Are You Born Again? #2

“Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him” (I John 2:29).

The man who is born again is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God’s will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Savior and to be Christ’s friend by doing whatever He commands.

He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence. 

Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether he is a Christian at all, he will say with John Newton, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (I John 3:14). 

A man who is born again also has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. 

He understands them, and they understand him. They may be different in many ways—in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter. They are his Father’s sons and daughters and he cannot help loving them.

What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

~ J. C. Ryle