Search This Blog

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The Great Exchange

 

The Great Exchange: Focus Scriptures: John 3:1-16; 2 Corinthians 5:17

I. Introduction: The Universal Longing for Real Change

We live in a world filled with aspirations for change. We see it in the earnest resolutions made at the start of a new year, the booming self-help industry, the constant pursuit of new therapies, diets, or environments promising a better version of ourselves.1 Many grapple with ingrained habits, destructive patterns of thought, or emotional responses they wish they could master. We experience the frustration of recognizing our own faults, perhaps even acknowledging the harm they cause to those we love most, yet finding lasting transformation elusive.2 We long for a fresh start, a way to break free from the cycles that bind us, a change that penetrates deeper than mere behavior modification. Is such a fundamental renewal possible? Can a person truly become new at the very core of their being – their character, values, desires, and fundamental disposition?

The world offers myriad paths to self-improvement, focusing on willpower, technique, or circumstance. But do these address the root of the issue? Can we, by our own effort, truly remake ourselves? The Scriptures present a different, more radical answer, encountered starkly in a nighttime conversation between Jesus and a man named Nicodemus, recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 3. Nicodemus was no ordinary seeker; he was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, a respected teacher in Israel – a man who represented the pinnacle of religious observance and moral striving within his society.3 He came to Jesus acknowledging His divine authority.6 Yet, Jesus did not commend his efforts or suggest ways to refine his existing character. Instead, He presented a startling, non-negotiable requirement for entering the Kingdom of God: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God".3

This statement cuts across all human attempts at self-salvation. Jesus wasn't suggesting Nicodemus try harder or add another religious practice. He was declaring the necessity of a complete restart, a new beginning originating not from human will or effort, but "from above".3 This implies that the fundamental problem isn't merely flawed actions, but a flawed source – a spiritual condition that human effort cannot remedy.4 This sermon, therefore, will explore the nature of this divine transformation called the "new birth" and investigate how this profound experience, initiated by God Himself, radically alters human character, making possible the deep, lasting change we all, in some way, long for.

II. Understanding the New Birth: What Does "Born Again" Mean Theologically?

The term "born again" can be perplexing, as Nicodemus' initial reaction reveals. He questioned, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?".3 Jesus clarified that He was speaking not of a physical rebirth, but a spiritual one.8 The Greek term used, anoˉthen, can mean both "again" and, perhaps more significantly, "from above".3 To be born again, therefore, is to be born from above, signifying a spiritual change wrought in the human heart by a direct act of God.10 It is the moment God imparts His eternal life to the one who believes 3, making them an entirely new creation.7 The Apostle Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!".3 This divine act is often referred to theologically as regeneration.6 It involves leaving behind the old way of thinking and living and stepping into the new life offered in Jesus.15 It's not merely modifying behavior; it's receiving a completely new identity.15

But why is such a radical transformation necessary? Scripture teaches that humanity, since the fall of Adam, exists in a state of spiritual death, "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).3 This condition entails separation from God 17 and is characterized by an inherently sinful nature.10 We are born children of Adam, inheriting his corruption.3 Jesus' words to Nicodemus are absolute: "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" 3, and "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God".29 This spiritual rebirth is the non-negotiable prerequisite for perceiving, understanding, and entering God's realm of salvation. It is the only way to have sins forgiven and to establish a true relationship with God.3 Physical birth fits us for earth; spiritual birth fits us for heaven.11

Crucially, this new birth is not a human achievement. Jesus' choice of the birth analogy powerfully illustrates our complete passivity in the process.4 Just as an infant contributes absolutely nothing to its own physical birth, we contribute nothing to our spiritual birth.4 It is something that happens to us, entirely outside our control.26 Regeneration is fundamentally an act of God 3, a sovereign work initiated and accomplished by the Holy Spirit.6 Theologians describe this as monergistic – the work of one (God) alone.4 This reality immediately invalidates any notion of salvation through human effort – whether through religious rituals, moral striving, good works, or adherence to ceremonies.4 Entrance into God's kingdom is not earned; it is received as a gift, by grace.3

While God alone performs the regenerating work, the means He has ordained for receiving this new life is faith in Jesus Christ.3 Immediately following His discourse on being born again, Jesus gives the glorious promise of John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life".15 Faith is the key that unlocks the door, the hand that receives God's grace.15 This faith, however, is not mere intellectual assent; it involves a transformation of the heart, a trusting commitment to Jesus for salvation.15

