"To Come into Existence"

 "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33 KJV) 

  "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." (John 1:10-13 NLT)

 Somehow, we must be able to understand this and make it understood: We are no longer that which we once were and have been made into something that is from above! I know that is sometimes a hard pill to swallow, because it makes you different from those that have not yet been changed; but, as it is said, 'Dead fish will naturally float downstream, but you must be alive to swim against the current!' 

 This little secret about being part of something that you have not made happen, it pretty much works both ways. As with these Jews, who have clearly felt that they belonged to Abraham's seed, purely based upon their natural birth record, had done nothing to deserve that position; yet the position doesn't go any higher than this earth. 

 As it is, to really be Abraham's seed, requires the same belief that Abraham had, not just being born into the line of Abraham. (Romans 4) Then it is strictly based upon faith, not upon doing, but believing! What a strange concept! You mean I don't need to do anything but believe? Shouldn't I at least build an alter or make some sort of promise or commitment with God, just as Abraham did? 

 Interesting fact, is that Abraham did not make anything, but in fact, he took away, by the cutting away, as God had instructed him to do. It was then that the law was established, not the other way around. If you get right down to it, we come to God by faith, then He brings us into a right standing with Him.

 Which reminds me, there was something I heard the other day that was a little strange, that there are some preachers that say that there is not anything that really happens when a person raises their hand and repeats the 'Sinner's Prayer' or comes forward to accept Christ into their heart. If that is true, then those are the preachers working for the other side, and they are not the preachers working for God! 

 I am sorry if that offends anyone, but that has to be the worst thing I have ever heard; it is just as bad as saying you have got to be baptized in order to be truly saved. Even a dead fish can be dipped into the water; but that will not bring the dead fish back to life...

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of underserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." (Romans 5:1-2 NLT)