ALONE WITH GOD------

THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH

   The scripture instructs us to compare spiritual things with spiritual, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual”—1 Cor. 2:12–13.

The spiritual birth is something of heavenly origin. The words of Jesus to Nicodemus, “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. 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”—John 3:3–5.

It is the act, or fact of coming into spiritual life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life”—John 5:24.

It is a spiritual resurrection. “And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins”—Eph. 2:1. It is a receiving of Christ the Light. “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light (Christ) which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”—John 1:8–9. A change of nature. “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others”—Eph. 2:3. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”—2 Peter 1:4.

A change of state. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”—Eph. 2:13.

It is a change of location. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”—Col. 1:13. A present spiritual translation from darkness (sin) to his kingdom of light and holiness.

A change of living. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life”—Rom. 6:22. “The oath (promise) which he sware (made) to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand (power) of our enemies (devil) might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life”—Luke 1:73–75.

A change of service. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin”—John 8:34. “Ye (sinners) are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it”—John 8:44. This clearly shows that one who is committing sin is doing service for the devil, and is not a servant of God. A change in condition. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”—Col. 1:13. Here the born again believer in Christ is pictured as being (not going to be) translated from the kingdom and power of the devil, into the kingdom of God. This is the present inheritance of all believers in Christ.

The spiritual birth is a new creation. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature (new creation) old things are passed away: behold, all things become new”—2 Cor. 5:17. Here the converted, believer in Christ meaning the one who has accepted Christ is shown as a new spiritual creation, with old (meaning sinful) things, and living gone, being replaced by an experience, and life of holiness.

In summing up the scriptural picture of the new birth, it is shown as receiving spiritual life, a spiritual resurrection, and as receiving of Christ the Light. It is a change of nature, desire, state, location, living, service, condition, meaning a completely new creation, in a state of holiness.