Old joke: What is the difference between involvement and commitment? In a ham and eggs breakfast, the chicken is involved; the pig is committed!  

It our last few Blotters we have been looking at what the Bible means by the phrase "Born Again." We have learned that a person cannot get to Heaven without being born again (John 3). We have learned that being born again is a two-step process.

First, a person's faith is brought to life by the Holy Spirit. This happens when a person hears and responds to the Gospel message.

Secondly, a person must be born of water. This is a reference to baptism (For the record, in the New Testament, baptism meant completely immersing a person in water).  

A person who has been "Born Again" is in a unique and wonderful position. His sins have been forgiven. He is a "new creation"--now capable, via the Spirit, of obeying the commands of Christ. And he is a citizen of the Kingdom, with a promised home awaiting him in Heaven.

These are great privileges. And with great privilege comes great responsibility. That responsibility can be summed up in one word: Faithfulness.  Simply put, Christ expects those who have been "Born Again’ to follow Him all the days of their lives. New birth is not a fire insurance policy to keep you out of Hell. It is the start of a life-long adventure of discipleship. Christ may not expect you to go to a foreign mission field, or attend a Bible college or teach a Sunday school class. But He DOES expect you to trust Him, follow His teachings and obey His commands. And not just when it is convenient or when you "feel like it." When you are "Born Again" you become a child of God, a child of the King. But a child is just that: a child. 

God is not satisfied to leave you as a spiritual baby. He wants you to mature, to develop, to grow up. This can only be done by following Jesus daily.  That is a lot to expect of someone. But think about all Jesus had to do to save you. AND think about all the privileges that you have in Christ!  

Is the "pay-off" worth the price? That is the question each potential Christian must answer. Have you answered it? I hope so.

See you soon!

Bill