THE NEW BIRTH part 2

I HOW CAN A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?

CHRIST INDICATES a three-fold means by which the new birth is produced.

1. By believing the Word of God (John 3:5). The “water” here is the well-known symbol for the Word of God (see Ephesians 5:26; John 15:3; Psalm 119:9). It has no reference to baptism. Other Scriptures make abundantly clear that the new birth comes through the Word of God (see 1 Peter 1:23-25; James 1:18). Just as water when applied cleanses from our eyes the dirt that would otherwise obscure our vision, so the Word of God, when read and believed, washes from the mind of the sinner his wrong ideas of God and His salvation. The entrance of God’s word brings light on man’s lost condition (Romans 3:10-19); God’s love as seen in His provision for man’s salvation (John 3:16); and the way by which a sinner may be saved (Romans 10:1-17).

2. By the indwelling of the Spirit of God (John 3:5). The Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Trinity, was sent by Christ, on His ascension, to use the Word of God to convince men of their sin; to lead them to put their trust in Christ; to indwell each person in believing; to communicate to the believer a Divine nature, or capacity for spiritual things; and to guide each born-again person into all truth (see John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Galatians 5:22-26).

As the Word of God is read or heard, the Holy Spirit applies the truth to the heart in convicting force, showing the sinner his lost, guilty, helpless and hopeless condition. He then reveals through faith in Christ and His finished work. The moment the sinner trusts in Christ He seals him, by His indwelling presence, as Christ’s purchased possession. This is not a question of feeling, but of fact. We do not feel the new birth.

3. By faith in the Substitutionary Sacrifice of Christ (see John 3:14-16). In these words Christ made crystal clear how this new life can come to a sinner. In answer to Nicodemus’ question “How can these things be?” Christ used an incident recorded in the Old Testament to illustrate how the new birth could be experienced (now read Numbers 21:4-9). Seven words seem to sum up the incident. Let us give it our closest and most careful attention, for it is Christ’s own illustration of how the sinner can be born again.

a. Sin (Numbers 21:5). Just as Israel sinned, so all humanity has sinned against God in thought, word and deed (Romans 3:23).

b. Judgment (v. 6). As their sin brought God’s merited judgment upon them, so God has revealed His wrath against all sin (see Romans 1:18; Job 36:18; Romans 6:23).

c. Repentance (v. 7). Israel realized, confessed, and sought pardon for their sin. This is repentance, which consists of a change of mind, resulting in a change of attitude, which is expressed by a change of action. God demands the repentance of the sinner (see Luke 13:3; Acts 17:31; 20:21; Mark 1:15).

d. Revelation (v. 8). “And the Lord said”; as God revealed t Moses the way of salvation for these snake-bitten Israelites, so God has revealed in the Bible. His way of salvation for us (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 10:8-9).

e. Provision (vs. 8, 9). A serpent of brass was made and lifted up on a pole in full view of the camp of Israel. Now can compare John 3:14. Just as Moses lifted up on a cross to provide salvation for sin-bitten humanity. On the cross He bore our sins, took our place, endured all the judgment due to our sins, and by His death, satisfied all God’s demands against the sinner. God has indicated His acceptance of the substitutionary sacrifice of His Son by raising Him from the dead (see Isaiah 53:5, 6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 5:7-8).

f. Condition (v. 8) “when he looked”. The fact that the brazen serpent was lifted up did not, of itself, save them. Each bitten Israelite must look to live! The fact that Christ has died for our sins and accomplished all the work needed for our salvation, will not save any sinner unless he personally believes on Christ, trusts Him as his own Savior, and on Him as the Lord of his life. This is what our Savior meant when he said: “that whosoever believeth in him… should have everlasting life” John 3:16. Just as the bitten Israelites were not asked to pray, resolved, pay or do good works to merit salvation, so sinners are urged to own their need and trust wholly in the work of Christ, and receive Him by faith as their own personal Savior (see John 1:12; Acts 13:38-39; Ephesians 2:8-9).

g. Result (v. 9) “he lived”. The moment a bitten Israelite (who was as good as dead) looked, he received new life. He was, as it were, born again! So the moment a guilty, lost sinner believes the gospel that Christ died for his sins, and definitely accepts Him as his own Savior, he receives spiritual or eternal life, is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, becomes a partaker of a Divine nature, and is thus born from above, or regenerated. This is the new birth, which Christ declared was absolutely essential to seeing and entering the Kingdom of God.

