When New Life Begins to Breathe

A Day in the Life

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

When I walk with Jesus through the Gospels, I am repeatedly struck by how often He speaks not of improvement but of birth. He does not invite Nicodemus into a refined religious system; He tells him, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). That word “see” matters. Jesus is not describing behavior modification but a transformed capacity to perceive reality itself. To be born again is not to add Christ to an already established life; it is to receive a life that did not previously exist. Paul later gives language to this reality when he writes that anyone “in Christ” is a new creation. The Greek phrase kainē ktisis signals something altogether new in kind, not merely new in degree. This is where the Christian life truly begins.

As I reflect on a day in the life of Jesus, I notice that He consistently lives from this place of secure identity. Jesus does not strive to become the Son of God; He lives because He already is. His obedience flows from belonging, not anxiety. This is why the new birth is essential. Christianity is not entered by asking Jesus into one’s heart as a sentimental gesture, but by being acted upon by God Himself. As Jesus told Nicodemus, birth is something that happens to us. Paul echoes this when he says that, at the moment of salvation, old things pass away. This includes guilt, condemnation, and the legal power of sin. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Forgiveness is not partial or progressive; it is decisive.

Yet the pastoral tension emerges when voices—sometimes well-meaning, sometimes harmful—suggest that while forgiveness may be immediate, freedom must always be delayed. The study rightly confronts this. It is common to hear that although one is born again, they should expect to remain dominated by sin or unresolved wounds for years. This mindset subtly relocates authority away from the finished work of Christ and back onto human effort. Dallas Willard once observed, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” The danger is not effort itself but effort detached from faith in what Christ has already accomplished. Scripture testifies that the blood of Jesus is sufficient not only to forgive but to liberate. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Walking through Jesus’ life, I see this freedom embodied. He engages sinners without absorbing their shame. He confronts evil without being defined by it. He heals not only bodies but identities, restoring people to community and hope. When Paul writes that healing for every hurt is available, he is not denying the need for growth or wisdom, but he is declaring that the resources of heaven are already present in Christ. The enemy’s strategy, as Scripture consistently shows, is not merely temptation but accusation. Satan seeks to convince believers that their past still owns them. Revelation describes him as “the accuser of our brothers” (Revelation 12:10). The question, then, becomes deeply personal: whom will I believe?

A day in the life of Jesus teaches me that faith is not pretending pain never existed; it is trusting that Christ’s work addresses it more fully than my self-effort ever could. Paul writes elsewhere, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). This is not metaphorical language meant to inspire optimism; it is ontological language describing a transfer of life. The old self, defined by Adam and marked by separation, has been put to death. The new self lives by the faithfulness of Christ Himself. Healing, growth, and maturity unfold within this secure reality, not as prerequisites for acceptance but as fruits of it.

As I internalize this truth, my discipleship begins to change. I no longer wake each day trying to fix what God has already redeemed. Instead, I learn to present myself to Him as Paul exhorts: “present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life” (Romans 6:13). That posture reshapes prayer, repentance, and obedience. Repentance becomes a return to truth rather than a negotiation for mercy. Obedience becomes cooperation rather than compensation. The life of Jesus invites me to live from newness, not toward it.

For further reflection on the meaning of being born again and living from new creation identity, this article from The Gospel Coalition offers helpful biblical depth:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/born-again/

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📖 “For unto you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NKJV)

🎶 #MangerThrone reminds us that Jesus came to seek and save the lost — and paid in full for our sins on the cross in our place. ❤️✝️

🙏 “Today’s the day of salvation!” 🧡💚

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🎄✨ The King of Kings was laid in a MANGER — not an earthly throne. ✨🎄
📖 “For unto you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NKJV)

🎶 Manger Throne reminds us that Jesus came to seek and save the lost — and paid in full for our sins on the cross in our place. ❤️✝️

🙏 “Today’s the day of salvation!” 🧡💚

🎧 https://youtu.be/LN1cqABGM5Q?si=M-kv3Uvhg_kFm5Al

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Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving with my husband's family.

There's something powerful about speaking gratitude, not just feeling it.

Saying out loud what you're thankful for - this shouldn't happen once a year at most.

I've watched probably most of the interviews with hostages who returned from captivity.

And there's a pattern that repeats itself across every circumstance, age, gender, or story.

They all say the thing they still can't believe they get to do is

Choose.

Choose to sit here and not there.

Choose to walk to the window.

Choose their own words.

Choose when to sleep.

Choose what to eat.

The freedom to choose. That's what breaks them open with joy they cannot put into words.

This Shabbat, don't just feel grateful.

Say it out loud.

And don't just dream about the life you want.

Choose it.

Because you can.

You're already free.

Shabbat Shalom 💙

Inbal

#ShabbatShalom #Freedom #BornAgain #HebrewByInbal

So, when I saw through the whole #BornAgain #ChristoFascist BS (age 13), I found myself hoping that the #Rapture would happen, leaving those of us who love #MotherEarth behind to repair the damage and restore #Eden!

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The Word, the Works, and the Witness

Thru the Bible in a Year

As we open the Gospel of John, we are stepping into holy ground—the deepest waters of divine revelation. John’s Gospel is not simply a record of Jesus’ miracles or teachings; it is an invitation to behold the eternal Son of God, the Word made flesh. While Matthew shows Jesus as King, Mark as Servant, and Luke as the Son of Man, John presents Him as the eternal Word—God Himself stepping into time and space to redeem what He created.

