THE NEW BIRTH. John 3

Transcription

1 THE NEW BIRTH John 3 1

2 Fundamental Principle #5 That the new birth comprises the entire change necessary to fit us for the kingdom of God, and consists of two parts: first, a moral change, wrought by conversion and a Christian life; second, a physical change at the second coming of Christ, whereby, if dead, we are raised incorruptible, and if living, are changed to immortality in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. John 3:3, 5; Luke 20:36. (1 Cor. 15:51ff; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17) 2

3 2015 Fundamental Beliefs Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God s law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. (Part of #10 The Experience of Salvation ) 3

4 NOT FOUND New birth Reborn New creature Born anew Conversion Transformation Changed into Born of the Spirit 4

5 NEW BIRTH RESULTS IN Righteousness 1 John 2:29 Not sinning 1 John 3:7ff Love 1 John 4:7 Overcoming the world 1 John 5:4 In faith in Jesus as the Christ 1 John 5:1 In passing from death to life 1 John 3:14; John 5:24 5

6 IS NEW BIRTH THE SAME THING AS CONVERSION? 6

7 ... true conversion is a change of heart, of thoughts and purposes. Evil habits are to be given up. The sins of evil-speaking, of jealousy, of disobedience, are to be put away. A warfare must be waged against every evil trait of character. Then the believing one can understandingly take to himself the promise: Ask, and it shall be given you. Matthew 7:7 (CCh 297.3) 7

8 Real conversion is a decided change of feelings and motives; it is a virtual taking leave of worldly connections, a hastening from their spiritual atmosphere, a withdrawing from the controlling power of their thoughts, opinions, and influences. The separation causes pain and bitterness to both parties. It is the variance which Christ declares that He came to bring. (5T 82.5) 8

9 Conversion is a work that most do not appreciate. It is not a small matter to transform an earthly, sin-loving mind and bring it to understand the unspeakable love of Christ, the charms of His grace, and the excellency of God, so that the soul shall be imbued with divine love and captivated with the heavenly mysteries. When he understands these things, his former life appears disgusting and hateful. He hates sin, and, breaking his heart before God, he embraces Christ as the life and joy of the soul. (2T 294.2) 9

10 Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality. (2T 505.1) 10

11 Genuine conversion is transformation of character. New purposes, new moral tastes are created. Defects of character are overcome. Truth, with its sanctifying power, brings the entire man into obedience to Christ. (TSA 30.2) 11

12 PSALM 103:

13 Merciful (rahum) sympathy, compassion Gracious disposed to bestowing favors/blessings Slow to anger Plenteous in mercy (hesed) unfailing, steadfast, loyal, devotion, as in his faithfulness to his covenant Will not always chide find fault, quarrel, be in disagreement Neither will he keep neither will he maintain his hatred for something based on a previous wrong 13

14 Not dealt with us after our sins hēt, offense, guilt Not rewarded us according to our iniquities avon Great is his mercy to them that fear him hesed *He hath removed our transgressions from us pesha* He pities them that fear him reverence He knoweth our frame that we are dust Mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him hesed His righteousness unto children s children justice 14

15 HE REMOVETH OUR TRANSGRESSIONS 15

16 God s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin.... David had the true conception of forgiveness when he prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10. And again he says, As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12. (MB 114.1) 16

17 Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality. (2T 505.1) 17

18 PSALM 103:18 To such as keep his covenant observe, conform one s actions or practice to, preserve And that remember his commandments to do them keep in mind his precepts, instructions to do them 18

19 Fundamental Principle #5 That the new birth comprises the entire change necessary to fit us for the kingdom of God, and consists of two parts: first, a moral change, wrought by conversion and a Christian life; second, a physical change at the second coming of Christ, whereby, if dead, we are raised incorruptible, and if living, are changed to immortality in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. John 3:3, 5; Luke 20:36. (1 Cor. 15:51ff; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17) 19

20 2015 Fundamental Beliefs Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God s law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. (Part of #10 The Experience of Salvation ) 20

21 THROUGH THE SPIRIT John 3:5, 7 We must be born again, this time of the Spirit, said Jesus, but the 2015 belief states that through the Spirit we are born again. This brief phrase leaves us dangling. I could say, Come to the window and through it I will give you something. That fact that it comes through the window does not tell me anything about what the gift is. But if I said, Come to the window and I will give you of the window, you would know that the gift I plan to give you is either a part(s) of the window, big or small, or perhaps a replica of the whole window itself. 21

22 OF EK A marker of means as constituting a source (from, of, out of, because of, by means of, etc.). It refers to the source of something (not simply to a channel for a substance, but of the substance itself). So, being born of the Spirit means being born with the Spirit, not being born through the Spirit or by the action of the Spirit. Something else causes the birth. It may seem like a small thing, but it is significant because the word through takes away the identity of what you are being born with. 22

