The New Birth - Part 5

The Miraculous Nature of the New Birth

John 3:4-7 – “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 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.”

Birth is a miracle.  In my travels, young couples have many times allowed me to hold their infant.  Every time I hold someone’s baby, I think of the miracle of life.  When holding a precious baby, I cannot understand how any human being can so heartless as to be pro-abortion.  To carry out a premeditated plan to stop the beating of a human heart is murder in our courts, unless the victim is a defenseless, helpless child in the womb.  If you believe in a woman’s right to have her baby murdered, you are considered an “intellectual.”  Those who believe in such stupid nonsense call themselves progressive; and they are!  They are progressing into a sick, disgusting, repulsive, sickening, ghastly, nauseating monster!  Each time I hold a baby, I cannot escape from confronting the truth of the miracle of birth.  It is a miracle how that, from a single cell, a complex little body with functioning organs can be formed inside the womb.  It is miraculous to think how a baby, very early in its development in the womb, can feel pain, move, and even sense the mood of his or her mother.  While physicians can understand how a baby is formed, there is much regarding the baby in the womb and his or her birth that is unknown even to the physician.  Birth in itself is miraculous.

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is miraculous.  It is appalling that the intellectuals will deny the virgin birth of our Lord.  They say that it is not scientifically possible for a human being to have a human mother, but not a human father.  Then, they’ll turn around and teach that the first human had apes for parents!  It only goes to show that liberalism is hypocrisy on every level.  Yes, I believe in the miraculous event of the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition to birth in general and the virgin birth of our Lord, the Bible records miraculous births.  John the Baptist was a miracle baby.  He was born of Zacharias and Elizabeth, both of whom were very elderly.  Isaac was a miracle baby, being born of elderly parents as well.  I believe in the miracle births recorded within the pages of God’s holy Word.

The phenomenon of a man being born again is also miraculous!  Nicodemus heard the cure for lost mankind from the lips of the Saviour – “Ye must be born again!”  Upon hearing this, he immediately began to rationalize the cure.  “How can a man be born when he is old,” he asked.  “Can he go into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?”  Now, understand this, dear reader, that if Jesus had been speaking of a physical second birth, that occurrence would certainly be miraculous.  But, Christ is not speaking of being born physically the second time.  We are already born of the flesh, and that’s what got us into trouble!  Jesus is speaking of our spirit, which is dead in trespasses and sins, being born again!  That is why He tells Nicodemus, “That which born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”  It would undoubtedly be miraculous if we crawled into our mother’s womb and were born physically a second time; but Jesus Christ is speaking of something much more miraculous than that. 

When a lost man is born again, the miracles that take place in that man’s life are astounding!  Let us look briefly at a couple of these miracles.

The Miracle of a New Creation

II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

This is a miracle I have witnessed many times.  I have seen men and women who were bound by drugs and/or alcohol get immediate deliverance!  I can name families that were on the brink of destruction; I have witnessed marriages on the edge of the cliff of divorce; but in one moment’s time, someone in the family came to Christ, and Christ took the pieces and put them back together!  I have seen it!  You came too late to tell me it doesn’t work; I have seen it!  There’s no debate over whether or not it works.  You either believe the evidence, or you do not!  It is an amazing miracle how God can take the lowest of the low, and give them new life! 

The Miracle of Justification

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Justification, as I have stated many times, is a legal term, meaning, “to declare one to be righteous.”  It is a declaration that one is not guilty.  But, it is infinitely more than that!  When a man is justified by God, God Almighty sees that man as having never sinned, and as always having the righteousness of Jesus Christ!  No wonder the songwriter said it this way:

Born of the Spirit with life from above

Into God’s family divine,

Justified fully through Calvary’s love,

O what a standing is mine!*

It is a miracle that one, whose life is full of sin, can be justified in the sight of a holy, righteous, just God.  It is only made possible that Christ’s righteousness can be placed upon me because my sins were placed upon Him, and He died to pay the penalty thereof.  What a miracle!

*John Willard Peterson

TO BE CONTINUED…

The New Birth - Part 4

Ye Must Be Born Again!

As we have seen in the third chapter of John, Nicodemus was religious; his religion did not satisfy him; he even admitted the right things; but he was still in his sins.  Now we come to an important question.  What was Nicodemus missing?  Jesus answers this question concisely.  After Nicodemus admitted the right things concerning our Lord, Christ did not even acknowledge his admissions.  Let us look again at verse three:

John 3:2 – “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

Immediately after Nicodemus made the correct admissions concerning Christ’s advent from heaven, Christ did not so much as make a single remark regarding his comments.  Immediately, Christ cuts to the chase and gets to the root of the problem.

