YES! You Were Born That Way

We were born sinners. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--" (Rom.5:12) We are born that way! There is no doubt about it. So concerning whatever sinward-bent you have, yes, you were born that way.--- Jesus had bold words for a man that came to speak to him one night. The man, Nicodemus, assumed that he was right with God simply because of his birth. In his case he thought that he was naturally good due to his Jewish heritage. However, the rest of us have our own reasoning for thinking that we are right with God. None of us think we're all that bad. Jesus bold words to Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "(Jn.3:3) Jesus told this guy that felt he was right with God in his own eyes that heaven wasn't even within his view. It wasn't even on the horizon! That is bad news. And if we truly understand this encounter, it would be even worse news for us. If this guy wasn't right with God, we didn't stand a chance. ---Funny thing, God isn't afraid to tell the bad news, because we need to know it so that we turn the right way. If He didn't tell us that we were going the wrong way, we wouldn't see the need to turn around. So, the bad news really opens us up for the Good News. Jesus goes on to explain the love of God. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Christ came and died so you wouldn't stay that way (the way you were born, a sinner). --- Now, we often get upset when someone points out that we are a sinner. Yet, the Bible says that we all are (and we know it). We call them judgmental and all that. Listen to the words of the loving Jesus, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. "(Jn.3:18) Our sin condemns us. Are you paying attention? Death entered the world through sin. Sin is not good.---Perhaps Nicodemus didn't like hearing the words that he needed " a new birth." Of course not! Nobody likes to be told, even if it is Jesus doing the telling. Nevertheless, Jesus showed him the way out, and ended up doing the work on the cross. ---Later Paul would say " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Gal.2:20) There is a call to turn from our sin nature and live for Jesus. A new creation calls for us to live for the one who died for us and rose again. Lifestyle matters. The other six days of the week matter to God. " And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again... Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! "(2Cor.5:15,17) God has bigger plans for me than the sin I was born into. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." It's time to make the turn, and be that man/woman God had in mind when He created you. The sinful nature that we enter this world with so seeks to define us, but God has other plans. "While we were still sinners Christ died for us..." Christ didn't die so that you and I would remain in sin. It is difficult, but let's not let his death become void to us. ---Yes, you were born that way...you were born into death; but Christ came that you might have life! Remember Jesus words to Nicodemus, "You must be born again..." Take that fresh start by confessing your sins to God (He already knows them so just come clean), and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Just be honest and sincere with God. And about all that sin...He'll clean it up. That's what He does! Don't sweat it. Finally, let us pray for one another as we kill off the old man/woman inside each of us.