This presents a profound theological dynamic: regeneration is presented as God's sovereign work that enables faith 10, yet faith is simultaneously the means by which salvation and the new life are received.3 How can both be true? The Scriptures reveal that because humanity is spiritually dead, incapable of seeking or pleasing God 3, God must first act. He sovereignly makes the dead heart alive through regeneration.12 This divine quickening is the necessary prerequisite that enables the heart, previously blind and rebellious, to respond in genuine faith. Faith is the God-ordained instrument through which the benefits of Christ's work and the reality of regeneration are personally appropriated, leading to justification and adoption into God's family.12 It is like God miraculously opening the eyes of the blind (regeneration); the person can then see and respond to the light revealed (faith). God acts sovereignly to give life, and the now-living person responds in faith, the very ability to believe being part of God's gracious work.12

Jesus also spoke of being "born of water and the Spirit".29 While interpretations vary – "water" potentially signifying physical birth 29, the cleansing work of the Spirit (perhaps alluding to Old Testament promises like Ezekiel 36:25) 29, or the outward sign of baptism 5 – the essential point remains clear. Entrance into God's kingdom requires a profound spiritual transformation ("born of the Spirit") involving both cleansing from sin and the impartation of new life, originating entirely from God.29

III. The Blueprint of Our Being: Understanding Human Character

To grasp the change effected by the new birth, we must first understand the nature of human character itself. Character comprises the enduring qualities that shape how individuals think, feel, and behave.35 It is the seat of our morals and ethics, influencing our decisions and interactions.35 Key components include:

  • Values: Our core beliefs about what is right, wrong, important, and worthwhile; our moral compass.35

  • Motivations/Desires: The internal drives, longings, and affections that propel our actions.36 What do we truly love and pursue?

  • Behaviors/Actions: The outward expression of our inner state; how values and motivations translate into deeds.35

  • Worldview: Our fundamental assumptions about reality, truth, meaning, and purpose.39

  • Relationships: Our capacity and manner of relating to God and to other people.40

  • The "Heart": In biblical terms, the "heart" represents the inner core of the person, encompassing intellect, emotions, and will.38 It is the wellspring of life from which actions flow.23

  • The Image of God (ImagoDei): Fundamentally, human beings are created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:26-27).43 This signifies that humans were designed to reflect God, possessing capacities for reason, relationship, creativity, moral awareness, and exercising stewardship over creation.40 It involves reflecting God's communicable attributes, such as love, mercy, justice, and faithfulness.40

However, the biblical narrative affirms that this original design has been marred. The Fall of humanity into sin (Genesis 3) brought about a profound corruption of human nature.43 This pre-conversion state, often referred to as the "old self" or the "flesh," is characterized by:

  • Spiritual Death: A state of separation from God, the source of life.3

  • Bondage to Sin: An inherent inclination toward evil and an inability, in the fallen state, to consistently please God or choose ultimate good. Augustine described this as being "not able not to sin," while Calvin spoke of a nature "so depraved... that he can be moved or impelled only to evil".43

  • Dominion of the "Flesh": Being controlled by sinful desires, selfishness, pride, and hostility toward God.15

  • Darkened Understanding: An inability to grasp or accept spiritual truths; seeing them as foolishness.10

  • Enslaved Will: The will, though capable of making choices, is fundamentally bound to sin's direction.10

  • Corrupted Character: The outward life reflects this inner state of rebellion and brokenness.28

It becomes clear, then, that character, from a biblical perspective, is far more than the sum of observable behaviors or personality traits often studied in psychology.35 While these are relevant, the theological understanding anchors character in the heart 38 – the inner core of motivations, desires, and allegiances – and its fundamental orientation either toward God or away from Him in self-will. The transformation promised in the new birth targets this very core. It's not just about managing bad habits; it's about receiving a new heart, a new spirit, a new governing disposition from which new life flows.10 This explains why superficial changes often fail – they don't address the root problem of the sinful heart.

Furthermore, while the Fall inflicted deep damage, it did not completely erase the image of God in humanity.43 Even in their fallen state, humans retain capacities for reason, creativity, relationship, and moral awareness, though these are profoundly distorted and often misused.43 The new birth, therefore, is not the creation of something entirely alien, but the beginning of the restoration and renewal of God's original image in the believer.47 Regeneration frees the image of God from the defacing effects of sin and begins the process of conforming the believer into the likeness of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect image of God.47 This understanding grounds both the inherent dignity of all human beings (as image-bearers, however marred) and the ultimate goal of Christian transformation.

