BE BORN ONCE AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO DIE TWICE.
THE MIRACLE OF THE NEW BIRTH
John 3:1-8
The
miracle of the new birth is the greatest of all miracles. To be born again or
born of the SpiritofGod is the greatest thing that can happen to a man. The
miracle of the new birth is a showcase of the power of God in an unprecedented
manner. It quickens a man who has been dead in sins and trespasses to begin to
live and manifest the fruits of the Spirit. To turn a man who was used to being
a servant of Satan and a slave to sin, to a righteous servant of God is agreat
miracle - indeed, the greatest of all miracles!
The miracle of the new birth is
greater than the miracle of having a child after a long delay. It is greater
than the miracles of healing, deliverance and prosperity. It is greater than
the miracle of even raising the dead. The miracle of the new birth is the
miracle that leads you to life eternal, to the kingdom of God
To believe in the deity and divinity
of Christ like Nicodemus believed is good; to believe in miracles, healing and
deliverance is great, but profession alone without the composite experience of
the new birth will not take anybody to heaven. The essential nature and
importance of being born again is underscored by the very words of Jesus to
Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom
of God
The new birth is the cleansing, reassuring work of the Word of God and the
diligent operation of the Spirit. Except the double operations of the Word and
the Spirit take place in a man’s heart to make him born again and qualified for
heaven, he cannot see, he cannot enter the kingdom of God
1. THE INDESTRUCTIBLE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW
BIRTH
1 Corinthians 3:11; 2 Timothy 2:19;
Hebrews 6:1; Psalm 11:3;
Acts 17:30,31;
20:20,21; 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10;
Acts 19:18,19.
The foundation of the new birth or new
life is repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the
foundation that is sealed with the stamp of heaven. Theologians, preachers,
denominations, religious men and women cannot change it. We build our Christian
faith on shaky foundation when we depend
on church membership, religious duties, activities and church ordinances like
infant baptism, confirmation and the Lord’s Supper to take us to heaven.
Repentance is the foundation of the new birth experience.
Without repentance,
there is no way anyone can be born again. “Repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ” is the solid foundation, the indestructible
foundation of the new birth. To
experience the new birth, you need to:
1. Have a knowledge of your personal sin, not
the sin of another person.
2. See those sins as God sees them; do not
excuse them or portray them in good light.
3. Have godly sorrow for your sin as Jesus felt
the pains and agony when He was nailed on
the cross for your sin.
4. Have a heart that is set against all your
past sins.
5. Confess your sins to God with deep, deep
sorrow of heart.
6. Turn away from them and separate completely
from every sin.
7. Destroy all the objects of sin and anything
connected with your past sin.
2.
THE INDISPENSABLE FAITH FOR THE NEW
BIRTH
John 1:12,13; Galatians 3:26; James
2:19; John 2:23-25; Mark 3:11; Luke 7:37,38,48,50; Romans 3:22-26; 10:8-10;
Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-13.
Faith
is very important and indispensable for the new birth experience. But many
people don’t understand faith in Jesus Christ. They mistake it for faith for
healing, deliverance from demonic attacks, prosperity, miracle. The faith being
referred to here is the faith that
trusts in the mercy and grace of God, faith that trusts the Lord for salvation.
It is important that we have this kind of faith because without it, we cannot
have genuine salvation experience.
This is the
kind of faith that produces in man, internal and external moral transformation.
The faith that saves is that sure trust in God that through the sacrifice of
Christ our sins are forgiven, we are set free from sin so that they do not have
power or dominion over us any more. By it, we are reconciled unto God.
3. THE INDISPUTABLE FRUITS OF THE NEW BIRTH
Romans 8:15,16; 5:1,5; 1
John 4:7,12,18-21; 3:14-16; 2:9-11; 3:1-9; 2:29;1John 5:4,18; Romans
6:1-4,6,7,11,12,18,22
The new birth comes with
some evidence, some fruits. It changes what you used to be, the life you used
to live, the places you used to go, the dresses or clothes you used to wear,
the behaviour and character you used to manifest. The evidence is both internal
and external. Internally, it brings assurance of sonship and salvation in your
spirit that you are a child of God. It brings joy, peace and love. By it, the
love of God shed abroad in your heart replaces envy, jealousy, hatred, malice
and vindictive spirit.
It fills you with love for God and for His people; it
fills you with love for the scriptures, love for the people of God, love for
sinners and love for even your enemies. In short, the new birth experience
fills you with love for everybody around you. However, it is our abiding in
Christ that gives us continual grace to live an overcoming life. The external
evidence that you are born again is that you live a righteous life. When you
are born again, you will not continue in sin.
Sundy worship service message by Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
0 Comments