II WHEN CAN A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?

The answer to this can be obtained by consulting your watch! The new birth takes place the moment a guilty sinner looks to Christ and trusts Him as his Lord and Savior. Why not, just where you are, and as you are, cease from your own efforts to save yourself, and trust in the Person and rest in the work of the Son of God, who did it all for you (see 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2; Hebrews 4:7).

Come as a sinner, and trust now in Christ, Who bore thy sins and shame; Then, by the Spirit of God through the Word, Thou shalt be born again!

What Christians Believe
Chapter 7: The New Birth part 2
Copyright, 1949, 1951, by Emmaus Bible School
Chicago, Illinois

THE NEW BIRTH (John 3:1-21)

THE READER must be struck by the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, solemnly impressed upon a most religious and moral person named Nicodemus the absolute necessity for him to be born again, if he would see or enter the Kingdom of God (vs. n3, 5). The new birth is one of the three great “musts” of all humanity.
1. The “must” of death (2 Samuel 14:14; Hebrews 9:27).
2. The “must” of the judgment (Romans 14:12; Revelation 20:11-15).
3. The “must” of regeneration, or the new birth.

In view of much ignorance and misunderstanding concerning this vital matter, let us first view it negatively.

I WHAT THE NEW BIRTH IS NOT (See John 1:12, 13)

1. It is not of natural generation or descent “not of blood”. Though one may be born of Christian parents this does not constitute him a Christian.
2. Not of self-determination “will of the flesh”. Just as a child cannot will itself to be born physically, so no one can produce the new birth by his own efforts.
3. Not of human meditation, “nor of the will of man, but of God”. No human being, however eminent his ecclesiastical position, can impart the new birth to another. All the rites and ceremonies of any or of all organized religions can never produce the new birth.
4. Not a physical change. Christ corrected Nicodemus’ misunderstanding as to this, and showed him it was a spiritual change (vs. 4-6).
5. Not a social and geographical change. The born again person is not suddenly translated to heaven, but continues to live on earth, but now to please his Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Colossians 3:22-24).
6. Not an intellectual apprehension of what it is. A person can be religiously educated, ordained to the ministry, and become a preacher without being born again. There are many such. Theoretically they may know its necessity, yet know nothing of it by experience.
7. Not an evolutionary process. It is not a gradual development of some germ of spiritual life that is within (Ephesians 2:2). Sinners are described as being spiritually dead. Life cannot be developed where it does not exist!
8. Not a reformation or self-improvement by which outwardly bad habits are relinquished. It is not a change of manners, but of the man.
9. Not a religious belief. It is possible to be sincere in one’s religious convictions, be baptized, confirmed, join the church, take communion, teach a Sunday School class, occupy a church office, and even be a preacher, without being born again. The necessity for the new birth was stated to one of the most religious, sincere and moral men of his day (John 3:1).
10. The new birth is a spiritual change (v.8). This can be brought about only by God (John 1:13).

Now let us ask three questions regarding the new birth. Why? How? When? The first one is discussed below. The other two will be taken up in the next lesson.

II WHY MUST A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?

Note verse 7, “Marvel not”. The necessity for the new birth is perfectly logical and reasonable, and should not awaken incredulity.

1. Because of a spiritual nature that man naturally lacks (v. 6). Here the word “flesh” refers to that sinful nature which a person receives at his physical birth. Leave off the letter “H”, and spell it backwards and its meaning will be seen, i.e. “self”. Through his sin, Adam acquired a sinful nature, and this nature has been transmitted, by birth, to each of his descendants (see Romans 5:12,18,19; Psalm 51:5). The character of this sinful nature, called “the flesh”, is described in Romans 8:5-8. It is “enmity against God, not subject {or obedient} to the law of God, “ and consequently is incapable of pleasing God”. In other words, man does not naturally possess a spiritual capacity which would enable him to either desire, understand, or enjoy the things of God (see Corinthians 2:14).

Just as a musical, artistic or poetry capacity can be communicated to a person only by a physical birth, so a spiritual capacity, by which the things of God can be appreciated, must be communicated to a person by spiritual birth. The flesh can be educated, cultivated and religionized; but its nature remains unchanged and unchangeable in its enmity to God, and is incapable of pleasing God. The new birth is the impartation of a spiritual or Divine nature, by which alone man can possess this spiritual capacity to understand and enjoy the things of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh”. Like can produce only like!

