THE BIBLE AND NEW BIRTH

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND NEW BIRTH

Devotional Text: JOHN 3:1-8

Introduction:

The concept of “New Birth” is variously represented in different quarters. For example, some look at it, as striking a new way of doing things, while others see it as a change of attitude which is possible through education and information. But, the scriptural representation of the term is much more concrete and deeper than any view of the world on the subject – matter. Thus, when Jesus talks of “New Birth”, the concept of the total renewal of man from sinful state comes to focus (Titus 3:5); and this, involves the cleansing of sin (I John 1:7) and the impartation of new life (Rom. 6:4), which is after godliness, (2 Peter 1:3).

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)     New Birth is the removing of the nature of sin, and the impartation of divine nature

 in the life of a repentant sinner, (2 Peter 1:4).

(2)     New Birth brings the repentant sinner into the order of new creation, (2 Cor. 5:17);

(3)     New Birth is a supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit that renews the repentant

 sinner whom the Lord hath shown mercy, (Titus 3:5).

(4)     New Birth is the basic qualification for the kingdom of Heaven, (John 3:3).

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE AGENT OF NEW BIRTH

New Birth is not achieved through religious socialization or induction, but by the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit, and this, remains a mystery to the natural man, (John 3:8). In New Birth operation, the Holy Spirit washes and renews the repentant sinner who comes to the Lord for salvation, (Titus 3:5), and so, for any genuine rebirth of a sinner, there are noticeable changes in character and behavoiur, and the absence of such changes marks any claim of being born again false. In other words, when one is truly born again, old things must pass away, and new things must begin and continue, (2 Cor. 5:17). By this, therefore, this lesson biblically asserts that New Birth:

(i)                   can only be possible by the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit, (John 3:5);

(ii)                 is of the Holy Spirit only when the fruits of repentance are visible, (Matt. 3:5-10);

(iii)                that is of the Holy Spirit guarantees the leadership and testimony of the Spirit in the life of the believer, (Rom 8:14-16).

THE WORD OF GOD AS THE MEANS OF NEW BIRTH

                        The Holy Scripture authenticates the fact that the Word of God is the means of New Birth, when it notes that, “being born again is not of corruptible seed, but of the incorruptible, through the Word of God, which lives and abides forever, (I Peter 1:23). This implies that, since every seed of man is affected by sin (Rom. 3:23), it therefore, means that no seed of man, by any means can change the sinners to be suitable for the kingdom of Heaven, (John 3:5), and, please note that the water as expressed in the cited scripture means the word of God, (See Eph. 5:26). Furthermore, the foregoing equally shows that those who teach that water baptism is a means of New Birth have false interpretation of the Word of God.  Having cited the above, let it be stated that:

(i)             only the word of God can quicken a sinner unto New Birth, (see Heb. 4:12);

(ii)           New Birth cannot come through the corruptible seed of man, but by the Word of God, (I Peter 1:23);

(iii)          New Birth is not by natural water of Baptism, but by Divine Water of the Word of God, (Eph. 5:26; John 3:5).

THE SINNER’S STEPS TO NEW BIRTH

New birth is not simply achieved by attending religious programmes, nor, is it gained by the prayer of a powerful preacher, though; the cited religious exercises are often designed to achieve such an objective. However, according to the Scripture, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, (James 4:6). Therefore, the New Birth can only be gained by a concrete change of attitude, by a sinner, which results in humble steps towards the Throne of Grace for mercy, (see Luke 18:10-14). To this end, a sinner receives the blessing of New Birth when he acknowledges that:

(i)             he  requires the mercy of God and not his self-righteousness, (Titus 3:5), as he needs

 the righteousness of Christ, (Rom. 10:1-4);

(ii)           he needs to repent (Acts 3:19), as well as confess his sins, (I John 1:9), to pave

way for the New Birth operation of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5);

(iii)          he needs the New Birth, without which he cannot be in the kingdom of God, (John 3:1-6).

(iv)          his New Birth status gives him the privilege of receiving Jesus into his life,

to become his Lord and personal Saviour, (John 1:11-12).

In conclusion, please recall that New Birth is absolutely the work of the Holy Spirit, (John 3:5), which he achieves by the washing of Divine Water, which is the word of God (I Peter, 1:23), and that the sinner can only achieve this by acknowledging his need for the mercy of God (Rom 9:23), and in turn repents, (Acts 3:19), and confesses his sins (I John 1:9), as well as forsakes them (Prov. 28:13), to pave way for the authority that makes one a child of God, (John 1:12). PLEASE, NOTE!