IV. The Dynamics of Change: How the New Birth Transforms Character

The theological cornerstone of character transformation in the born-again experience is the reality of becoming a new creation in Christ.3 Regeneration is not a minor adjustment but a radical, foundational change initiated by God.10 As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, the "old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" This involves receiving a fundamentally new nature 10, a new heart and spirit replacing the old heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26) 10, a new governing disposition 14, and a new identity as a child of God.15

This internal revolution manifests in observable changes, common themes echoed in both Christian doctrine and personal testimonies. These changes touch every aspect of character:

  • Moral Reformation: Perhaps the most immediate evidence is a decisive turn from sin towards righteousness. There arises a new hatred for sin, which was once loved or treated with indifference, and a corresponding love for holiness, which was once despised.16 Sin becomes repulsive.19 This often involves breaking free from specific bondages like addictions, harmful habits, or patterns of destructive behavior.2 This change isn't about achieving sinless perfection immediately, but signifies a fundamental shift in the heart's allegiance and the breaking of sin's dominating power.16 There's a new internal conflict – the Spirit warring against the flesh – which itself is evidence of the new nature.16

  • Shift in Priorities, Values & Worldview: The focus of life shifts from self-centered pursuits to living for God and His glory.15 Worldly pleasures, ambitions, and status lose their ultimate appeal.15 The believer begins to seek first the Kingdom of God 60, valuing eternal realities over temporal ones. The mind is progressively renewed, enabling the believer to see life, morality, and purpose from God's perspective rather than conforming to the patterns of the world.15

  • Changed Relationships: The new birth fundamentally alters relationships:

  • With God: The primary change is reconciliation. Once separated and hostile, the believer is brought near, forgiven, and adopted into God's family as a beloved child.3 A new love for God emerges.12

  • With Others: A supernatural love for fellow believers arises (1 John 3:14).16 The fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – begins to characterize interactions.2 There's a growing capacity for compassion, humility, peacemaking, and treating others justly.40 Hospitality becomes a practice.65

  • Forgiveness: This becomes a hallmark of the transformed life. Having received immeasurable forgiveness from God through Christ, the believer is empowered and commanded to extend forgiveness to others.47 This act of forgiveness is liberating for the one forgiving, releasing them from bitterness and the desire for revenge.67 It also opens the possibility for reconciliation, although wisdom must be exercised, as reconciliation may not always be safe or appropriate.67 The willingness to forgive reflects a heart truly changed by grace.68

  • Newfound Purpose & Meaning: Life takes on a transcendent purpose beyond mere existence or personal fulfillment. The believer finds meaning in living for God, glorifying Him, and participating in His redemptive work in the world.8 True satisfaction is found not in worldly pursuits but in relationship with Christ.8

  • Inner Peace & Joy: Despite ongoing struggles, the born-again believer can experience a deep-seated peace that comes from reconciliation with God and trust in His sovereignty.73 Joy, too, becomes a fruit of the Spirit, a stable reality not solely dependent on external circumstances.47

The following table summarizes some key shifts in character dynamics:


Aspect of Character

Old Self (Pre-Conversion)

New Self (Post-Conversion / Growing Believer)

Nature/Disposition

Spiritually Dead 3; Heart of Stone 10

Spiritually Alive 3; New Creation 15; Heart of Flesh 10

Primary Motivation

Self-seeking, Fleshly desires 15

God's glory, Pleasing God 8

Relationship with God

Separation, Enmity 15

Reconciliation, Adoption, Love 3

Relationship with Sin

Love of sin, Bondage 16

Hatred of sin, Enmity with sin, Freedom 16

Worldview

Worldly conformity, Temporal focus 15

Kingdom focus, Eternal perspective 8

Relationships with Others

Selfishness, Worldly patterns 15

Love, Compassion, Forgiveness, Unity 16

Source of Power

Self/Flesh 15

Holy Spirit 15

It is vital to understand that while the new birth itself is a decisive, radical event imparting a new nature and identity 3, the full expression of this new character is not instantaneously perfect. Scripture and experience attest to an ongoing struggle with indwelling sin.16 Regeneration breaks sin's dominion, granting freedom and a new desire for holiness, but the presence and influence of sin must still be actively resisted throughout the believer's life. This ongoing battle and growth is the process of sanctification, which follows regeneration. The transformation is real and foundational, but its outworking is progressive.