2. Because of a spiritual kingdom that man cannot naturally see or enter (See vs. 3,5). What is meant here by “the Kingdom of God?” It is described as a spiritual experience. We read, “The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink {or physical}, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Let us think of two kingdoms or spheres; one called “the kingdom of men”, and the other “the Kingdom of God”; or one called “the flesh”, and the other “the spirit”. All humanity enters the kingdom of men by a physical birth, which communicates to him a physical nature, which fits him for a physical sphere, peopled by men. In this sphere he lives, moves, and has his being. Now how is man to be enabled to see the value of and enter this other sphere called the Kingdom of God? The answer is surely quite obvious. He must be born again, or gave a spiritual birth, which will introduce him into this new realm. Through this new birth he will become possessed of a spiritual nature which will fit him to enjoy the spiritual realities that characterize the Kingdom of God.

You will notice that the marginal rendering of the words “born again,” is “born from above”. This serves to indicate the source of the birth. Physical birth is of man and the earth; spiritual birth has its origin in God and is from heaven. Now read Romans 8:9. Here Paul speaks to a people who were no longer “in the flesh” as to their position before God; but were “in the Spirit”. How were they translated from one kingdom to the other? By the Spirit of God, upon their acceptance of Christ as their Savior.

3. Because of a spiritual life man does not naturally possess. Man, by nature, is described as being “dead in his trespasses and sins”; “alienated from the life of God”; as “having not life” (see Ephesians 2:1; 4:18; 1 John 5:11-12). Just as a body without physical life is declared to be physically dead, so any person without spiritual life is described in the Bible as being spiritually dead (see 1 Timothy 5:6; Luke 15:24). Death therefore means separation. For a person to be separated from Christ, in Whom is life, is to be dead spiritually (John 1:4). How can this spiritual life be imparted to the spiritually dead? Let Christ Himself answer it. Turn to John 5:25 and the problem were solved. All who hear the Son of God, receive His Word and trust Him as their Savior receive spiritual life, or are thus born again. See also John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 10:26-28; 1 John 5:13.

III HIS WORK

Under this heading, we shall discuss the Lord’s death, resurrection and ascension.

1. His death.
a. The death of Christ was necessary (John 3:14). It was part of God’s eternal purpose (Hebrews 10:7). It was necessary to fulfill Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 53:5). It was necessary to provide salvation for man (Ephesians 1:7).
b. The death of Christ was for others. He died as a substitute (1 Corinthians 15:3).
c. The death of Christ was sufficient. It completely meets God’s claims because Christ endured and exhausted the judgment of God against sin. It completely meets man’s need because it was the death of an Infinite Person, and therefore its value is infinite.
2. His resurrection
a. The resurrection of Christ was necessary to fulfill prophecy, to complete the work of the Cross, Romans 4:25, and to enable Christ to undertake His present work in Heaven.
b. Christ’s resurrected body was real. It was not a spirit (Luke 24:39). It was the same body which was crucified because it had he print of the nails and the spear wound (John 20:27). Yet it was a changed body, with power to overcome physical limitations.
c. After His resurrection Christ appeared to certain of His followers at least ten times. More than five hundred at least ten times. More than five hundred reliable witnesses saw Him after he arose (1 Corinthians 15:6).
d. The resurrection of Christ is an important truth. If there had been no resurrection there would be no Christian faith.

3. His ascension.
a. At the end of His ministry on earth, Christ was carried up into heaven (Mark 16:19, Acts 1:9).
b. He ascended so that He might enter into His reward, John 17:5, and continue His ministry for His people.

IV HIS OFFICES

Christ is presented in Scripture as a Prophet, a Priest and a King.
1. As Prophet, he tells men what God has to say to them, and He thus reveals God to men (John 1:18).
2. As Priest, He represents believers before God (Hebrews 4:14-16).
3. As King, He reigns today in the hearts of those who are loyal to Him. In a coming day, He will reign upon the earth for one thousand years. Psalm 72 describes His reign on earth.

Then throughout eternity the Lord Jesus will continue to serve his blood-bought people.

What Christians Believe
Chapter 6: The New Birth
Copyright, 1949, 1951, by Emmaus Bible School
Chicago, Illinois