The New Birth

New birth means conversion from sin. When God created man in the beginning He gave him life. Just as long as man did not break this union with God his life continued.

However, when Adam and Eve sinned they began to die. Man does not have life in himself. To live eternally he must be born again.

In common, all people are sinners, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. Man is a sinner. As such he cannot save himself. He is condemned to die. His only hope of life is through the power of God. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. Sinfulness is a part of man’s nature. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jer.13:23. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Rom. 7:18, 19.

BORN SINNERS

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Rom. 5:12. Just as disease is transmitted to succeeding generations, so is sin.

Behold the psalmist “I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me,” Psalm 51:5. Sin therefore is an inheritance. Men are born with sinful tendencies. Through disobedience, Adam’s nature became changed. He was no longer a holy and righteous being but a sinful being. And this sinful nature must, of necessity, be transmitted to his children as an inheritance. To this inherited sin, Adam’s posterity have added the guilt of their own transgressions. They have all followed his example, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23.

“What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written; There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none
that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.” Rom. 3:9-12.

The fall of Adam left the entire human family stranded. Man was cut off from God and lost. But for God’s mercy, there would have been no way of escape.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that who soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Christ said, “I am come that they might have life.” John 10:10, last part. Further He said, “I am … the life.” John 14:6. Man’s eternal destiny depends on God who is the source of life.

JESUS’ CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” John 3:1,2.

“Jesus bent His eyes upon the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw before Him a seeker after truth.” DA 168.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.

“Nicodemus had heard the preaching of John the Baptist concerning repentance and baptism, and pointing the people to One who should baptize with the Holy Spirit. He himself had felt that there was a lack of spirituality among the Jews, that, to a great degree, they were controlled by bigotry and worldly ambition. He had hoped for a better state of things at the Messiah’s coming. Yet the heart-searching message of the Baptist had failed to work in him conviction of sin. He was a strict Pharisee, and prided himself on his good works. He was widely esteemed for his benevolence and his liberality in sustaining the temple service, and he felt secure of the favour of God. He was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for him to see in his present state.

“The figure of the new birth, which Jesus had used, was not wholly unfamiliar to Nicodemus. Converts from heathenism to the faith of Israel were often compared to children just born. Therefore he must have perceived that the words of Christ were not to be taken in a literal sense. But by virtue of his birth as an Israelite he regarded himself as sure of a place in the kingdom of God.

He felt that he needed no change. Hence his surprise at the Saviour’s words. He was irritated by their close application to himself.

“Surprised out of his self-possession, he answered Christ in words full of irony, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Like many others when cutting truth is brought home to the conscience, he revealed the fact that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. There is in him nothing that responds to spiritual things; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

“But the Saviour did not meet argument with argument. Raising His hand with solemn, quiet dignity, He pressed the truth home with greater assurance, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus knew that Christ here referred to water baptism and the renewing of the heart by the Spirit of God. He was convinced that he was in the presence of the One whom John the Baptist had foretold.

“Jesus continued: ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ By nature the heart is evil, and ‘who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.’ Job 14:4. No human invention can find a remedy for the sinning soul. ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.’ ‘Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.’ Rom. 8:7; Matt. 15:19. The fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams can become pure. He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility. There is no safety for one who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.” DA 171, 172

“There was no excuse for the blindness of Israel in regard to the work of regeneration. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah had written, ‘We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags:’ David had prayed, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ And through Ezekiel the promise had been given, ‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes.’ Isa. 64:6; Ps. 51:10; Ezek. 36:26, 27.” DA 174

It is important to note that God says, “I” will do this. The new birth is an experience that comes only from God.
“‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ John 3:3. He may conjecture and imagine, but without the eye of faith he cannot see the treasure. Christ gave His life to secure for us this inestimable treasure;
but without regeneration through faith in His blood, there is no remission of sins, no treasure for any perishing soul. COL 112

GRACE NOT INHERITED

“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.’ John 1:12. Verse 13. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man. But of the God. The old nature, of blood and the will of the flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways the hereditary tendencies the former habits must be given up for the grace of not inherited. The new birth consists of new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier. They have not been born again.” RH 04-12-92

“Nicodemus was being drawn to Christ. As the Saviour explained to him concerning the new birth, he longed to have this change wrought in himself. By what means could it be accomplished?” DA 174

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14, 15

“Not through controversy and discussion is the soul enlightened. We must look and live. Nicodemus received the lesson, and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a new way, not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“There are thousands today who need to learn the same truth that was taught to Nicodemus by the uplifted serpent. They depend on their obedience to the law of God to commend them to His favour. When they are bidden to look to Jesus, and believe that He saves them solely through His grace, they exclaim, ‘How can these things be?’” DA 175

“The hope of salvation is accepted without a radical change of heart or reformation of life. Thus superficial conversions abound, and multitudes are joined to the church who have never been united to Christ.” GC 468

“The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.” 6BC 1075

Baptism is a gospel ordinance commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In baptism public testimony is given to the effect that the one baptized has been crucified with Christ, buried with him, and raised with him to walk in newness of life.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:” Rom. 6:3-8

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

“Like the wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt, is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart.” DA 57

This mysterious, yet very real experience is called conversion or the new birth. The Ethiopian eunuch listened to Philip give an explanation of Isaiah 53 and was converted (Acts 8:26-39). Paul had a direct encounter with God on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1 – 22, 22:1-21, 26: 1-23). When Paul preached the gospel Lydia was converted at Thyatira (Acts 16:13-15). When the Jailer witnessed the miraculous deliverance of Paul and Silas from the jail at Philippi Paul preached Christ and he and his house were converted (Acts 16:25-33)

THE CHANGES THAT WILL BE SEEN IN THE LIFE OF A PERSON WHO IS BORN AGAIN

(a) New Heart.
“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:” Ezekiel 1:19.

(b) A New Mind.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” Romans 12:2

(c) The Law Written in the Heart.
“I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:” Hebrews 8:10

(d) Different Interests.
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

SOME OF THE OUTWARD EVIDENCES OF TRUE CONVERSION

(a) We will speak every man truth.
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” Eph. 8:5

(b) If we have stolen, we will steal no more.
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Eph. 4:28

(c) No corrupt communication will proceed from a converted person’s lips.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Eph. 4:29

(d) All bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour will be put away.
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” Eph. 4:31

(e) We will not let the sun go down upon our wrath.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Eph. 4:26

(f) We will be kind toward one another.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32

(g) We love our brethren.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14

(h) We will not grieve the Holy Spirit.
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30

HOW THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE BELIEVER IS MAINTAINED

“And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:4-6

The person who is born again enters into a personal union with Christ. The power of Christ becomes his and he bears the fruit of love to God’s glory. There must be a recognition on our part that we can do nothing without Christ’s help.

“The great burden of every soul should be, Is my heart renewed? Is my soul transformed? Are my sins pardoned through faith in Christ? Have I been born again?” 2SM 117

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.” Rom. 12:1

Golden Kayawa Hingabantu, Zambia