 Scripture
Study for the week of November 20th, 2005
The scriptures teach that to be saved from sin one must be regenerated or born again. “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” John 3:3. This passage of scripture however relates to us that the ‘new birth’ is not a change that the sinner may bring about by his own volition...
Our text states that an unregenerate cannot see (i.e. have knowledge of) the kingdom of God until after he is born again. The Savior unequivocally taught that one had to first be born again or he was not able to enter the kingdom of God, “Except a man be born of water and (i.e. even) of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). So in conclusion Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Here the Son of God states that like begets like, or that an individual lost in his own sin could never bring about his own spiritual birth and beget his own spiritual life.
Jesus taught the necessity of the new birth, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye
must be born again” (John 3:7). Jesus taught that it was according to God’s sovereignty. “The wind bloweth where it listeth . . .” (John 3:8a). Just as a mighty wind blows where it will, God regenerates according to his own sovereign will. “. . . and thou hearest the sound thereof . . .” (John 3:8b). Just as the presence of a mighty wind is known by evidence, so those that see the kingdom of God and enter the kingdom of God bear evidence of having been born again. Jesus also taught the universality of God’s sovereignty in the regeneration of all who are born again, “ . . . but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8c). Just as always and forever and every time none of us can tell when and where a mighty storm may blow, even so, always and forever and every time none can tell when and where almighty God will regenerate one of his elect. Sinful man does not bring about the new birth by his own will. God receives all the glory in salvation!
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