John’s purpose is clear: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). Every chapter is written with that heartbeat. And in these first three chapters—John 1 through 3—we see the foundation of faith laid through three powerful themes: the Word, the Works, and the Witness.

John 1 – The Word: God Revealed

John begins not with Bethlehem but with eternity. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This is more than poetry—it is theology that transforms. Before creation, before time, before all things, the Word already was. John identifies Jesus not merely as a messenger of God but as God Himself—the Creator through whom all things came into being.

These opening verses describe Christ’s relationship to God (He is coequal and coeternal), His relationship to creation (He is the source of all life), and His relationship to humanity (He is the true Light who gives life to every person). Theologian A. W. Tozer once said, “Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way.” John’s introduction leaves no ambiguity—Christ is God revealed, the bridge between heaven and earth.

Then enters John the Baptist, the forerunner who came to “bear witness of that Light.” His ministry was not about self-promotion but divine preparation. He made it clear that he was not the Christ but merely a voice crying in the wilderness. His humility still echoes today: the servant must never compete with the Savior.

The narrative moves quickly as the first disciples begin to follow Jesus. They ask, “Rabbi, where are You staying?”—a question not about geography but about fellowship. Jesus responds, “Come and see.” That invitation still stands. Every seeker must eventually move from curiosity to commitment, from questioning to following. And once they came and saw, they were convinced. Andrew told Peter; Philip told Nathanael. The Gospel spreads best not through programs but through personal testimony—one heart sharing with another what it has found in Christ.

John 2 – The Works: God’s Power Displayed

The second chapter of John’s Gospel reveals that Jesus’ deity is not only declared but shown. His first miracle at a wedding in Cana may seem small compared to healing the blind or raising the dead, but it carries great significance. In turning water into wine, Jesus shows that He has come to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The problem was simple—they ran out of wine. But every human problem becomes divine opportunity when surrendered to Christ. The precept came through His mother’s faith-filled words: “Whatever He says to you, do it.” The power came when He turned water into wine, and the praise followed when the master of the feast declared that this new wine was far better than what came before. The result was gladness for the wedding guests, glory for Christ, and growth in the disciples’ faith.

The second major event in this chapter—the cleansing of the Temple—shows the other side of Christ’s ministry: righteous zeal. When Jesus drove out the merchants and money changers, He demonstrated that worship must remain holy. “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:16). It was not anger but authority that motivated Him. The Temple had become a place of profit rather than prayer, and Jesus restored its sanctity.

This cleansing foreshadowed a greater purification yet to come—not of buildings, but of hearts. Today, the Spirit dwells not in temples made with hands but in believers themselves. When Jesus cleanses us, He does so with the same passion, driving out what does not belong so that true worship can flourish within.

John 3 – The Witness: God’s Salvation Explained

The third chapter of John introduces us to one of the most well-known and beloved passages in all of Scripture. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and respected teacher, comes to Jesus by night. Perhaps he came in secrecy, afraid of what others might think, or perhaps in sincerity, searching for truth. Either way, Jesus meets him with a statement that still reverberates through time: “You must be born again.”

Nicodemus is puzzled. How can a man be born when he is old? Jesus patiently explains that the new birth is spiritual, not physical—a work of the Spirit that renews the heart. He illustrates it with a story Nicodemus would have known well: the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8–9). Just as the Israelites looked upon the serpent and were healed, so must all people look to the Son of Man lifted up on the cross.

Then comes the most recognized verse in the Bible—John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” The gospel condensed into one sentence. It tells us of the motive (God’s love), the gift (His Son), the invitation (whoever believes), and the reward (eternal life). It is not just information—it is transformation.

The chapter continues with the humility of John the Baptist, who declares, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Those seven words capture the essence of discipleship. Growth in grace means less of self and more of Christ. The measure of maturity is not how much we do for God, but how much of us God controls.

Finally, John the Apostle adds his own witness: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” Faith is not a feeling but a transfer of trust—resting fully in what Christ has done. The Word who became flesh, the One who worked miracles, now invites us into new life through belief in His name.

Walking Through John with Open Eyes

John’s Gospel invites us not just to read but to behold. Each chapter builds upon the last—the Word revealing who Jesus is, the Works revealing what He can do, and the Witness revealing why He came. Together they draw us into worship.

In John 1, we meet the eternal Word—God among us. In John 2, we see His works that manifest His glory. And in John 3, we hear the witness that leads to eternal life. This pattern—revelation, demonstration, proclamation—mirrors the Christian life itself. We encounter Christ, experience His power, and share His truth.

As we continue through the Bible this year, remember that the goal is not simply to gain knowledge but to know Christ more intimately. Every chapter is a window into His heart.

A Blessing  

May the Word enlighten your mind, the Works of Christ strengthen your faith, and the Witness of the Spirit deepen your love for God. As you walk through Scripture, may you discover afresh that Jesus is not merely the subject of the Bible but its living center. Thank you for committing to this journey through God’s Word—His promise still holds true: it will not return void.

For a deeper look at the Gospel of John, visit Bible.org for commentaries, background studies, and verse-by-verse insights.

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