How well do you know a person? There is what I call academic knowledge of a person and there is what I call intimate or personal knowledge of a person. So, what do I mean by these?
Academic knowledge as I call it is to know a person or a thing from afar. While intimate knowledge is having an innate knowledge of that thing or person, sort of like being that person.
Let's take a look at Nicodemus and our Lord Jesus in John 3. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the born-again experience. Nicodemus being a religious leader didn't understand what Jesus was talking about. This was because he had academic knowledge about God, but not personal or intimate knowledge about God. In other words, Nicodemus knew nothing outside what he was taught, because it wasn't something he had experienced.
Jesus on the other hand spoke not just about what He knew, but on what He experiences. With what Jesus said, a person who is born-again could be likened to a cub who has a Lion within. No matter what the cub does, it will become a Lion. But no matter how much another animal imitates a Lion in every aspect, it cannot be a Lion.
Nicodemus like anyone who isn't born-again, no matter how much they have knowledge about Jesus cannot experience the life of Christ in them, because they just have academic knowledge. But anyone who is born-again carries the Spirit of Christ Jesus in them, therefore, they have the natural and personal experience of God in them.
Colossians 2:6-7 says, "My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." MSG. Why is this important to note?
Many times Sons and Daughters of God relate to God as one who doesn't have His offspring, like a stranger who knows about God, but not intimately. The moment you receive Christ Jesus as Lord of your life by being born-again, you are to live Him, because all that He is, you have become.
Do not allow the devil to lie to you that you still have your old life with you. What you have is just the memory of your old life. Everything about you is completely brand new, and you can always remind yourself through the constant meditation on Jesus in the scriptures, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
You have Jesus within you. And as you constantly meditate on Him, you bring out the real you in your going out, coming in, thoughts, words reactions, everything, because this real you is Jesus! It's a relationship and not a religion.
Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t. Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations, you’re born again, you are now brand new!
Log on next time.
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GOD BLESS YOU.
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Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are obtained from the New King James Version (NKJV)
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