V. The Sustaining Power: Growing in Christlikeness (Sanctification)

The new birth is the miraculous beginning, the implantation of divine life. But God's intention is not merely to start a new life within us, but to bring it to maturity, to conform us increasingly to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.47 This ongoing work is known as sanctification: the process of being made holy, set apart for God's purposes, and growing in Christlikeness.24 While regeneration and justification are instantaneous, positional realities that occur at conversion, sanctification is the progressive, experiential outworking of that new reality in the believer's life.75 It is a journey, not a destination reached overnight, involving both the power of God and the active participation of the believer.75

The Holy Spirit is the indispensable agent of sanctification.24 Having regenerated the believer, the Spirit continues His work by:

  • Indwelling: Residing within the believer as the seal of their salvation and the source of new life.24

  • Transforming: Gradually changing the believer into the likeness of Christ, moving them "from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18).63

  • Empowering: Providing the strength to resist temptation and "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13).74 He enables the believer to walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17).16

  • Producing Fruit: Cultivating godly character qualities – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – which are the evidence of His work.2

  • Illuminating and Guiding: Teaching believers, helping them understand and apply God's Word, and guiding them into truth.24

  • Renewing Desires: Changing the believer's appetites, fostering a love for righteousness and a hatred for sin.76

Alongside the Spirit's direct work, Scripture plays a vital, transformative role.47 It is the "imperishable seed" through which the new birth occurs (1 Peter 1:23) 4 and the primary instrument the Spirit uses for ongoing growth. God's Word sanctifies because it:

  • Reveals God's character, His plan, and His will, providing the blueprint for a holy life.63

  • Renews the mind, reshaping thoughts and perspectives to align with God's truth (Romans 12:2).14

  • Is the very truth that sets believers apart (John 17:17).80

  • Provides instruction, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

  • Builds and strengthens faith (Romans 10:17).7 There is simply no spiritual growth apart from the Word.63

Furthermore, God designed Christian growth to occur within the context of community – the Church.5 Isolation stunts growth. The fellowship of believers provides essential elements for sanctification, including:

  • Mutual encouragement, support, and love (Hebrews 10:24-25).88

  • Accountability, where believers gently and humbly help one another stay true to God's Word and turn from sin.89

  • Corporate worship and the regular teaching and preaching of God's Word.88

  • Opportunities to exercise spiritual gifts in service to one another, building up the body of Christ.2

  • A practical environment to live out the "one another" commands – bearing burdens, forgiving, showing patience, pursuing peace.50

  • Intentional discipleship relationships, whether through mentoring or small groups, fostering deeper growth.89

Finally, believers actively participate in their sanctification through the practice of spiritual disciplines, often called the means of grace.60 It is crucial to understand that these practices do not earn God's favor or produce holiness through human effort.60 Rather, they are God-ordained channels, ways we intentionally place ourselves before God, opening ourselves to receive the transforming grace He freely gives through His Spirit.60 They are acts of dependence, not self-reliance. These disciplines include practices like prayer, Scripture reading and meditation, fasting, solitude and silence, fellowship, corporate worship, service, confession, and simplicity.60 By engaging these means, we cooperate with the Spirit's work.

This highlights the cooperative, or synergistic, nature of progressive sanctification. Unlike regeneration, which is solely God's work (monergistic), sanctification involves a divine-human partnership.75 God is the primary actor, providing the desire and the power (Philippians 2:13) 28, but believers are called to respond actively: to "work out" their salvation, to put off the old self and put on the new, to resist sin, to pursue righteousness, and to diligently use the means of grace God has provided.77 This understanding avoids both passive resignation ("let go and let God" 78) and frustrating self-effort (legalism). We strive, but we strive in the strength that God supplies through His Spirit.