John 3:3 – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Being born again is the answer.  It is the missing ingredient in Nicodemus’ religious recipe.  You may be religious; you may be even be a religious leader.  You may conduct services, perform sacraments, do good deeds, and all the rest of it.  But if you have not been born again, you are lost and hell-bound!

God’s Examination of Man

Men and women today boast of their religious accomplishments.  If you were to ask the next ten people how to go to heaven, I am sure you would get ten different answers.  Some think that because they haven’t done anything too bad, they are sure to have a home in heaven.  Some think that because they are good to their neighbors and try to help people, that they are sure to go to heaven.  Some think that since there are hypocrites in church, they will be assured a place in heaven. 

But when God examines lost, unregenerate mankind, he does not see a basically good picture.  When man is laid out on God’s examining table, God looks closely at the specimen.  He lifts up the hands and says, “His hands shed innocent blood.”  He looks at the feet and says, “His feet are swift in running to mischief.”  He pulls back the eyelids and says, “There is no fear of God before his eyes.”  He looks under the lips and says, “The poison of asps is under his lips.”  He beholds the mouth says, “His mouth is full of bitterness and cursing.”  He views the tongue and says, “With his tongues he has used deceit.”  Observing even further, He looks at the throat and says, “His throat is an open sepulchre.”  Then, God listens to the heart of mankind and finds that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked!  This is what God sees in unsaved mankind.  It is laughable that some ministers teach that man is basically neutral.  That’s not what God said!  Mankind is in sin!  Conceived in sin and shaped in iniquity!  That’s what God said in Psalm 51:5.  Notice:

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

Isaiah 48:8 – “…for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.”

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Plainly, God said that when you were born of the flesh, you were born wrong.  The only hope is for you to be born again. 

In understanding the new birth, it is necessary for me to ask the reader a question.  The question is as follows: “When were you made a sinner?”  Some teach that they were made a sinner the first time they committed a sin.  This is not what the Bible teaches.  Another question necessary to be asked is this: “When were you made righteous?”  Some would answer that they became righteous when they started doing righteous things.  This is contrary to the word of God.  The Bible truth is that the sinner was made a sinner when Adam sinned, and the saved were made righteous when Christ obeyed the Father in laying down His life.

Romans 5:19 – “For as by one man’s [Adam] disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Christ] shall many be made righteous.”

You are born again, not by your own deeds of righteousness; not by sacraments; not by church membership; but solely by trusting Christ’s obedience to the Father.  Trusting what Jesus did on the cross is the only way whereby you can be saved.  Ask Him to save you today, completely believing Him to do so, and He will immediately save you!

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

MORE COMING UP…

The New Birth - Part 3

The points of our focus heretofore have been as follows: first, that Nicodemus was religious – not only a religious man, but a religious leader; and second, that his religion left him empty, barren, and hungry, resulting in his midnight journey to Christ.

Continuing our examination of the third chapter of John’s gospel, it is now necessary to inspect the latter portion of the second verse:

John 3:2 – “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

Religious Nicodemus was the victim of a religious mirage. Like all false religions, Judaism in Christ’s day left Nicodemus empty and hungry. Notice the first words to Jesus from the lips of Nicodemus – “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Here, we witness a single sentence, yet it is a mouthful. Allow me to dissect each of the phrases in Nicodemus’ opening statement in his conversation with Christ.

“Rabbi…” – By calling him by this title, Nicodemus is acknowledging that Jesus Christ is a Jewish teacher of the law with the necessary credentials.

“…we know…” – It is noteworthy that, while speaking to Christ, Nicodemus uses the plural pronoun “we.” He comes to Jesus alone; yet says, “WE know.” Nicodemus is speaking not only for himself; but for the entire sect of the Pharisees.

“…that thou art a teacher…” – Again, Nicodemus acknowledges Christ to be a teacher of the law.

“…come from God…” – Here, Nicodemus acknowledges that Christ came, not merely from Bethlehem, but from God! No Pharisee would admit that Christ came from God unless the Spirit of God were dealing with him. Nicodemus is not far from the kingdom of God!

“…for no man…” – Nicodemus, in this phrase, separates Christ from every other man! Christ has no counterpart! I often hear the media report our President’s meetings with other chief executives. They will say, “President Obama met with his British counterpart.” What they are saying is this – Although the British chief executive is called a Prime Minister, and the American chief executive is called a President, they have the same powers. What the President is to America, the Prime Minister is to Great Britain. But when we speak of Jesus Christ, know this – He has no counterpart! No one is like Him! Every religious leader; every Greek god; every Roman goddess; every Buddhist monk; even Buddha, Mohammad, and every atheist who worships himself – they all, without exception, take a back seat to Jesus Christ! Mohammad will bow his knee to Jesus Christ! Buddha will confess with own lips that Jesus Christ is Lord of all! No one compares to Christ. No one is equal with Jesus Christ. There is no counterpart to Jesus Christ! The reader may ask, “Are you saying that Jesus Christ is superior to every religion on the face of the earth?” No, that is not what I am saying. I am saying that Jesus Christ is FAR SUPERIOR to every other religion, god, goddess, prophet, imam, teacher, or any other religious figure. Man’s religions are so insignificant when compared to Christ that the word “superior” does not do justice in describing Christ’s relationship to them!

Psalm 97:9 – “For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.”

Ephesians 1:20, 21 – “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE ALL principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”

John 3:31 – “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

Philippians 2:9-11 – “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Now, for our next phrase.

“…can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” – Nicodemus noticed the miracles Christ was doing and acknowledged that God had to be with Jesus Christ.

So, let us get some things straight. First, Nicodemus was religious, yet he was as lost as he could be. Second, his religion left him empty. Third, we now see that Nicodemus is even admitting the right things, but he is still lost! Nicodemus acknowledges that Christ is a rabbi. Admitting that Christ is a great teacher will not save you. Nicodemus then admits that Jesus came from God! In spite of this acknowledgement, Nicodemus is still lost. Nicodemus even admits that Christ’s great miracles reveal the fact that God the Father is with Jesus Christ.

In compelling lost souls to trust Jesus Christ to save them, many times these precious people will admit all the right things. I’ve had them nod their head and agree with what I was saying. When speaking to them regarding salvation, I’ve had them to respond by saying, “I know.” But knowing that I’m telling you right won’t save you! You can admit all the right things and still be lost – just as Nicodemus did! Nicodemus did not need religion – he had religion and was lost. Nicodemus did not need to merely admit the right things – he did so and was yet in his sins. What did he need?

STILL NOT DONE…

The New Birth - Part 2

Our text for this concise study is found in the third chapter of John’s gospel.  Having examined the first verse, we have seen that Nicodemus was a religious leader. 

John 3:1 – “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”

The verse following reveals yet more information concerning this man Nicodemus. 

John 3:2 – “The same came to Jesus by night…”

For this post, it is necessary to consider why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.  This point is important enough for John to record it.  No phrase in scripture is insignificant.  Every word of God is pure.  Every word recorded in holy writ is present with purpose, and the fact that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night is important enough for John to record the fact.  The one thing John does not tell is WHY Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.

Scholars have much to say as to the reason for Nicodemus’ midnight journey.  Some say that Nicodemus came at night because he feared that he would have been persecuted by his fellow religious Jews had he come to Christ openly.  Others have suggested that Nicodemus, being a religious leader, was very busy during the day, and therefore approached the Son of God at the dark side of the sunset.  While either of these propositions may divulge actuality, they are only speculations, for the scriptures do not tell us.  I suppose that if the commentators can offer their speculations, then it would be in order for me to offer mine.  I believe that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night because he had a hunger for God – a hunger so intense that it could not wait until morning.  No man who hungers for God like that needs to go without Him.  Jesus plainly stated, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

So, there are two things concerning Nicodemus that every reader should understand.  First, that he was religious; and second, his religion did not satisfy him.  There are many today who are in the same shape.  There are those who play with beads, pray to Mary, get their children sprinkled, confess to a priest, journey to Mecca, attend church every Sunday, read a Bible, and are left as empty as they can be. 

A pastor told me recently that he asked his son to find out how many religions there are in the world.  Figuring that there are probably hundreds, maybe a couple thousand, this pastor was shocked to find out that there are tens of thousands of religions in this world!  No wonder people are confused!  No wonder people who have an innate desire for religion stay away!  They do not even know where to start!  This ought to make every true born-again believer rejoice that he has found the only true way!  I am thankful to God for allowing the Holy Ghost to convict me of my sin, showing me undoubtedly that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, and that every religion contrary to Jesus Christ is as false as it can be! 

Tens of thousands of religions!  Imagine that!  Many of them are full of ritual, ceremony, and creed.  Yet, when the demands of religions are fulfilled, the adherents are left desolate, empty, dry, hungry, thirsty, barren, unsatisfied, and lost.  How sad!  While most religions admit that mankind is lost, few religions offer any assurance to their adherents.  Most religions say that if you do this, do that, do the other, do, do, and do…hopefully you will be saved.  No wonder the world’s religious community is left empty!  Even in Christendom, you will find those who deviate from the true gospel.  They preach that salvation is attained by doing this, doing that, and doing the other.  Some preach that Christ will save you solely by His grace, but to “stay saved,” one must keep laws, keep commandments, pray every day, go to church, and so forth.  I have heard some preachers who have a long list to perform in order to “stay saved” that they can’t keep the list themselves! 

I have said it before in this blog, and I’ll say it again.  At the end of the day, there are only two religions: man’s religion, and God’s religion.  Man’s religion says, “Do;” God’s religion says, “Done.”  Man’s religion says, “Finish the work;” God’s religion says, “The work is finished!”  Jesus Christ came into the world to fulfil the law of God, which no man has ever been capable of keeping. 

Matthew 5:17 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

John 7:19 – “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?”

Because He fulfilled the law of God Almighty perfectly, completely, and entirely, Jesus Christ was the only valid candidate to take my sins and yours upon Himself.  And He did just that.  He who was innocent as He could be went to the old rugged cross, and died upon it, paying off my sin and yours.  He completely paid the debt that you and I could never pay!  In man’s religion, man tries to save himself by keeping creeds, sacraments, and commandments.  In God’s religion, Jesus Christ is the Saviour, and He saves man completely apart from any works on man’s part.  This is God’s religion.  This is the “pure religion” that separates from the world and every false religion connected with it!

James 1:27 – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

All other religions will leave you empty and hungry.  Nicodemus was religious, but not satisfied.  His religion left him so hungry that he had to get to Jesus that night – it couldn’t wait until morning!  I pray that your religion, if it is not centered on Jesus Christ, will make you so empty and hungry that you can no longer delay; you must come to Christ today!

MORE TO COME…

The New Birth - Part 1

One of the grandest doctrines in the Bible is that of the new birth. Few church members know anything concerning it; few ministers declare it; few seminarians understand it. Yet, it is paramount in its importance, for except a man is born again, he shall not see the kingdom of God, let alone enter into it.

Our text for this brief study is found in the popular passage of the third chapter of the gospel of John. This passage is the plainest text in the Bible regarding the new birth. While it is true that many so-called preachers today emphasize “steps to becoming a better man;” “steps to raising a better family;” “how to be more successful;” and other such themes, the cry of the Saviour is yet the same – “Ye must be born again.” The supreme requirement needed to enter the kingdom of God has not been altered – “Ye must be born again!” It is not A METHOD to salvation; it is THE ONLY METHOD to salvation. It is not an option; it is an obligation. It is not one of the roads to heaven; it is the absolute only path that leads from here to heaven. You’ll be born again or you’ll not lay eyes on the heavenly city.

Religious, but Lost!

John 3:1 – “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”

John opens this chapter by introducing us to a man by the name of Nicodemus. Two phrases identify this man for us. First, Nicodemus is “a man of the Pharisees.” The Pharisees were a religious group of the day. Second, Nicodemus is “a ruler of the Jews.” Clearly, Nicodemus is a religious man. He is not only a religious individual; he is a religious leader. Here is a man who says his prayers; yet he is lost! Here is a man who leads religious services; but he is lacking that which is most important. Nicodemus, at the opening of John 3, keeps religious laws and ceremonies; yet, if he dies at this point, he will wake up in hell.

In the first chapter of John’s gospel, I find an interesting phrase in verse eighteen:

John 1:18 – “No man hath seen God at any time.”

What a statement! This is an indictment against all religion; for all religion claims to have the correct glimpse of God Almighty! Every religion says, “We understand God to be this way or that way.” However, John writes emphatically, “No man hath seen God at any time.” No man has God figured out. Religious creeds have failed to figure out God. Church traditions are inadequate in revealing God to mankind. Religion is not what you need! I suppose there will be more religious people in the flames of hell than anyone else. Someone says, “I think all religions lead to the same place.” This person is partly correct – all religions lead to the same hell. Make no mistake about it – religion of any sort is insufficient in showing God Almighty to mankind.

After John tells us in John 1:18 that no man has seen God at any time, he goes on to reveal something most interesting. John goes on to tell us about a man named Philip who found Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the King of the Jews. Philip then tells Nathaniel. When Nathaniel comes to Jesus, Jesus tells Nathaniel that he is an individual in whom is no guile! Nathaniel is surprised that Jesus would make such a statement, since Jesus did not know Nathaniel. Look at Nathaniel’s response:

John 1:48 – “Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”

The eighteenth verse of this chapter informs us that no man has seen God at any time; but the forty-eighth verse of this chapter shows us that Jesus saw Nathaniel. Religion is man’s efforts in attempting to see God; but Jesus came to inform us that we can’t see God, but He sees us! We never have God figured out; but He has us figured out!

The goal of religion is to find God; but the message of the gospel is that Christ came to find lost sinners!

Matthew 18:11 – “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” – NOTE: The vast majority of Bible versions have completely omitted this verse, including the NIV, TNIV, RSV, NRSV, and the NASV. The claim that newer versions just “make the Bible easier to understand” is a bold-faced lie.

In all the attempts of the many religions to find and understand God, mankind is as lost today as ever. Religion is not what is needed. Nicodemus was religious, but he was lost.

TO BE CONTINUED…