THE NEW BIRTH

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It is utmost importance that we have a clear understanding of what Jesus meant when, speaking with Nicodemus, He said, "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN" The new birth is a spiritual birth. It is as much a birth as the natural birth; it is not just figure of speech. The first birth is of the "seed of man." THE SECOND BIRTH IS OF THE SEED OF GOD" (IPeter 1:23). Therefore you cannot become a child of God by joining the church, any more than a monkey could become a man by joining the human race. He might act like a man, dress like a man, and try to live like a man - but it would still be a monkey. Now, if by some miracle, the monkey could be born again of the "seed of man" -then and only then-could he become a man. THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD IS TO BE "BORN FROM ABOVE" by the "INCORRUPTIBLE SEED OF GOD."

What is the NEW BIRTH?

The New Birth is a New Creation (IICor. 5:17)

The New Birth is a Spiritual Resurrection (Eph. 2:1-9)

The New Birth is Regeneration (Titus 3:5)

The New Birth is Partaking of the Divine Nature of God (IIPeter 1:4)

The New Birth is receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, by faith (John 1:12)

The New Birth is being made the "Righteousness of God" (IICor. 5:21)

THE NEW BIRTH IS COMPULSORY IF YOU ARE TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN".

1. JESUS AND THE TWO BIRTHS JOHN 3:1-8

2. THE NEW BIRTH ISSUES A NEW SINLESS NATURE 1JOHN 3:9

3. THE NEW BIRTH IS INCORRUPTIBLE 1PETER 1:23

4. THE NEW BIRTH - ITS MEANS JOHN 3:14-18

5. THE NEW BIRTH - IT'S THREEFOLD PROOF 1JOHN 5:1

JESUS AND THE TWO BIRTHS JOHN 3:1-8

1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou

art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest,

except God be with him.

3. 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.

4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter

the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5. Jesus answered, 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.

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is

spirit.

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

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.

In the above Scriptures, we see Jesus and Nicodemus face to face - Jesus the Son of God, and Nicodemus the son of natural man. Nicodemus was a very religious man, but he was not a child of God. What a shock it must have been to learn that his religion (rituals ands sacraments) was not enough! It never is. He came to Jesus addressing Him as "a teacher comes from God." Jesus knew Nicodemus, as He knows all men (John 2:24 KJV) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:25 KJV) And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.] and Jesus knew that he needed more than a teacher - he needed a Saviour. He needed more than religion - he needed regeneration. He needed more than Law - he needed life. Jesus began by going right to the point when he said, "You must be born again." Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?" Then Jesus pointed out the dissimilarity in the two birth: "that which is born of flesh is flesh" (the flesh will never change); and that which is born of Spirit is spirit (the Spirit will never change John 3:6)

First let us take a brief look at the flesh birth:

1. It produces an old sinful nature (Psalm 51:5)

2. It produces a corruptible nature (I Peter 1:23)

3. It produces an old nature under the sentence of death (Romans 6:23)

4. It produces an old nature that makes every unsaved person a child of the devil (I John 3:10; John 8:44)

Second let us see a word about the new birth:

1. It produces a sinless nature (1John 3:9)

2. It produces a nature that cannot sin (1John 3:9)

3. It produces a righteous nature (2Cor. 5:21)

4. It produces a divine nature (2Peter 1:4)

Every born again person has two natures: the old from the old birth, the new from the new birth. By the old birth, we are children of the flesh; by the new birth, we are the children of God THIS IS WHY YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN).

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THE NEW BIRTH ISSUES A NEW, SINLESS NATURE: 1John 3:9

(1 John 3:9 NIV) No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

This is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. Do not try to understand it in the light of the personal experience. Keep in mind that the above verse is speaking of the new nature-not the old nature-because the old nature is not born of God the old nature is born of the fallen man and is depraved The new nature is born of God and is holy.

First let us see what this verse says about the new nature:

1. The new nature does not commit sin, because it is the product of the "seed of God"

2. The new nature cannot not sin, because it is the divine nature of God (2Peter 1:4); since God cannot sin, the new nature that that issues from His Holy seed cannot sin.

