The New Birth Part I

The scriptures have a lot to say about being born again and the
consequent effects upon those who are born again. Many erroneous ideas have been put forth about what man must/can do to cause himself to be born again. One highly popular evangelist wrote a book on the subject of how man can be born again. The problem with such concepts is that they simply are not true. The plain biblical teaching is that God is sovereign in bringing about the new birth. By the term, sovereign, we mean "independent of all others." God is under no dependency on man to bring about the new birth. God does not cause anyone to be born again because of their actions of either belief, works, or following a prescribed course of action.

John 3:8 describes God's sovereignty in causing someone to be born
again. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whether it goeth: so is
everyone that is born of the Spirit." Just as God is sovereign, the wind
is also independent of the actions of man. "The wind bloweth where it
listeth" No man has ever had the power or knowledge to direct or
control the direction or force by which the wind blows. Likewise man
does not have the power or knowledge to bring about the new birth. "And thou hearest the sound thereof--" While we have the evidence of the wind's blowing, this knowledge is not a cause of the wind's blowing, but is an effect of the wind's blowing.

Likewise there are many evidences of the new birth given unto us to assure us of that birth, but those evidences are an effect of the birth and not the cause. "But canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth" we are not able to pinpoint a place on earth and say the wind originates here, or pinpoint a place on earth and say this is the final destination of the wind. Thus we conclude the wind is totally independent of man in its blowing, its direction, its origination and its destination. Likewise the Holy Spirit is totally independent of man in bringing about the new birth. The new birth takes place when and where the Holy Spirit chooses. Likewise it is God's choice and not man's choice as to who will be born again and who won't be born again.

Likewise John 3:6 teaches us the sovereignty of God in the new birth
and affirms that the new birth is not a cooperative endeavor between God and man: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In our natural birth it is the actions of
the flesh that brought about our natural birth into the world. Even
here, it was not our actions, but our parent's actions that brought
about our natural birth. By parallel, the spiritual birth is brought
about by the Holy Spirit. Again it is the actions of the Holy Spirit
that brings about this spiritual birth and not our actions. The Lord
said in John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and
they are life." Now if I in my flesh could do something to help bring
about the new birth, then there would be a profit in the flesh, but the
Lord affirms that there is no profit in the flesh, but that the Holy
Spirit does the quickening (new birth).

Similarly, John 1:11 13 teaches us that God is sovereign in bringing
about the new birth: "He came unto his own...even to them that believe
on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." This passage teaches the
Sovereignty of God in causing us to be born again by first ruling all
other possible causes. First, man's belief is ruled out as a cause for
the passage shows that the birth took place prior to man's belief. This
leaves us with the only logical conclusion that belief cannot be a cause
of the new birth. Secondly, the new birth is not the result of a blood
relationship to Abraham or anyone else. Thirdly, the new birth is not
the result of the will or desire of the flesh. Man, by nature, does not
desire to be born again. Fourthly, the new birth is not the result of
man's will or choice. Thus, man does not choose to be born again and
because of his choice the new birth comes about.

Therefore, having ruled out all other possible causes of the new birth,
John simply states that the new birth is "of God." While there are other
scriptures, which show God's sovereignty in bringing about the new
birth, these sufficiently prove God's independence of man in causing
anyone to be born again.
 

The New Birth Part II

In our last installment we looked at the sovereign work of God in
bringing about the new (spiritual) birth in an individual. In this
installment we will look at the condition of man prior to being born
again and see his total inability to do anything to bring about the new
birth.

Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." The word, "quicken," means to make alive." When we "were dead in trespasses and sins" we were "made alive" spiritually. Our condition prior to being born again was "dead in trespasses and sins."

Verses 2 and 3 describe this condition of being "dead in trespasses and sins," "Wherein in time past (i.e., prior to being born again) ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of
the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath even as others." When we "were dead in trespasses and sins," we "walked according to the course of this world." The course of this world is abomination to God.

The scriptures say that whosoever is the friend of "this world" is the
enemy of God. Thus, we conclude that when we were dead in trespasses and sins that we were the "enemies of God."

Secondly, we followed after the "prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Jesus is the
"prince of peace." Satan is the "prince of the power of the air." We,
being dead in trespasses and sins walked after Satan and had the spirit
of Satan working in us as he now works in the children of disobedience.

Thirdly, we had our "conversation" or life style "in the lusts of our
flesh..." Paul said "that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good
thing." "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life is not of the father but is of the world" (1 John 2:16). For our
life style to be after fleshly lust is to live selfishly and carnally.

Fourthly, we "fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the mind." Thus
we weren't just walking after them, but we were actually doing those
things.

