Church of the Living God
The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased With His Own Blood, Inc.
Jewell Dominion
Weekly Message from General Chief Overseer Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
Date: 12/11/2023
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. As we approach the end of 2023, this month’s phrase is the: New Birth in Jesus Christ. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
My Brothers and Sisters, a New Birth in Christ is not getting a new religion, but getting a new life. What happens in the new birth is not the improvement of our old human nature but the creation of a new human nature, a nature that is forgiven and cleansed by God. Moreover, what happens in a new birth is not merely affirming the supernatural in Jesus Christ, but experiencing the supernatural ourselves.
A New Life, Not New Religion
John 3:1–3 tells us, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. And even in John 3:7, John tells us, “…You must be born again.” John tells us that all of Nicodemus’s religion, all of his amazing Pharisaic study, discipline, and law-keeping, could not replace Nicodemus’s need for a new birth.
Hence, what Nicodemus needed, and what you and I need, is not religion but a new life. A new birth in Jesus Christ brings a new life into the world. John tells us Nicodemus is alive; he’s breathing, thinking, feeling, and acting. But spiritually, he is unborn; therefore, he needs a new life; not more religious activities or more religious zeal. Nicodemus needed a new spiritual life. In the parable about the prodigal son, the Father says, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found…” (Luke 15:24). Jesus knew Nicodemus’ deepest need, which was to enter the kingdom of God. The bible tells us that Jesus knows the hearts of men (John 2:24-25, Matthew 9:4; Matthew 12:25). Jesus knew exactly why Nicodemus had come.
In closing, Nicodemus needed help; he knew he had no assurance of getting into heaven. He needed a spiritual rebirth-getting a new life from God. Saints, to be born again is to have another birth that comes like our first birth, from above. We have to be created by God, again, spiritually. To be born from above is to be born of God. To be born of God is to be born by the work of His Spirit. This is not religious activity or discipline, or a decision. This is the first way of describing what happens in the new birth. Next week we will look at experiencing the Supernatural (new birth); not just affirming it. Until then, let us not forget, “…with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.
In His Service,
Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop
