Great Doctrines of the Bible Prepared by William S.H. Piper, D.D. For Rogma International, Inc. (All Scripture quotations from the KJV of the Bible) Copyright 1989 by Rogma International, Inc. All rights reserved. The Doctrine of The New Birth: It s Message, Meaning, Must, Marks, and Method Introduction Our world is full of religion. More than 300 denominations and 5,000 cults can be found in the United States alone. Together, these organizations represent every aspect of religious profession and expression. Yet, only a very small number of them emphasize the need to be born again. In spite of the fact that Jesus said very clearly, Ye must be born again (John 3:3-8) the message is generally and tragically neglected. It is the purpose of this lesson to set forth this Bible doctrine so clearly, that none can misunderstand it. It is being prepared with prayer, that eventually thousands of students enrolled in THE ROGMA INTERNATIONAL FREE BIBLE STUDY COURSE will truly be born again. Importance of this Lesson q The importance of this lesson is seen first in the inadequacy of religion alone. Millions of devoted church members and cult followers have never been born again. It is possible to be baptized, join a church, take communion, and give tithes without being born again. q In recent years, America at least, has suffered from the preaching of an only believism. The result has been a great influx into our churches of millions who know and believe the facts of the Gospel, but who have never experienced the new birth. Since it is necessary to clarify this much neglected and misunderstood doctrine, and since no one can see or enter into the kingdom of God without being born again, no lesson could have greater significance. THE LESSON I. REGENERATION OR THE NEW BIRTH IS A BIBLE CONCEPT A. John and the Lord Jesus stated clearly: 1. John 1:13 which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 2. John 3:3-8 except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Memorize this passage. B. All of the New Testament writers of the Epistles taught the necessity of being born again. 1. James 1:18, Of his own will begat (born) he us with the word of truth. 2. 1 Peter 1:23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed but by the word of God. 3. 1 John 2:29, every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (God). 4. Paul had his own vocabulary for this same truth. a) Romans 6:4, even so we also should walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE. b) 2 Corinthians 5:17, if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE. II. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THESE RELATED TEXTS? A. That the new birth is real! There is such a thing as a second birth a birth that as is as real but entirely separate from your natural birth: a new birth, a birth from above, a spiritual birth. B. That all people, outside of Christ, not yet saved, are seen by God to be dead (Ephesians 2:1,5) and in desperate need of life (1 John 5:12). C. That everyone CAN and MUST be born again. D. That a whole new life is possible and available to all. 1
E. That all who desire to do so can start life over, since life does not begin until Christ comes into one s heart. F. In addition, these verses tell us clearly that CHRISTIANITY is NOT: 1. A list of dogmas. 2. A system of ethics. 3. Degrees of goodness. 4. A passionless purity. 5. A fighting fundamentalism. 6. A militant orthodoxy. 7. A triune theology. BUT CHRISTIANITY IS LIFE! The new birth means new life. Jesus said, I am come that they might have LIFE (John 10:10). III. THE MEANING: WHAT DOES BORN AGAIN MEAN? A. Look first at John 1:13. Here, we see three negatives concerning the new birth. It is NOT: 1. NOT OF BLOOD a) The Jews were proud of their ancestry, their lineage, and their bloodline. They said, We be Abraham s seed (John 8:33), Abraham is our father (John 8:39). b) Millions today still glory in their ancestry, in their blood line or heritage, feeling it gives them special privilege and status. c) Here the Lord is saying, regardless of your blood line, your status, your position in society, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. It is not how high born you are that matters; it is whether or not you have been born from on high! 2. NOR THE WILL OF THE FLESH a) John 3:6 says, That which is born of the flesh is flesh. b) Romans 8:8 says, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. c) So, the word flesh here, refers to all that man is, and all that man does apart from Christ. A person can accomplish many things in the flesh. One may be a renowned author, a superb athlete, a master artist, a fine musician, a great statesman, an astute businessman, or a financial wizard and still not be born again. That which is done in the flesh is still flesh and cannot please God. 3. NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN In other words, the new birth does not come of man, but of God. Neither priest nor pastor can save you. You are not born again by ordination, baptism, communion or by anything else that might be administered by man. No man can save you. B. So, negatively, the new birth or being born again does not mean: 1. A mere religious commitment. 