Second, Let us see what the Bible says about the old nature:

1. The old nature does sin any tine you let it sin (Rom. 6:12). As a child of God, you will keep under the old nature (1Cor.9:27) by not yielding to the desire of the flesh; or the old nature will keep you under, and you will live a defeated Christian life (Romans 6:13).

2. There is nothing good in the old nature (Rom. 7:18) The power to live a righteous life cannot be found in the old nature; it can be found only in the new (Gal. 2:20)

If you have been "born again" you have two natures-the old and the new-and you are according to one of the two Examine your Christian walk in the light of God's word.(Romans 8:5,6).

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THE NEW BIRTH IS INCORRUPTIBLE 1PETER 1:23

(1 Pet 1:23 KJV) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

In the above verse we have two seeds, two births, and two natures.

1. The corruptible seed issues a corruptible nature (Romans 1:23). The seed of man

depraved in the loins of Adam when he sinned in the Garden of Eden.(Gen. 3:6-10). Corruptible man can produce only corruptible seed (Matt 7:18)."All have sinned..(Rom 3:23) because all are born in sin (Psalm 51:5) You are not a sinner because you sin-you sin because you are a sinner.

2. The incorruptible seed issues a incorruptible nature (2Peter 1:4). You cannot corrupt that which is incorruptible; therefore the incorruptible seed of God issues a nature that cannot be corrupted at any time or anyway. The new birth produces the life of

Christ, and this life is made living in man by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:8-10).

The seed of man is corruptible; the birth of man is natural. Therefore the nature of man is sinful.

THE SEED OF GOD IS INCORRUPTIBLE; THE NEW BIRTH IS SPIRITUAL THEREFORE THE NEW NATURE IS SINLESS.

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THE NEW BIRTH - ITS MEANS John 3:14-18

(John 3:14 KJV) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

(John 3:15 KJV) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

(John 3:16 KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(John 3:17 KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

(John 3:18 KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

"Moses lifted up the serpents in the wilderness (Num. 21:5-9). He lifted up the serpent for a sinful, disobedient people. When anyone was bitten by a serpent, he had a choice: He could humble himself and by a simple act of faith look and live (Isaiah 45:22); or he could refuse to look on the serpent of brass and die.

"Even so MUST the SON of Man be lifted up." Just as the serpent in the wilderness was the only means for the healing of Israel, so the death of Jesus Christ is the only means for the new birth. And the only way to appropriate the regenerating power of God is by faith in the VICARIOUS DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST (1Cor. 15:1-4).

The sinner MUST come to CHRIST by FAITH , believing:

1. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (Isa. 53:1-12; Zech. 13:6)

2. And that He was buried. This is the proof of His death. He was in the sepulcher three days and nights.

3. And that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. This is the Gospel that saves - but it is powerless to save until the sinner believes it (Romans 1:16).

The means of the new birth is found in that:

1. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son - to be the only means of the new birth (Acts 4:12; John 3:16).

2. Jesus Christ gladly came into the world to become the only means of the new birth (John 12:27; John 17:1-5).

3. The Holy Spirit came into the world on the day of Pentecost to CONVICT and CONVINCE men of their need of their new birth (John 16:7-11). A personal faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only means of the new birth.

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THE NEW BIRTH - ITS THREEFOLD PROOF 1John 5:1

(1 John 5:1 KJV) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Every born again child of God has the threefold proof of the new birth - proof that he is a child of God. This threefold proof is : FIRST, inward proof; SECOND, out going proof; and THIRD, outward proof.

1. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God". My faith in Christ - that He is God - is a personal evidence that I am a child of God (1John 5:10-13). This is inward proof of the new birth.

2. "Everyone that loveth is born of God" (1John 4:7-11). We are to love our fellow man with the love of God. This we are not capable of doing in the flesh; we must let God love man through us Romans 5:5). This is outgoing proof of the new birth.

3. "Everyone that doeth righteouness is born of Him" (1John 2:29). If you are born of God, you will make a practice of doing right at all times and at all cost (2Cor.5:17). This is outward proof of the new birth.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE THREEFOLD PROOF OF THE NEW BIRTH, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET ON YOUR KNEES AND ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR - BY BELIEVING IN HIS VICARIOUS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION

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HOW WILL IT ALL END?