Spirit 6: Seeing What God Sees
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration [new birth], and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour...” -Titus 3:3-6
According to Titus 3:3-6 (on the previous page), “he saved us, by [1] the washing of regeneration, and [2] the renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” Regeneration is what Jesus called being born again, which is not something that can be undone. When you accepted his blood payment for your sin on the cross and believed that your spirit was resurrected (came back to life) with him, you were “reborn" into God’s family. God is your forever Father, Jesus is your brother and God the Holy Spirit (the “ghost” of Jesus Christ) will always live in you.
You said yes to the gift of everlasting life at God’s payment. You couldn’t earn it or deserve it. The worship in your heart is a natural response to his adoring love for you.
According to the end of the passage on page 5, “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Seeing his beauty makes us gradually like him.
From the time that you said “yes” to Jesus until you see his face in heaven, you will be in the process of spiritual growth. The veil of looking-down-on-others is a slavery that God has saved you from and is in the process of healing. As you develop the habit of turning to him for real joy, veils and addictions will gradually be removed from your soul. Your worship will become more and more mature.
It is normal to wrestle with doubts about spiritual rebirth, considering that something invisible yet invigorating has changed you forever. Pages 70 and 71 may answer some of your doubts. God will help you with the rest of them. Talk to him about them.
The “glass” referred to in bold above means that as you look in the mirror, you will see what God sees. You will change inside and begin to reflect the beauty (glo[w]ry) of Jesus. Talking to him and reading his words will feed this transformation.
Assignment 6: Use the attached PDF to make a reading plan.