You Must Be Born Again – No. 3
What is this ‘new birth’?
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV.
Matthew Henry said: “The new birth is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves, and whereby such a life begins as shall last forever.”
God, the Holy Spirit changes the hearts and minds of men and women, to give them a new desire for Christ, and the things of God. To trust Jesus Christ for our salvation, we must first need the desire in our hearts; a yearning for Him.
Without the ‘new birth’ we will have no desire for Christ. If we have no desire for Christ, then we will never choose Him. This ‘new birth’ is also called regeneration.
Nine changes brought about by the ‘new birth.’
The ‘new birth’ brings about changes in:
- Relationship with God
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
- Relationship with your family
- Relationship with yourself
- Relationship with your neighbours
- Change in your disposition
- Change in your affections
- Change in your aims
That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10
- Change in your principles.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
Modern man puts his trust in science and technology to create a better world, but science and technology cannot change a man or woman’s nature, only God the creator can recreate us. This is precisely what He does when we give ourselves to Jesus Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV.
The saving change of heart is solely the work of the Holy Spirit.
“YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”