The New Birth - 3 Part Essay
Elder Vernon Johnson
The scriptures have a lot to say about being born again and the consequent effects upon those who are born again. Many erroneous ideas have been put forth about what man must can do to cause himself to be born again. One highly popular evangelist wrote a book on the subject of how man can be born again. The problem with such concepts is that they simply are not true. The plain biblical teaching is that God is sovereign in bringing about the new birth. By the term, sovereign, we mean "independent of all others." God is under no dependency on man to bring about the new birth. God does not cause anyone to be born again because of their actions of either belief, works, or following a prescribed course of action.
John 3:8 describes God's sovereignty in causing someone to be born again. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whether it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." Just as God is sovereign, the wind is also independent of the actions of man. "The wind bloweth where it listeth." No man has ever had the power or knowledge to direct or control the direction or force by which the wind blows. Likewise man does not have the power or knowledge to bring about the new birth. "And thou hearest the sound thereof--" While we have the evidence of the wind's blowing, this knowledge is not a cause of the wind's blowing, but is an effect of the wind's blowing.
Likewise there are many evidences of the new birth given unto us to assure us of that birth, but those evidences are an effect of the birth and not the cause. "But canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth"--we are not able to pinpoint a place on earth and say the wind originates here, or pinpoint a place on earth and say this is the final destination of the wind. Thus we conclude the wind is totally independent of man in its blowing, its direction, its origination and its destination. Likewise the Holy Spirit is totally independent of man in bringing about the new birth. The new birth takes place when and where the Holy Spirit chooses. Likewise it is God's choice and not man's choice as to who will be born again and who won't be born again.
Likewise John 3:6 teaches us the sovereignty of God in the new birth and affirms that the new birth is not a cooperative endeavor between God and man: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In our natural birth it is the actions of the flesh that brought about our natural birth into the world. Even here, it was not our actions, but our parent's actions that brought about our natural birth. By parallel, the spiritual birth is brought about by the Holy Spirit. Again it is the actions of the Holy Spirit that brings about this spiritual birth and not our actions. The Lord said in John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." Now if I in my flesh could do something to help bring about the new birth, then there would be a profit in the flesh, but the Lord affirms that there is no profit in the flesh, but that the Holy Spirit does the quickening (new birth).
Similarly, John 1:11-13 teaches us that God is sovereign in bringing about the new birth: "He came unto his own...even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." This passage teaches the Sovereignty of God in causing us to be born again by first ruling all other possible causes. First, man's belief is ruled out as a cause for the passage shows that the birth took place prior to man's belief. Secondly, the new birth is not the result of a blood relationship to Abraham or anyone else. Thirdly, the new birth is not the result of the will or desire of the flesh. Fourthly, the new birth is not the result of man's will or choice. Therefore, having ruled out all other possible causes of the new birth, John simply states that the new birth is "of God."
In our last installment we looked at the sovereign work of God in bringing about the new (spiritual) birth in an individual. In this installment we will look at the condition of man prior to being born again and see his total inability to do anything to bring about the new birth.
Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." The word "quicken" means "to make alive." When we "were dead in trespasses and sins" we were "made alive" spiritually. Our condition prior to being born again was "dead in trespasses and sins."
Verses 2 and 3 describe this condition of being "dead in trespasses and sins," "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience..." When we "were dead in trespasses and sins," we "walked according to the course of this world." The course of this world is abomination to God.
The scriptures say that whosoever is the friend of "this world" is the enemy of God. Thus, we conclude that when we were dead in trespasses and sins that we were the "enemies of God."
Secondly, we followed after the "prince of the power of the air..." Jesus is the "prince of peace." Satan is the "prince of the power of the air." We, being dead in trespasses and sins, walked after Satan and had the spirit of Satan working in us.
Thirdly, we had our "conversation" or lifestyle "in the lusts of our flesh..." Paul said "that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world."
Fourthly, we "fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the mind." Thus we weren't just walking after them, but we were actually doing those things.
Fifthly, we "were by nature the children of wrath even as others." This was our condition before we were born again.
Romans 3:9-18 describes our condition under the law of sin and death. "There is none righteous, no, not one." Before we were born again we were totally unrighteous before God.
Secondly, "there is none that understandeth." 1 Corinthians 2:14 says the natural man cannot receive or know spiritual things. Without the new birth we cannot discern spiritual things, understand the gospel, or know God.
Thirdly, "there is none that seeketh after God." A man must be born again before he can seek after God.
Fourthly, "there is none that doeth good, no not one." If believing, repenting, or being baptized is "doing good," then a man must be born again before doing any of those things.
Finally, "there is no fear of God before their eyes." A man who does not fear God will not come to God. Therefore, a man cannot come to God prior to being born again.
John 5:25 says, "The hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." When we were "dead in trespasses and sins," we heard the life-giving voice of the Son of God and were made alive.
Having that spiritual life we can understand spiritual things, seek after God, know God, do good, worship God, fear God, believe the gospel, repent, and become disciples of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!
The new birth is compared to or said to be many things including: resurrection, circumcision, and creation. In this installment we will look at the new birth as a spiritual "creation."
First, the Bible tells us that God is the only creator:
a. Ephesians 3:9 - "...who created all things by Jesus Christ."
b. Colossians 1:16 - "For by him were all things created...all things were created by him, and for him."
c. Revelation 4:11 - "Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Since God is the only creator, man has created nothing and is incapable of creating anything.
Secondly, while God completed natural creation in six days, His creation of spiritual things continues. Revelation 4:11 says they "are and were created." Natural creation is past; spiritual creation continues.
Third, those who are born again are said to be the created workmanship of God. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works..." Ephesians 4:24 says the new man is "created in righteousness and true holiness." Thus the "new man" is the creation of God.
Fourth, those who are born again are said to be new creatures:
a. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..."
b. Galatians 6:15 - "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."
The term "creature" in the New Testament generally refers to those who are born again, except in passages where natural creation is clearly meant.
Fifth, when we are born again (created) we are given a new set of senses. The natural man cannot discern spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:9, 14). Only after being born again do we receive spiritual senses. Sixteen times in Scripture we read, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear..." These refer to spiritual ears.
We are also told, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Thus spiritual eyes are required. Since God is a Spirit, we must have spiritual feeling to "feel after him" (acts 17:27). To "taste the heavenly gift" (Hebrews 6:4), to "taste the good word of God" (Hebrews 6:5), and to "taste that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:3) requires spiritual taste. To perceive the "odor of a sweet smell" from Christian sacrifices (Philippians 4:18) requires a spiritual nose.
In conclusion, God alone and without the help or assistance of man creates us spiritually (causes us to be born again). We must have been created spiritually in order to perceive spiritual things. Thus to hear and respond to the gospel we must have been born again. For these reasons we may conclude that the gospel is for those already born again and not for those who haven't been born again.