What are some grand differences between spiritually born-again Christians and everybody else? We can only touch the surface on this subject, but let’s have a look. Grand difference number 1: We have different spiritual F/fathers. Our Father is God, the Father of Truth. Everybody else’s father is Satan, the father of lies John 8:44. Their father was once our father too! What brought about the change? We heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of truth, and we responded to it. The moment we did so, the declaration from 2 Corinthians 5:17 was activated. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Although we do not live without sin as new creations, we do not live in sin. In other words, we are no longer under the power and dominion of sin. This explains the following Scripture, We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself (by the Holy Spirit’s power), and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one 1 John 5:18-19. Quote: “He (Satan) cannot come at him so as to wound him to the heart, or destroy that principle of life that is in him, or so as to overcome and devour him; he may tempt him, and sift him, and buffet him, and greatly afflict and grieve him, but he can not touch his life.” – John Gill.
Grand difference number 2: All guilt and penalties for the sins of spiritually born-again Christians are removed; all remain for everybody else. In other words, everybody else is under condemnation for their sins and remain so, unless they believe Christ and turn to Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God John 3:18. Everybody else is condemned already by conscience, by the law of God and in the judgment of God. This is a frightening condemnation; God hates sin so much He Himself came to deal with it on our behalf. If that gets rejected, woe to those who do so.
Grand difference number 3: God blots from His memory all sins of all spiritually born-again Christians; for everybody else, they remain in His mind. For the repentant, God says, I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins Isaiah 43:25. And for all those who struggle with receiving that as a promise for themselves, God repeats it again! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins…… Isaiah 44:22. Again, for everybody willing to humble themselves, have a change of heart and mind about who and what they are in the eyes of God, He says, Repent (reconsider) therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…… Acts 3:19.
Grand difference number 4: All fear of having to face God in judgment is removed for spiritually born-again Christians; not so for everybody else. Our judgment is for rewards, not punishment. Now that we are recipients of God’s love, we are no longer recipients of God’s wrath. What did we do to deserve God’s love? Nothing! Jesus did it all for us; He even gave us the faith and power to believe and trust Him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us 1 John 4:17-19.
Grand difference number 5: An indescribable peace of God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, is the ever-present experience for spiritually born-again Christians; not so for everybody else. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:7. What about everybody else? The peace they experience is shallow by comparison. In fact, it’s a false peace; it’s based on lies like everything else their father offers them. “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked (condemned, guilty, ungodly).” Isaiah 48:22. And in case we doubt this, God repeats it, “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21. Peace eludes them, as it once did us!
Grand difference number 6: The joy of the LORD is your strength Nehemiah 8:10. The joy of God Himself! A reality for spiritually born-again Christians only; not for everybody else. Quote: “This is no gluttonous and drunken festival that enervates the body, and enfeebles the mind:…… Religious joy, properly tempered with continual dependence on the help of God, meekness of mind, and self-diffidence, is a powerful means of strengthening the soul. In such a state every duty is practicable, and every duty delightful. In such a frame of mind no man an ever fell, and in such a state of mind the general health of the body is much improved; a cheerful heart is not only a continual feast, but also a continual medicine.” – Albert Barnes.
Grand difference number 7: Spiritually born again Christians are the only people in possession of genuine, God-given hope; not so, everybody else. Theirs is an, “I hope so,” wishes and maybe kind of “hope.” That’s the best their father can offer because the reality is, he is the god of “no hope!” We see this at the very beginning of his dealings with people. He offered the first man and woman “hope” by telling them they too could be like God Genesis 3:5. What a disaster that turned out to be! But, to this day it hasn’t stopped their descendants from similar pursuits. Everybody who rejects the one true God demonstrates in one form or another that they are their own god! Biblically the word hope means: ‘confident expectation’. It’s going to happen!
Grand difference number 8: Because we are grounded in hope, spiritually born-again Christians are also grounded in certainty; not so, everybody else. For them, nothing is certain except death and taxes! In addition, for multitudes in today’s Communist, Marxist, Socialist, Collectivist, Humanist, God-denying, Christ-denying world, certainty is mocked and sneered upon. But take a look at such people doing it; energized by the will, the nature and character of their father, rebellion, pride, fear, anger, rage, bitterness, hatred and violence is the best that they can deliver. The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly John 10:10.
Nothing is more certain than God. Nothing is more certain than Jesus Christ. Nothing is more certain than the Holy Spirit of God. Nothing is more certain than the word of God; there is only one, and it is the Bible. Every Scripture within the Bible’s pages is there because God ordained it to be there. Every word of God is pure (flawless), He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him Proverbs 30:5. How’s that for certainty! All Scripture is given by inspiration (divinely breathed) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Bible’s meaning of certainty: fixed, firm, stable, established, secure, safe.
Grand difference number 9: Deeply consider this, for the same truth and principle applies to spiritually born-again Christians and everybody else. Whatever seed a farmer plants in the ground, that’s what he’s going to reap. If it’s wheat, he will reap wheat; if it’s barley, he will reap barley. He won’t sow wheat and reap barley, he won’t sow barley and reap wheat. How about this from a spiritual perspective? Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life Galatians 6:7-8. Same truth! Same principle! Different outcome! Sow to Satan, reap eternal death. Sow to God, reap eternal life.
To sow to the flesh is to sow to the sin nature – the devil’s nature! Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like…… those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God Galatians 5:21. How does one sow to the Spirit? Receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Receive a different Father. Receive a different Spirit. Receive a different nature. The fruit (nature) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires Galatians 5:22-24.