2. A deep, personal determination or resolution. 3. A religious act of any kind such as praying, tithing, self-denying or church joining. 4. A religious rite, ritual or ceremony. 5. A mere reformation or the turning over of a new leaf. We need a NEW LIFE, not a new leaf! C. But POSITIVELY, the new birth, is: 1. A WORK OF GOD (John 1:13) born of God. a) 1 John 5:1 says, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is THE Christ IS BORN (AGAIN) OF GOD. b) Being born again, then, is not the result of anything we do for God, but is altogether something God does for us. 2. RESURRECTION (Read and study John 3:6; 6:53; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:1,5.) a) That which is born anew in us is our spirit. b) The new birth is the bringing to life of that which is dead in us. And you hath he quickened who were dead (Ephesians 2:1). 2
c) That which is dead in the natural man is his spirit. The spirit of a man is that within him that knows and understands. (Read 1 Corinthians 2:11-14.) Spiritually, man is dead (Ephesians 2:5) and can neither see, nor understand spiritual things (John 3:3,5; and 1 Corinthians 2:14). d) The New Birth then, is that powerful act of God, whereby through the working of His blessed Holy Spirit, our spirits are made alive. Our spiritual understanding is renewed, by which we are now capable of knowing, loving, and serving Him. 3. A CREATIVE ACT! It is the forming or creating within us a whole new life, which we did not previously possess. a) Ephesians 2:10, CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works. b) Ephesians 4:24, put on the new man, which after God is CREATED in righteousness and true holiness. c) 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new CREATURE. 4. THE RECEIVING AND PARTAKING OF GOD S VERY NATURE The New Birth, then, is actually Christ being formed in us by the miracle working power of God. 2 Peter 1:4, that by these ye might be partakers of THE DIVINE NATURE ; Galatians 2:20, Not I, but Christ liveth in me ; Ephesians 3:17, That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. 5. LIFE! The New Birth, is life! A totally new life with all of its new and wonderful manifestations. a) 1 John 5:12, He that hath the Son (of God) hath LIFE. b) John 20:31, and that believing ye might have LIFE. c) John 10:10, I am come that they might have LIFE. IV. THE MUST s of the new birth: Jesus said, Ye MUST be born again (John 3:3-7). Why is the new birth necessary for salvation? Why did Jesus say, You must be born again? PLEASE MEMORIZE THIS MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY ITS OUTLINE. THE EXAM WILL ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT IT. A. Because CHRIST DEMANDED IT! (John 3:3-8). Nothing in the Bible is incidental or accidental. The fact that Christ selected Nicodemus to teach the necessity of the New Birth was nomere coincidence. Nicodemus was not an average sinner. He was considered a great man. He was cultured, educated, profoundly religious, and sincere. He was a ruler, a churchman and a man of great influence. He was the IDEAL man. He had everything any NATURAL man could have. Yet, to him, Jesus said, Ye must be born again. The clear implication of this is that if a man like Nicodemus had to be born again, everyone else in the world must also be born again. B. Because anything other than the New Birth is inadequate. 1. Religion without Christ, or religion without the New Birth actually robs a man of peace, because it places him under religious legality where there is no assurance of salvation. There is no rest, no lasting assurance, no perfect peace, and no sense of security apart from the New Birth. One hymn-writer wrote: I ve tried in vain, a thousand ways, My fears to quell, my hopes to raise. But what I need, the Bible says, Is ever only Jesus. 2. Nothing else provides an authoritative basis for faith. Religion alone is based upon human effort and merit. The New Birth is based upon obedience to the Word of God. 3. No substitute for the New Birth blots out our past sins. Reformation may help a man to live a better life, but only REGENERATION assures a man that all of his sins have been forgiven and blotted out and put away (Hebrews 9:26; Ephesians 1:7). 4. Reformation or religion may change one s outward appearance, but only the New Birth changes the heart. Placing flowers around a cesspool does not change the cesspool, or painting a building rotted by termites cannot save the building. 3