VI. Conclusion: Embracing Your New Identity in Christ

We began by acknowledging the deep human longing for genuine change, a longing often met with frustration when pursued through human strength alone. We saw Jesus confront Nicodemus, a model of human religious effort, with the radical necessity of being "born again" – a spiritual rebirth, a new creation initiated solely by God's sovereign grace through the Holy Spirit.3 This new birth, received through faith in Jesus Christ 3, is not a mere modification but a fundamental transformation at the core of our being. It replaces the heart of stone with a heart of flesh 10, imparts a new nature hostile to sin and alive to God 14, shifts our values and priorities 15, revolutionizes our relationships 16, and gives life ultimate purpose and meaning.8

This transformation, however, is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a lifelong journey called sanctification. Empowered and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit, sustained by the truth of God's Word, nurtured within the fellowship of the Church, and actively pursued through the means of grace, the believer progressively grows into the likeness of Christ.24

Therefore, let us reflect: Do we recognize the evidence of this new creation in our own lives? Is there a growing hatred for sin and a deepening love for God and His ways? Are our core values, our deepest desires, our relationships, and our life's purpose increasingly reflecting the character of Jesus Christ?56 Are we actively engaging in the process of growth, consciously depending on the Holy Spirit, immersing ourselves in Scripture, committing to authentic community, and utilizing the disciplines not as a means of earning favor, but as channels of receiving His transforming grace? Or have we become passive, complacent, or perhaps fallen back into the trap of self-reliant effort?

For those who have never experienced this transforming new birth, the invitation stands: turn from reliance on self and sin, and place your faith wholly in Jesus Christ, the One who died to forgive your sins and rose again to give you new life.3 Ask Him to make you born again.

For those who are in Christ, let this be an encouragement and a renewed call. Embrace your identity as a new creation.11 Do not be discouraged by the ongoing struggle, but "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure".78 Actively pursue holiness, drawing strength from the Spirit, nourishment from the Word, and support from the Body of Christ. Live out the glorious transformation that God Himself has begun in you, until the day He brings it to completion.23

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the miracle of the new birth, for the grace that makes dead hearts alive through faith in Jesus Christ. We thank You for the Holy Spirit, who not only regenerates but also sanctifies, continually transforming us into the image of Your Son. For those yet to experience this new life, grant them repentance and faith. For those who are Your children, empower us by Your Spirit to live out our new identity, to pursue holiness with diligence and dependence, utilizing the means You have provided. May our lives increasingly reflect the character of Christ, bringing glory to Your name. Amen.

Works cited

  1. Marks of a Healthy Church: A Biblical Understanding of Conversion - Living Word, accessed April 30, 2025, http://livingwordrec.ca/archive/marks-of-a-healthy-church-a-biblical-understanding-of-conversion/

  2. Chapter 1. Transforming the Character - BibleEvidence.com, accessed April 30, 2025, http://bibleevidence.com/a/Site/Topics/NewCreature/1-TransformingTheCharacter.html

  3. What does it mean to be a born again Christian? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/born-again.html

  4. You Must Be Born Again - Grace to You, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/81-97/you-must-be-born-again

  5. Sermon: Jesus Saves-Born Again! - John 3:1-21, Romans 6:2-11, 2 Corinthians 5:17, accessed April 30, 2025, https://leadinginworship.com/2021/05/jesus-saves-born-again-john-31-21-romans-62-11-2-corinthians-517/

  6. Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 3, accessed April 30, 2025, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-3/

  7. What being Born Again means, according to the Bible. : r/TrueChristian - Reddit, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/1fugfu5/what_being_born_again_means_according_to_the_bible/

  8. What Does It Mean To Be Born Again? - Common Questions - Going Farther, accessed April 30, 2025, https://goingfarther.net/common-questions/what-does-it-mean-to-be-born-again/

  9. What Is a Born Again Christian? Bible Meaning Explained, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/what-is-a-born-again-christian.html

  10. Regeneration - Search results provided by BiblicalTraining, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/regeneration

  11. What is regeneration according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/regeneration-Bible.html

  12. When Was I Born Again? How 'Regeneration' Blossoms in Reformed Theology, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/when-was-i-born-again

  13. www.biblicaltraining.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/regeneration#:~:text=Regeneration%20is%2C%20therefore%2C%20the%20spiritual,he%20cannot%20believe%20in%20God.

