word 'repentance' literally means to change the mind. Repentance is the realization in the mind of exactly where you are and that change is required. 

When the prodigal son came to himself and started thinking about his current circumstances in life and what he could do about it. He said to himself: 'I will go to my father'. He knew and acknowledged that change in his life was required. As the lost son started to change his thinking and attitude (repented) he started to walk in newness of life.   

His father was not angry with him. As he saw his son from a distance away, he ran to him, and kissed him, welcoming him home. His father was moved with pity and tenderness. The once lost son confessed his wrongful actions, and was fully restored in his fathers' house.

This is an awesome picture of Father God looking out for you as a son or daughter to repent and come home - this is done when we realize our need for saving and accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

Jesus said to him; "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." - John 14:6 (There is no other way to get in heaven. - Acts 4:12; Jn 1:12)

Repentance means to turn from one way of life to a complete opposite one.  - Luke 15:11, Jam 4:8, Acts 3:19)

If you had not yet returned home, know that your Heavenly Father is looking out for you - watching the horizon to see if you are returning home. He is waiting for you!

Turn and go to your Heavenly Father here 

Scripture: Luke 15:10  Even so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) Amp. 

See meaning of being born in Spirit and repentance  

FROM ATHEIST TO CHRISTIAN

Young John Newton called himself an atheist, and his life demonstrated his lack of belief in God. Even the coarsest sailors aboard his slave-trading ship could not stand his filthy speech. He brutalized the male slaves and sexually abused the women, and he prodded other sailors to do the same. The ship's captain finally put him ashore on the coast of Africa, and there he became a servant of slavers.

Finally rescued by another merchant ship, Newton once again fouled the ship with his presence. In a drunken stupor he almost plunged overboard, and the captain wished that he had. Then, amazingly in the midst of a vicious ocean storm in 1748, God touched his heart. Years after his remarkable conversion, Newton commented, "I see no reason why the Lord singled me out for mercy…unless it was to show that with him nothing is impossible."                                                                              

The fool who had said in his heart that there was no God was now transformed. He became famous throughout England, both as a preacher and a writer of hymns. Without a doubt, the best-known hymn of this former atheist is the following:

                                                            “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
                                                                     That saved a wretch like me!
                                                                I once was lost, but now am found,
                                                                        Was blind but now I see”    

 

                                                                          -   JOHN NEWTON  -  

 More: Christian history 

JESUS CAN ONLY BE YOUR SAVIOR IF YOU NEED SAVING

Have your self-worth been distorted by lies? Have your relationship with God been destroyed, or are you filled with blame, shame and guilt?

Let go of that weight, and burdens and be restored and reconciled to God through Jesus. Worry has a weight (Psalms 55:22) When inviting Jesus into your life or beholding Him (set your eyes on; pay attetion to) you literally cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and, and the promise follows, He will sustain you!

He will never allow the righteous (those who are justified, set apart and made right by the blood of Christ) to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). Do you still want to carry those burdens of worry, fear, blame, shame or guilt alone? 

HEALING & RESTORATION

Just like John Newton's story above, we all have done certain things (own personal sin) that are displeasing to God, which makes us deserving of punishment. And, since all our sins are ultimately against an eternal God, only an eternal punishment is sufficient. The bad news: The wages (payment) of sin is eternal-death, (total separation from God), but the good news is that God's amazing gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ is available for anyone who believes.(John 3:16) Jesus paid in full what we rightfully deserve - death on a cross. Jesus dies in our place ('as us') on the cross. Through His precious blood He redeemed (to buy us back) us back to the Father again. 

Jesus says: "I am the way the truth and life... (John 14:6, Romans 6:23).  

The image below pictures John 3:16, and the Cross of Jesus, so that you may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 

THE POWER OF LOVE

As the reformer, Martin Luther, were in the process of printing bibles, a small piece of paper fell to the ground. It read –

                         "For God so loved the world that he gave…”

His daughter picked up the partly printed verse, pondering on its words. As the days went by her mother saw a change in her behaviour. She asked her what caused this sudden change in her life. She replied, Mommy, I found this piece of paper where Daddy is printing: 

“For God so loved the world that He gave…”

So she asked, what did He give?

 Her daughter replied ...

“I don’t know what He gave mommy, but that He loved so much, that He was still thinking of giving”

Whatever difficult situation you are going through, know this -

When God gave His Son, He made provision for every need. His heart is still to do more than what you could ever think or imagine.(Ephesians 3:20) Don’t ever say 'no-way', because He is the way. If you allow Him, He will be your Shepherd, your guide, your bravery, your invincible army, your abundant supply, because He IS the great “I Am”. (Mk 14:62)

Come to Him as you are. 

Come with all of your baggage, concerns and worries. He will help you, heal you, restore you and sustain you!

Are you heavily burdened? (you will know the truth)

Jesus said: ''Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by riligious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls].'' Mark 11:28 Amp

The greatest form of neighborly love is to introduce someone to Jesus. Jesus said:

"Go and preach the Good News to everyone in the world..."

MARK 16:15   

THE DIVINE EXCHANGE