Project Description

2016/03

Twice Born

If a religious leader like Nicodemus could ask: ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?’ (John 3:4), is it any wonder that many today are confused regarding the rebirth. Many claim to be ‘born-again’ Christians without experiencing this rebirth. The very fact that we cannot see or enter the kingdom of God without being born again should make us concerned to know what the Bible teaches on the subject (John 3:3+5).  

The Lord has graciously helped us to understand it by giving us pictures in Scripture. We read of His promise in Ezekiel 36:26: ‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.’  The result of such a work was that the recipient of the blessing was enabled to walk in God’s statutes. Thus the Lord wondered that a ‘master in Israel’ would not know of the rebirth (John 3:10). It is described similarly in the testimony of Lydia.  The Lord opened her heart, enabling her to receive the gospel (Acts 16:14).

The Rebirth is a Divine Work
These illustrations emphasise that no man can cause his own soul to be reborn.  The born again soul is a soul that God has worked on, transplanting a new heart for the old dead one.  The Spirit in His Divine Sovereignty moves where He will so that those born again are said to be ‘born of the Spirit’ (John 3:8)

The Rebirth is a Definite Work
The reborn man is a changed man. When you are born of the Spirit there are definable changes.  Paul describes it as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  When the soul is reborn the individual both sees and enters the kingdom.  He comes to see the Person of Christ as the only Saviour of sinners and, in turning from sin in repentance, places his trust in Christ.  We receive Christ as those ‘born of God’ (John 1:12+13).  We are not born again by receiving Christ. Moreover, the reborn soul now loves righteousness and hates sin and thus embarks on a life of new obedience to the Lord, willingly walking in His statutes (See 1 John 3:9, 4:7, 5:4+18). Such an understanding of the rebirth encourages us to pray for the lost. They need to be born again of the Spirit. It also humbles us that when we walk with the Lord it is because God has graciously given us a new heart.   

If you have not repented and believed the gospel and if you are not walking in the Lord’s will then the Lord’s words come to you afresh: ‘Ye must be born again.’

Dr Stephen Pollock.