  14. Regeneration by J.I.Packer - Monergism |, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_regen.html

  15. Understanding What It Means to Be Born Again: Living a Spirit-Led Life | Micah Sutton, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.micahsutton.com/2025/02/understanding-what-it-means-to-be-born-again-living-a-spirit-led-life/

  16. Are You Born Again? - Martyn Lloyd-Jones, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.mljtrust.org/blog/are-you-born-again/

  17. Regeneration (theology) - Wikipedia, accessed April 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regeneration_(theology)

  18. The Doctrine of Regeneration and How It Comforts Believers - Modern Reformation, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/the-doctrine-of-regeneration-and-how-it-comforts-believers

  19. What does it mean to be born again? And how do you know you're born again? - Reddit, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/u2xt8z/what_does_it_mean_to_be_born_again_and_how_do_you/

  20. Topical Bible: Testimony of Transformation, accessed April 30, 2025, https://biblehub.com/topical/t/testimony_of_transformation.htm

  21. What is Regeneration? Meaning and Significance in Scripture | Christianity.com, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.christianity.com/jesus/following-jesus/repentance-faith-and-salvation/what-is-regeneration.html

  22. Meaning and Purpose #8 - Why We Need to Be Born Again - Seeking God Daily, accessed April 30, 2025, https://seekinggoddaily.com/mp8-born-again/

  23. 7 Encouraging Scriptures About Transformation - Delighting in Jesus - One Thing Alone, accessed April 30, 2025, https://onethingalone.com/7-encouraging-scriptures-heart-transformation/

  24. The Holy Spirit, Regeneration, and Sanctification – by Dr. C ..., accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.apuritansmind.com/the-christian-walk/the-holy-spirit-regeneration-and-sanctification-by-dr-c-matthew-mcmahon/

  25. Regeneration + The Holy Spirit | Carrie Lloyd Shaw, Christian Blog, accessed April 30, 2025, https://carrielloydshaw.com/regeneration-the-holy-spirit/

  26. The Blueprint for Being Born Again - Grace to You, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/43-12/the-blueprint-for-being-born-again

  27. Regeneration - Ways to Learn at Ligonier.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://learn.ligonier.org/guides/regeneration

  28. Three signs of being born again - The Gospel Project - Lifeway, accessed April 30, 2025, https://gospelproject.lifeway.com/signs-born-again/

  29. What does it mean to be born of water (John 3:5)? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/born-of-water.html

  30. The BORN AGAIN Is a New Creation IN Christ - Pastor Prosper Anang Blog, accessed April 30, 2025, https://ncrealities.wordpress.com/2019/05/28/the-born-again-is-a-new-creation-in-christ/

  31. Regeneration - The Gospel Coalition, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/regeneration/

  32. Born Again, Again - Interface, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.donweaver.org/born-again-again/

  33. The New Genesis: The Holy Spirit and Regeneration by R.C. Sproul, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.the-highway.com/genesis_Sproul.html

  34. What is decisional regeneration / decision theology? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/decisional-regeneration.html

  35. Character Traits: How to Foster the Good & Manage the Bad - Positive Psychology, accessed April 30, 2025, https://positivepsychology.com/character-traits//

  36. Personality Traits - Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, accessed April 30, 2025, https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/podcast-episodes/til-204-personality-traits/

  37. The Classical Christian Vision of the Human | Prime Matters, accessed April 30, 2025, https://primematters.com/foundations/search-happiness/classical-christian-vision-human

  38. Biblical Insights into Human Personality - Digital Bible, accessed April 30, 2025, https://digitalbible.ca/article-page/modern-topics-what-does-the-bible-say-about-personality

  39. Conversion and Worldview Transformation Among Postmoderns, accessed April 30, 2025, https://cspm.globalmissioncenters.org/conversion-and-worldview-transformation-among-postmoderns

  40. The image of God in humanity: a biblical-psychological perspective ..., accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-image-of-god-in-humanity-a-biblical-psychological-perspective/

  41. Understanding Erich Fromm's Theory of Personality - Verywell Mind, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.verywellmind.com/fromms-five-character-orientations-2795956

  42. Library : Reconceiving Personality Theory from a Catholic Christian Perspective, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=9300

  43. Human Nature and the Christian - DigitalCommons@Cedarville, accessed April 30, 2025, https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1164&context=history_and_government_publications

  44. Do we have two or three parts? Body, soul, and spirit? Dichotomy or trichotomy? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/body-soul-spirit.html

  45. The Three Parts of Man—Spirit, Soul, and Body - Bibles for America Blog, accessed April 30, 2025, https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/the-three-parts-of-man-spirit-soul-and-body/

  46. A Theology of the Human Person - Lausanne Movement, accessed April 30, 2025, https://lausanne.org/occasional-paper/a-theology-of-the-human-person

