Finally Got the Book

I just got my hands on the new book from John Piper "Finally Alive". I have been waiting for a long time to get this book. "Finally Alive" is all about what happens when we are Born Again. I think the biblical doctrine of the New Birth is not talked about enough, it always seems to be somewhere in the background. 

Becoming Born Again is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. Growing up I had always heard of the term "Born Again", but I just thought this was a label for extra spiritual Christians, or "Jesus Freaks". I did not realize the New Birth was something that actually happens to a person and has just as much impact as physical birth. 

The problem I always had is this: I thought because I had repeated a prayer, I was automatically saved. I also thought that saying I believed all the facts about Jesus, mixed with my goodness, was good enough for God. It wasn't until I started reading the Bible that I learned that being Born Again was necessary and was followed by repentance and faith in Jesus. 

So far I have read the 1st chapter of "Finally Alive" and I already have a deeper understanding of what it means to be Born Again. Here is the opening paragraph from the 1st chapter.

Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He  was speaking to all of us when he said that. Nicodemus was not a special case. You and I must be born again, or we will not see the kingdom of God. That means we will not be saved; we will not be part of God’s family, and we will not go to heaven. Instead, we will go to hell if we are not born again. That’s what Jesus says  later in this chapter about the person who does not believe on Christ: “The wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). This is no joking matter. Jesus uses hard words for hard realities. That  is what love does. The opposite is called pandering. (p.25)

                                                                                   

I think the devil has really robbed us of this beautiful reality of being Born Again. I fear that many people are just like I was for 20 years, not knowing the truth that can set them free. God has given me a passion to learn more and more about this wonderful salvation that is offered through Jesus Christ. I pray that you have already experienced the joy of being Born Again and becoming a new creation in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!