Now we step off from John 3 and go discuss for some time terms like: "Born of God', an equivalent to 'being reborn'.
At first we arrive at 1 John 3 v 9:
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God".
And I add 2 vers 1 to it: " My dear children , I write this to you that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous one".
Of course it is like this, that someone , in who's ' inner person' by rebirth grows a new , heavenly nature, can fall in sin one day.
Originally is it is like this, that in our 'inner person' a tiger is living. The apostle Paul says things worthy of consideration about this in Romans 7. But...when new life is beginning to grow in us , there comes besides this devouring and annihilating tiger...... a complex of wrong thoughts , so close to our most deep ' ínner person', that it is nearly not te be separated from our spirit, although this should be and can be .....comes besides this tiger also a lamb of peace, joy and love.
And now this is the most desirable course of things: - we feed that lamb exuberantly with thoughts of peace and hail , of friendliness, goodness and truth. - and to the tiger we give....NOTHING
All my friends , who become aware by themselves that God is active to let them become reborn 'to al living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you"....(1 Peter 1 v 3 and 4) ...I send a call to them to give nothing to the tiger and EVERYTHING to the lamb. And if yet you get a gloomy, jet-black , joyrobbing thought, do then like this: chase it away immediately. Don't give an opportunity to this thought , to fructify your mind. For you know:James 1 v 14 and 15 say: "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. (15) Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death".
But when you have given any room to such a bad thought,...what happens...then the black birds of evil no longer are flying over your head...no...they have made their nests in your hair.
Then turn to Jesus, our 'speaker' to the Father, confess that dark moment to him and....you can pursuit your way of rebirth. For a moment you have given to the tiger.... lying down quite limply .....something to eat. And at the same moment those eyes began shooting sparks and he rose on his feet. - But when you, as soon as you only were able, confessed everything to Jesus and asked him for force never to be so thoughtless an imprudent again - ...and when you thanked God , that he had shown to you weak spots in your character, where you were so fit to be drained off and so easily to be seduced , so that you could handle that more efficiently ... what happened ?:then the tiger fell to the ground again.. and now you can again go further with 'feeding the lamb'.
And once comes the time, that you are so vigilant, that - so to say- you cannot longer sin, because the seed of God constantly remains in you.
When is that time there . Well: that is not so soon: you know me as an 81 years-fellow, (now 85), who could be esteemed, to have conquered the devices of the devil meanwhile , being alert to them anyhow.
Now...this morning there came an unpleasant, annoying thought in me....´the black birds were flying again`.
And to you... my friends, I can tell this freely: just for a moment I gave room to this thought.
But ... quiet down: at the same moment I went to Jesus with this , my defendor, my advocate...and I have said: "Oh Lord...forgivance...do you want to pass the message to God, that I am so sorry for that. Please ; give me strength to be still more alert. Thank you Lord".
And...I could go on again with 'feeding and letting grow the lamb' ..