  47. Christian Character - Ways to Learn at Ligonier.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://learn.ligonier.org/guides/christian-character

  48. The Christian view of human life - Ministry Magazine, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1991/08/the-christian-view-of-human-life

  49. Sources of the Self: The Distinct Makings of the Christian Identity - Reformed Faith & Practice, accessed April 30, 2025, https://journal.rts.edu/article/sources-of-the-self-the-distinct-makings-of-the-christian-identity/

  50. 38 Bible Verses about Character Development, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.openbible.info/topics/character_development

  51. A Lesson From a Chameleon: Conformed vs. Transformed - Life, Hope & Truth, accessed April 30, 2025, https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/what-is-conversion/conformed-vs-transformed/

  52. Personality change following religious conversion: perceptions of converts and their close acquaintances - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13674676.2010.522564

  53. Psychological change before and after religious conversion and deconversion - Zurich Open Repository and Archive - Universität Zürich, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/265464/1/ZORA_265464.pdf

  54. Religion and the Development of Character: Personality Changes Before and After Religious Conversion and Deconversion - ResearchGate, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343199449_Religion_and_the_Development_of_Character_Personality_Changes_Before_and_After_Religious_Conversion_and_Deconversion

  55. Why your personality shapes everything you do in ministry - Southern Equip, accessed April 30, 2025, https://equip.sbts.edu/article/personality-shapes-everything-ministry/

  56. Are You Born Again? - Brethren Revival Fellowship, accessed April 30, 2025, https://brfwitness.org/are-you-born-again/

  57. Christian conversion -- point or process?, accessed April 30, 2025, https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/process.htm

  58. What is the new birth? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/new-birth.html

  59. Paul's Testimony in Acts 22 (and how to craft our own) - First Baptist Church Thomson, GA, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.fbcthomson.org/post/paul-s-testimony-in-acts-22-and-how-to-craft-our-own

  60. Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines - Jen Roland, accessed April 30, 2025, https://jenroland.com/2020/03/12/practicing-the-spiritual-disciplines/

  61. Personal Growth: Lessons from the Bible - Tent International, accessed April 30, 2025, https://tentinternational.org/tent-blog/transform-your-life-embracing-personal-growth-found-in-scripture

  62. Topical Bible: Transformation and Growth, accessed April 30, 2025, https://biblehub.com/topical/t/transformation_and_growth.htm

  63. How the Bible Brings Spiritual Growth - Lifeway, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.lifeway.com/en/special-emphasis/read-the-bible/articles/how-the-bible-brings-spiritual-growth

  64. What is the process of sanctification according to Romans?, accessed April 30, 2025, https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/what-is-the-process-of-sanctification-according-to-romans

  65. The Character Of A Transformed Man — Travis Main - Carolina Messenger, accessed April 30, 2025, https://carolinamessenger.wordpress.com/2020/12/17/the-character-of-a-transformed-man-travis-main/

  66. Dramatic Conversions and the Power of Grace - Sacred Windows, accessed April 30, 2025, https://sacredwindows.com/dramatic-conversions-and-the-power-of-grace/

  67. How Forgiveness Will Change Your Life - James River Church, accessed April 30, 2025, https://jamesriver.church/blog/how-forgiveness-will-change-your-life/

  68. Learning to Forgive Family | Desiring God, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/learning-to-forgive-family

  69. How Forgiveness Opens the Door to Transformation - Dr Carol Ministries, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.drcarolministries.com/forgiveness-opens-the-door-to-transformation/

  70. Can you forgive someone but still not want a relationship with that person as a Christian? : r/TrueChristian - Reddit, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/1el4zqy/can_you_forgive_someone_but_still_not_want_a/

  71. Lydia's Story: Christian Conversion as Relational, Collaborative, and Invitational (Acts 16:11-15)1, accessed April 30, 2025, https://arcjournal.library.mcgill.ca/article/download/689/706

  72. Discovering God's Purpose for Your Life - C.S. Lewis Institute, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/discovering-gods-purpose-for-your-life/

  73. My Conversion: The Beginning of a New Adventure (Autobiography, Ch. 17) | Dr. Paul Wong, accessed April 30, 2025, http://www.drpaulwong.com/my-conversion-the-beginning-of-a-new-adventure/

  74. The Sanctifying Spirit - The Gospel Coalition, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/the-sanctifying-spirit/

