{"id":30544,"date":"2023-10-13T09:05:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=30544"},"modified":"2023-10-13T09:07:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:07:25","slug":"rescued-redeemed-restored","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/rescued-redeemed-restored\/","title":{"rendered":"Rescued, Redeemed, Restored"},"content":{"rendered":"

In that epic encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 about what it means to be born again, Jesus explained, \u201cThat which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit\u201d (v. 6).<\/p>\n

Every person on the planet has been born of the flesh, but the life of the flesh only produces death and destruction. The only true hope of humanity is new life in Christ, the spiritual life that produces a whole new nature.<\/p>\n

Just as children inherit the nature of their parents, so those born of the Spirit inherit a spiritual nature. Just as our human nature determines our appetites and actions, our spiritual nature evokes new tastes and desires manifested in new behaviors.<\/p>\n

Peter describes this as becoming \u201cpartakers of the divine nature\u201d (2 Peter 1:4) and further states that we have been given everything we need to live out this new life (vv. 2-4). Yet as
\nNicodemus\u2019 life underscores, being deeply religious doesn\u2019t guarantee our understanding of the spiritual life. Thus the invitation to come and see our new life in Christ.<\/p>\n

Spiritual realities<\/h2>\n

So let\u2019s begin by considering some of the spiritual realities that become true of us the moment we are saved through the profession of faith in Christ.<\/p>\n

According to Scripture, we are<\/p>\n