C. Because depending upon anything other than the New Birth is both dangerous and ruinous. D. Because anything else fails to consider the HOLINESS of God (Hebrews 12:14). E. Because anything else side-steps or ignores the WORD of God and questions the integrity of Scripture. F. Because anything else makes a mockery of the CROSS where Christ died that we might live (Galatians 1:4). G. Because anything else ignores and rejects the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit by whom we are given the New Birth (John 3:5, 8; 6:63; 1 Peter 1:22). H. Because apart from Christ, anything else fails completely to understand or recognize human nature for what it is. 1) Our wills are perverted (Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21). 2) Our affections are corrupted (John 3:19). 3) Our minds are blinded (Ephesians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 2:9, 14). I. Because anything else encourages pride. When his own works were rejected, in pride and anger Cain slew his brother Abel (Genesis 4:6-8). V. WHAT MARKS SHOULD ANYONE HAVE WHO CLAIMS TO BE BORN AGAIN? There are many, but we will name just six: A. The mark of OBEDIENCE (1 John 2:3). There will be a definite desire to obey the Lord and to do His will. (Note Christ s example in Philippians 2:5,8.) B. The mark of SEPARATION (1 John 2:15-17). There will be the realization that while one is still in this world, he is no longer of it and will separate himself from its vain and sinful ways. (Read Romans 12:1-2; John 15: 18-19.) C. The mark of CONTINUANCE (1 John 2:19). Continuance in the faith is the evidence of genuine conversion. (Read Acts 2:42 and John 8:31.) D. The mark of PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLY LIVING (1 John 2:29 and 3:6). A born again person will do right. The verb sinneth in verse 6 means the continual practice of sin. The born again person may occasionally slip and fail, but will not habitually practice sin. E. The mark of LOVE (1 John 3:14; 1 Peter 1:22; Gal. 5:22; John 13:35). A love for other Christians, a love for the Word of God and a love for souls will characterize anyone truly born again. F. The mark of NEWNESS OF LIFE (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4). A truly born again person will have a new set of values, new motives, new allegiances, new attitudes, new loves, new perspective on life, new habits, new goals, new peace, new joy and new strength. Truly, old things will have passed away, and all things will have become new. VI. THE METHOD: WHEN AND HOW DOES THE MIRACLE OF THE NEW BIRTH TAKE PLACE IN A HUMAN HEART AND LIFE? A. First, God acts to bring us to this condition. He employs two agents: 1. THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Read carefully John 16:8; John 3:5-6,8; John 6:63; Romans 8:16 and Titus 3:5-6.) The Holy Spirit plays a major role in our regeneration. a) He convicts us of our sin (John 16:8-9). b) He reveals Christ as our only hope (John 16:13-14). c) He causes us to repent (Acts 2:37-38). 2. THE WORD. (Read carefully Romans 10:17; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-23; Hebrews 4:12; and Mark 4:20.) It is through the WORD and primarily through the preaching of the WORD, that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, reveals Christ, imparts life, and assures of salvation (John 3:5; Romans 8:16). B. Man acts in response to the Spirit s convincing, convicting and Christ-revealing power. 1. We must repent (thoroughly change our mind), and turn to God. (Read carefully Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30; Matt. 9:13; Luke 5:32; 24:47; Acts 20:21 and 26:20.) 4
2. Our WILLS must be exercised in coming to Christ. a) John 5:40, Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life. b) John 7:17, If any man will do His will (literal meaning), he shall know of the doctrine. c) Revelation 22:17, And whosoever WILL, let him take the water of life freely. 3. Our FAITH must reach out and lay hold of Christ and the promises of salvation. a) Christ dwells in our hearts by FAITH (Ephesians 3:17). b) BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). c) Acts 20:21, Paul preached repentance toward God, and FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ. d) Read also John 6:47; Romans 5:1; John 3:16,36. 4. Through repentance and faith the WORD is RECEIVED whereby we are born again. a) Mark 4:20 The good seed, the real Christians, are such as hear the WORD, and RECEIVE it. b) Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly RECEIVED HIS WORD were baptized. c) John 1:12 But as many as RECEIVED HIM... By faith we not only receive the written Word, but, in so doing, we RECEIVE Him who is the LIVING WORD and are thus born again. 5