  75. What We Believe About Sanctification - Influence Magazine, accessed April 30, 2025, https://influencemagazine.com/en/Practice/What-We-Believe-About-Sanctification

  76. The Holy Spirit #7: The Spirit as Sanctifier of the Soul - Gainesville Presbyterian Church, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gpcweb.org/the-holy-spirit--7-the-spirit-as-sanctifier-of-the-soul

  77. Transformation from the Heart: The 4 P's of Change - Vera Christian, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.verachristian.com/connecting-the-dots/transformation-from-the-heart

  78. What Are Regeneration, Justification, and Sanctification? | Lifeway, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/what-is-regeneration-justification-sanctification

  79. Sanctification: What It Is and Why It's a Lifelong Process - Sound of Heaven Church, accessed April 30, 2025, https://soh.church/sanctification/

  80. Sanctification and Spiritual Growth: Nurturing Holiness in the Christian Life, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.africanbiblecolleges.com/post/sanctification-and-spiritual-growth-nurturing-holiness-in-the-christian-life

  81. What is sanctification? What is the definition of Christian sanctification? | GotQuestions.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/sanctification.html

  82. What is Sanctification? - Grace Theological Seminary, accessed April 30, 2025, https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-sanctification/

  83. What is Sanctification and How Does It Work? - Cru, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/sanctification.html

  84. Is Sanctification a Process or a Position? - The Gospel Coalition, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/is-sanctification-a-process-or-a-position/

  85. SANCTIFICATION: THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SCRIPTURE - TMS, accessed April 30, 2025, https://tms.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tmsj21h.pdf

  86. The Disciplines: Structure and Space for Spiritual Formation - Holy Joys, accessed April 30, 2025, https://holyjoys.org/spiritual-formation-part-8-the-disciplines/

  87. How Does A Person Become Holy And Sanctified? : r/Bible - Reddit, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Bible/comments/hqey9y/how_does_a_person_become_holy_and_sanctified/

  88. The Role of Community in Discipleship | Cru, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/help-others-grow/discipleship/the-role-of-community-in-discipleship.html

  89. Discipleship 101: Your First Steps as a Follower of Christ - Chmeetings, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.chmeetings.com/discipleship-basics-steps-as-a-follower-of-christ/

  90. Characteristics of a Disciple: How to Live Out Biblical Discipleship - Vanco, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.vancopayments.com/egiving/blog/characteristics-of-a-discipleship-today

  91. Discipleship in Community - Journal of Urban Mission, accessed April 30, 2025, https://jofum.com/articles/discipleship-in-community/

  92. Scriptures for Spiritual Growth - Manhood Journey, accessed April 30, 2025, https://manhoodjourney.org/spiritual-growth-scriptures/

  93. Accountability vs. Disciple Making: What's the Difference? - Discipleship.org, accessed April 30, 2025, https://discipleship.org/blog/accountability-vs-disciple-making/

  94. 8 Characteristics of Disciple-making Churches | ChuckLawless.com, accessed April 30, 2025, https://chucklawless.com/2020/01/8-characteristics-of-disciple-making-churches/

  95. You Need Biblical Accountability and Discipline - Radical, accessed April 30, 2025, https://radical.net/podcasts/radical-podcast/you-need-biblical-accountability-and-discipline/

  96. Spiritual Exercises and the Life of Grace - Center For Baptist Renewal, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.centerforbaptistrenewal.com/blog/2025/3/10/spiritual-exercises-and-the-life-of-grace

  97. The role the Holy Spirit plays in the process of sanctification and of becoming a disciple, accessed April 30, 2025, https://realchristianity.com/role-of-the-holy-spirit-in-process-of-sanctification/

  98. Means of Grace vs. Spiritual Disciplines, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.graceofthevalley.org/gcv-blog/post/means-of-grace-vs--spiritual-disciplines

  99. Christian Disciplines as a Means to Grace | Conversatio Divina, accessed April 30, 2025, https://conversatio.org/christian-disciplines-as-a-means-to-grace/

  100. Habits of Grace - Desiring God, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.desiringgod.org/books/habits-of-grace

  101. Spiritual Disciplines and Means of Grace: Contrast or Continuum - Dallas Willard, accessed April 30, 2025, https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/spiritual-disciplines-and-means-of-grace-contrast-or-continuum

No comments:

Post a Comment

More Prompts

 Research the the growing of marijuana in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Compare/contrast with other counties in the state of West Virg...