23 WHAT DOES GOD S SPIRIT DO? Testifies of Jesus (John 15:26) Reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, of judgment (16:8) Guide into all truth (16:13) Speaks that which he hears (16:13) Shows things to come (16:13) Glorifies Jesus (16:14) Teaches you all things (14:26) Bring all things to your remembrance that Jesus said (14:26) Abides with you forever (14:16) A representative of Jesus (14:18) Comforts (14:16) Makes intercession for the saints (Rom. 8:27) No mention of causing rebirth 23

24 SANCTIFIED Through the Spirit we are born again and we are sanctified. 24

25 Our work is to place our will on the side of God s will. Then, through the blood of the atonement, we become partakers of the divine nature; through Christ we are children of God, and we have the assurance that God loves us even as He loved His Son. We are one with Jesus. We walk where Christ leads the way... (CCh 79.4) 25

26 1 Thessalonians 5:23 holotelēs (to the end, to completion, to perfection) and holoklēros (whole in totality, in every way) Psalm 103:12 who is the antecedent of he? LORD Jehovah, the Father. God s Spirit is never referred to as LORD. It is the Father who cleanses our records of sin and cleanses our characters of sin. 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 4:32 26

27 2015 Fundamental Beliefs Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, YRP 332 writes God s law of love in our hearts, Jeremiah 31:33 and we are given the power to live a holy life. Romans 8:8 14 Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. (Part of #10 The Experience of Salvation ) 27

28 Through Christ, moral power is brought to man that will change the entire affections, and enable man to work with a will for the cause of God. Where all the power of mind and body was before concentrated to work the works of evil, by the Spirit of God a revolution is brought about. The Holy Spirit enlightens, renews, and sanctifies the soul. Angels behold with inexpressible rapture the results of the working of the Holy Spirit in man. (YRP 332.2; ST ) 28

29 2015 Fundamental Beliefs Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God s law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. (Part of #10 The Experience of Salvation ) 29

30 To believe in Jesus is to take him as our redeemer and our pattern. If we abide in him and he abides in us, we are partakers of his divine nature, and are doers of his word. The love of Jesus in the heart will lead to obedience to all his commandments. (HS 188.5) John 15 Jesus is the vine. 30

31 BY FAITH And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature. So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character. (CD 152.4) 31

32 2 Peter 1:4 promises/partakers of the divine nature... become partakers of the divine nature through obedience to God s will and way. (CG 304.1) 32

33 IN SUMMARY We must be born again (John 3:7). This new birth is the union of the human with the divine Spirit Christ s humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature. So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character (DA 123). 33

34 HOW IS THIS PERFECTION OF CHARACTER ACCOMPLISHED? BY WHAT MEANS DID JESUS OVERCOME? By the word of God.... Every promise in God s word is ours (DA 123.4) (2 Peter 1:4 quoted.) 34

35 EARNEST PRAYER AND CONQUEST OF SELF Sin has marred the divine image in man. Through Christ this may be restored, but it is only through earnest prayer and the conquest of self that we can become partakers of the divine nature (GW 80.1) 35

36 ONLY THOSE WHO ARE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE ARE RAISED FROM THE DEAD The Life-giver will call up His purchased possession in the first resurrection, and until that triumphant hour, when the last trump shall sound and the vast army shall come forth to eternal victory, every sleeping saint will be kept in safety and will be guarded as a precious jewel, who is known to God by name. By the power of the Saviour that dwelt in them while living and because they were partakers of the divine nature, they are brought forth from the dead. Letter 65a, 1894 quoted in SDA Bible Commentary 4:

37 IN SICKNESS THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR FAITH SUSTAIN US WHEN WE ARE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE. Should the earthly body decay, the principles of their faith sustain them, for they are partakers of the divine nature. (The Upward Look 78) 37

38 THE 144,00 WILL BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE God is purifying a people to have clean hands and pure hearts to stand before Him in the judgment.... All who will stand the test and trial just before us will be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped, not participated in, the corruptions that are in the world through lust. (RH May 24, 1887) 38

39 JESUS OVERCAME BY TRUSTING IN GOD S PROMISES The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God. By trusting in God s promises, He received power to obey God s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. (MH 181.1) 39

40 HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only-begotten Son of God, binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of Christ. This union is represented by the union of the vine and the branches. Finite man is united to the manhood of Christ. Through faith human nature is assimilated with Christ s nature. (1SM 251.1) 40

41 We become partakers of the divine nature through obedience to God s will and way. (See CT 205.1) 41