Being born again is the greatest miracle performed by divine power. We cannot understand how it happens, we only believe it. “The new birth consists of having new motives, new tastes, 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. . . . The command, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.,’ would never have been given if every provision had not been made whereby we may become as perfect in our sphere as God is in His. We are to be ever advancing from light to a greater light, holding fast what we have already received, and praying for more.” –Lift Him Up, p. 123
When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will be born again into a different person. “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” 1 Samuel 10:6. This new birth is necessary for us in order to enter heaven and to have eternal life.
Jesus explained to Nicodemus how it works. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
“The change of heart by which we become children of God is in the Bible spoken of as birth. Again, it is compared to the germination of the good seed sown by the husbandman. In like manner those who are just converted to Christ are, ‘as new-born babes,’ to ‘grow up’ to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4:15. Or like the good seed sown in the field, they are to grow up and bring forth fruit.” –Steps to Christ, p. 67
After we are born again we start growing. This is called sanctification. When we are born again, that moment we become the children of God. That moment the Holy Spirit baptizes us and enters to live in us. Now our names are written in the book of life.
Being born again and being converted means that same thing. Both mean the start of a new life. And this new life is possible through the power that we receive from God. But there are many professing Christians who have not been born again. Their religion will not bring salvation to them.
“Communion with God imparts to the soul an intimate knowledge of His will. But many who profess the faith know not what true conversion is. They have no experience in communion with the Father through Jesus Christ, and have never felt the power of divine grace to sanctify the heart. Praying and sinning, sinning and praying, their lives are full of malice, deceit, envy, jealousy, and self-love. The prayers of this class are an abomination to God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 534
“Are your recreations such as to impart moral and spiritual vigor? Will they lead to purity of thought and action? Impurity is today widespread, even among the professed followers of Christ. Passion is unrestrained; the animal propensities are gaining strength by indulgence, while the moral powers are constantly becoming weaker. Many are eagerly participating in worldly, demoralizing amusements which God’s word forbids. Thus they sever their connection with God and rank themselves with the pleasure lovers of the world. The sins that destroyed the antediluvians and the cities of the plain exist today—not merely in heathen lands, not only among popular professors of Christianity, but with some who profess to be looking for the coming of the Son of man. If God should present these sins before you as they appear in His sight, you would be filled with shame and terror.
“And what has caused this alarming condition? Many have accepted the theory of the truth who have had no true conversion.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 218
Every Christian can be born again if it is their desire. Yet sadly so few only desire it and receive it. “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.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1075
There is also a false new birth. Their feelings were aroused and they call it a new birth. But it didi not change their lives, they are deceived by Satan.
“Many who speak to others of the need of a new heart do not themselves know what is meant by these words. The youth especially stumble over this phrase, ‘a new heart.’ They do not know what it means. They look for a special change to take place in their feelings. This they term conversion. Over this error thousands have stumbled to ruin, not understanding the expression, ‘Ye must be born again.’
“Satan leads people to think that because they have felt a rapture of feeling they are converted. But their experience does not change. Their actions are the same as before. Their lives show no good fruit. They pray often and long, and are constantly referring to the feelings they had at such and such a time. But they do not live the new life. They are deceived. Their experience goes no deeper than feeling. They build upon the sand, and when adverse winds come their house is swept away.” –Messages to Young People, p. 71
Many have been baptized into the church, but their lives have not changed. Years later they do the same sins as before. The Laodicean church is in need of the new birth. The lukewarm professors of the truth who feel satisfied in themselves are deceived by Satan. They are deceived by the false conversion. They do follow the outward ceremonies and rules, including the Sabbath, but they do not love God above all, nor their fellow men.
Jesus saw a fig tree that had leaves, but no fruit. What did He say? “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.” Mark 11:14, 20
This will happen to all professing Christians who do not bear fruit. They are lovers of their own selves. They watch television more than they read the Bible. Missionary work they do not. Their conversation is more from the world than from heaven.
One who is born from the Holy Spirit does not complain nor feel dissatisfied because what he has is more than he deserves. The old Israelites murmured in the wilderness, therefore God said, “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against Me.” Numbers 14:29
Paul is speaking of unconverted Christians in Romans chapter 7. What I want to do, I do not. What I do not want to do, that I do. The most miserable person is the unconverted Christian. He does not enjoy the pleasures of the world, and neither heaven, nor eternal life. We can be members of the church, and never be born again.
When we are born again, from that moment on, miracles start to happen. All our past sins will be forgiven. Also healing takes place (John 12:40). We can overcome every sin (1 John 5:18). We enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). Sinful thoughts are put away (The Desire of Ages, p. 173). The fruit of the Spirit will be given to us (Galatians 5:22–23). Missionary spirit will be aroused (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 11). Murmuring and complaining will stop (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 101).
Many other changes will take place in our lives. What are we waiting for, let us pray for the new birth today. It is an answer to all our failings, problems, and difficulties. “When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life, the soul is ‘born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 520
“Unbelievers have inquired, ‘Why are not miracles wrought among those who claim to be God’s people?’ Brethren, the greatest miracle that can be wrought is the conversion of the human heart. We need to be reconverted, losing sight of self and human ideas, and beholding Christ, that we may be transformed into His likeness. When this the greatest of all miracles is wrought within our hearts, we shall see the workings of other miracles.
“God cannot work through us miraculously while we are unconverted. It would spoil us; for we would take it as an evidence that we were perfect before Him. Our first work is to become perfect in His sight, by living faith claiming His promise of forgiveness. ‘Ask what ye will,’ Christ declared to His disciples, ‘and it shall be done unto you.’ . . . ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.’ Those who see Christ by living faith, those who abide in Him, will have power to work miracles for His glory.
“Man can accomplish nothing without God, and God has arranged His plans so far as to accomplish nothing in the restoration of the human race without the cooperation of the human with the divine. The part man is required to sustain is immeasurably small, yet in the plan of God it is just that part that is needed to make the work a success.” –Manuscript Releases, book 4, p. 113
Now our most important work is our new birth. Also our brothers and sisters need to be born again, even our children and other family members, and then the conversion of the world. Sister White writes that six converted members can do more than 60 half-converted.
When visitors come to our churches, they will be impressed to see the love and unity amongst us. Then we will be a glorious church. “That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27
When this takes place, then the latter rain will be poured upon us and thousands will be converted daily. The work of God will be finished in power and glory, yet by humble instruments, by men, women, and children who reflect the image of Jesus fully, who have overcome the world by their faith. Amen.
Timo Martin