WHAT IS THE NEW BIRTH?

IT IS THE WORK OF GOD by which each one of us, as a hell‐deserving sinner, can receive a new life. It is a second birth, a spiritual birth. (Romans 3:23 & 6:23).

The new birth is not a religion, it is not morality, it is not reformation—

It is a mystery words cannot explain, but a reality you cannot explain away. "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 everyone that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). Jesus spoke those words to Nicodemus, a well educated religious leader; who was doing his best to gain heaven. Just as Nicodemus could not understand or explain the wind, so no man can really understand or explain the new birth. You do not have to understand all the mysteries of God. If religious Nicodemus needed to be born again, so do you. How do you expect to make it to heaven without being born again, if Nicodemus couldn't?

It is with you as it was with Nicodemus keeping the law, going to church, joining a church, being religious, being baptized, living up to a creed will not save you. There will be many in hell who did all of these things. Will you? Regardless of your denomination, "Ye must be born again."

The wind is a reality no man can explain away, only a fool would say, "I don't believe in the wind. I have never seen it, I can’t understand it, so there just isn't any such thing as a wind." Many Bible rejecting, faith destroying "explainers" are denying the reality of the new birth. What they cannot understand they say just doesn’t exist. They say the new birth is just an "emotional experience." When they get through explaining the new birth there isn't anything left of it. This is the failing wisdom of man. (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Thank God, no matter what the modernists say, the new birth is a reality no man can explain away! Ask the man who has been born again if there is anything to it!You cannot see the Holy Spirit. You cannot explain Him. But see His mighty power make the prostitute pure, the liar honest, the drunkard sober, the blasphemer pray, the fearful brave, set the addict free, and then try to deny the reality of it!

When some people are asked if they are a child of God, they say "I hope so", or "I think so", "I'm trying to be as best I can." Suppose you asked John Jones if he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jones and he'd answer, "I hope so", or I think so", "I'm trying to be as best I can." You would question his mind! He is not their son because he tries to be, but because he was born into their home. If you are a child of God it is not because of your trying, but because you have been born into His family. If you are not a child of God you actually have no right to pray, "Our Father....."

The physical life begins by birth. The spiritual life begins the same – Not by joining a church and becoming religious. You cannot join the family of God, you must be BORN into it. Born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John1:13).

A birth is the coming into being of a new life which has the nature of its parents. When you were born the first time you were made a partaker of the nature of natural man. When you are "born again" you become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Is this true of you? Do you have the divine nature? No matter what kind of a religious profession you have made, no matter how good a person you may be morally, unless you have been made a partaker of the divine nature by receiving Christ (John 1:12), you are not saved. Some people don’t like the word "saved," but "saved," is God's Word! Jesus Christ is our Savior. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved". (Mark 16:16). When you receive Christ you are saved, converted, born again – call it what you will, it is the key to heaven.

But what about all the good things I have done? Won't this get me to heaven? Not according to God’s word "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8‐9).

Be sure you are born again! "Examine yourselves to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus is in you? ‐ unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5) RSV. Do you meet the test? Can you sense His presence within yourself? There may be a more spectacular change in the life of one who is a cursing blasphemer, but there has to be a change when you are "born again". There will be a new attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ, His word, His people, and a new attitude towards prayer. Are you SURE you have been born again? "IF any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new". (2 Corinthians 5:17). have you become a new creature?