Three Results of Spiritual Birth

(February 21, 2008)

Three actions take place during spiritual birth. First, a saint’s inward parts are programmed with a core faith and knowledge. Second, a sinner is cleansed vitally, not legally. Third, a saint receives a new nature. Using John 3:3-6 as an outline (Jesus’ explanation of spiritual birth) we’ll look at each action in more depth.

Programmed faith: John 3:3: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Notice the order, spiritual birth then sight. Sight is perception of spiritual things, not functioning eye balls. Jer 31:33 describes the programming as God writing His law on our inward parts. Heb 8:10 describes it as God writing His law in our minds. And Heb 10:16 describes this programming as God writing His law upon our hearts.

Vitally cleansed: John 3:5: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, to which water meant purification. 1Co 6:11 & Tit 3:5 describe spiritual birth as a washing. Ezek 36:21-28 describes the work as a sprinkling with clean water, a saving from uncleanness. Rom 2:29 describes the work as a circumcision of the heart.

A new nature: John 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Jesus differentiated natural birth from spiritual birth. He also differentiated the natures of physical man and spiritual man. Eph 2:3-4 describes our nature before spiritual birth as wrathful. 2Cor 5:17 describes us after spiritual birth as a new creature. 2Pet 1:4 describes born again children as partakers of God’s divine nature.

The Gentiles described in Rom 2:13-15 summarize these three actions. God described Gentiles who never heard the gospel as: having been programmed (written in hearts), having been cleansed (justified), and having been given a new nature (doing by nature). So, how often do we (who have been born again) walk as though God had programmed us, as though God had cleansed us, as though we had been given a new nature? I suspect not often enough.

Article Written by Elder Dolph Painter, Moriah Primitive Baptist Church

pastordolph@aol.com

This site created by Steve McCannon. This page last updated 02/07/2008