Fifthly, our nature was the same nature that the children of wrath now
possess, i.e., we "were by nature the children of wrath even as others."
This was our condition before we were born again.

We have described in Romans 3:9 18 our condition under the law of sin and death from which bondage we were delivered by the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). It is said of man before the new birth that "There is none righteous, no, not one." Thus we conclude that before we were born again we were in our fleshly state totally unrighteous before God.

Secondly, we are told that "there is none that understandeth." I
Corinthians 2:14 says that "the natural man receiveth not the things of
the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know
them, for they are spiritually discerned." Without the new birth we
cannot discern spiritual things, we cannot know them and we cannot
understand them. We must be born again to understand the gospel, to know God, and to discern spiritually the word of God.

Thirdly, we read where "there is none that seeketh after God." Prior to
being born again, no man will nor can seek after God. How foolish it is
that men will say that seeking after God is a prerequisite condition for
being born again. Contrariwise a man must be born again in order to be
able to seek after God.

Fourthly, "there is none that doeth good, no not one." Prior to being
born again a man cannot do good. Is being baptized, or believing the
gospel, or repenting, or believing on the Lord Jesus Christ doing good?
If it is, then man must be born again prior to doing any of those
things.

Finally, we read that "there is no fear of God before their eyes." A
man who does not fear God will not come to God. Therefore, a man cannot come to God prior to being born again.

Jesus said in John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and
they are life." If I through preaching the gospel or you through
believing the gospel can bring about the new birth, then there is a
profit in our fleshly undertakings and the Lord was wrong. He never has
nor will make a mistake. His spoken voice gives life, not our deeds!

We conclude with John 5:25, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour
is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of
God: and they that hear shall live." When we were "dead in trespasses
and sins we heard the life giving voice of the Son of God speaking
spiritual life into our very being and thus we now live spiritually.

Having that spiritual life we can understand spiritual things, seek
after God, know God, do good, worship God, fear God, believe the gospel, repent, and become the disciple of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

 

The New Birth Part III

The new birth is compared to or said to be many things including:
resurrection, circumcision, and creation. In this installment we will
look at the new birth as a spiritual "creation."

First, the bible tells us that God is the only creator as follows:

a. Ephesians 3:9, "...who created all things by Jesus Christ."

b. Colossians 1:16, "For by him were all things created, that are in
heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible...all things were
created by him, and for him."

c. Revelation 4:11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure
they are and were created."

Since God is the only creator, thus, by inference man has created
nothing, nor is he capable of creating anything.

Secondly, while God completed his natural creation in six days and
rested on the seventh, his creation of spiritual things continues as
evidenced by Revelation 4:11 where it is said that for God's "pleasure
they are and were created."  The word "are" indicates a now creation
whereas the word "were" indicates a past creation. Natural creation is
past, spiritual creation continues.

Third, those who are born again are said to be the created workmanship of God in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." In Ephesians 4:24 we read, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Thus, we conclude that the "new man" is the creation of God. In the new birth the inner or new man is created in righteousness and true holiness by our faithful Creator.

Fourth, those who are born again are said to be new creatures as
follows:

a. II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature..."

b. Galatians 6:15, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."

Furthermore, the use of the term, creature, in the New Testament has
reference to those who are born again in all but a few scriptures in
which natural creation is indicated by the context.

Fifth, when we are born again (created) we are given a new set of
senses. We are told in I Corinthians 2:9, 14 that the natural senses and
the natural man cannot discern spiritual things. It is only after we
have been born again (created) that we are enabled to have senses that
can discern spiritual things. Eight times in the gospels and eight times
in the book of Revelation we are told, "He that hath ears to hear, let
him hear..." These verses have reference to spiritual ears for we cannot
discern spiritual things through the natural man.

Also we are told that "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Thus it takes spiritual eyes to perceive that spiritual kingdom. In addition, since God is a Spirit we must have spiritual feeling in order to "feel after him" (Acts 17:27). Furthermore, to "taste the heavenly gift" (Hebrews 6:4) and to "taste the good word of God" (Hebrews 6:5) and to "taste that the Lord is gracious" (I Peter 2:3) takes spiritual taste buds that we come into possession of when we are born again (created).

Finally, to perceive the odor of a sweet smell from Christian sacrifices
(Philippians 4:18) we must possess a spiritual nose.

In conclusion, God alone and without the help or assistance of man
creates us spiritually (causes us to be born again). We must have been
created spiritually in order to perceive spiritual things. Thus to hear
and respond to the gospel we must have been born again. For these
reasons we may conclude that the gospel is for those already born again and not for those who haven't been born again.