#3. THE NEW BIRTH: Fundamentals of the Christian Life

“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.
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 (KJV).

This is a familiar subject and the very fundamental issue of the Christian faith yet still hidden to many who profess to have it. Unfortunately, many preach the message of being born again and draw people to the altar without experiencing the new birth. This causes a jolt to their so-called converts as soon as they discover (from those who have the experience) that these so-called soul winners do not really have the experience.

Some of us who claimed to be born again, do not really have the experience. Because whoever is born of God does not commit sin! So, it is apparent since we do not have the scriptural results, it means we are either born amiss or born against, or probably born aloof!

Every human being must experience the new birth if we are going to escape death and judgment (Heb. 9:27). The new birth is a spiritual birth so real just as the natural birth. It is not a figure of speech.

No one becomes a child of God by joining any Church, being trained, committed to church activities and attaining the pinnacle of religious height. Just like a monkey could not become a man by joining the human race. Although he is trained to act like a man, dress like a man, he will still be a monkey.

The story is the same for many of us, despite many years we have spent in the church with different kinds of training we have gone through and our status quo, our lives still confirm to people who know us deeply that we are sinners.

Now, if by some miracle, the monkey could be born again of the “seed of man”, then and only then could he become a man.

The only way to become a child of God is to be “born from above” by the “water of life” which is the “incorruptible seed of God” and that is the Word of God with the fertilizing power of the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:23; Jas. 1:18).

THE MEANING OF THE NEW BIRTH

The new birth is not baptism. It is possible to be baptized and not experience salvation for one must be saved before baptism (Acts 8:13; 10:44–48).

The new birth is not reformation but a supernatural act of God (John 1:13). It is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17); a spiritual resurrection (Eph. 2:1–9); a regeneration (Tit. 3:5); partaking of divine nature (John 1:12); and to be made the “righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

This experience is not optional but compulsory if you are to become a child of God.

The new birth does not come through a process. It is not something that happens gradually. The physical birth happens instantly — as the woman travails and push, then she puts to bed, a baby is born at a particular time of the day. She does not need to use all the day to gradually bring a baby forth to life. So, it is with the new birth.

Let us illustrate further the reality of being born again instantly and it affects everything about who experience it.

Nebuchadnezzar was born again in a negative way. Do you remember? He got the experience by the word of God and the fertilizing power of the Spirit that terrible morning when he arrogated the greatness of Babylonian kingdom to himself.

God declared “…The kingdom is departed from thee, and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will” (Dan. 4:30–32)

The Word and the Spirit removed the heart of man and replaced it with the heart of herbivorous animal into Nebuchadnezzar’s human body. So, outwardly, Nebuchadnezzar was a man but inwardly he was an animal. Nobody taught him to behave like an animal. He ate, drank, moaned, crawled like an animal. It was automatic and immediate.

So, it is when one gets the experience of being born again. The heart of sin is removed and a new heart and a new Spirit is given. One hates sin and loves God and does righteousness. All unrighteous things one has been doing are discarded and a new life ensues. That is the experience anywhere it happens at any time in any place.

THE MEANS OF THE NEW BIRTH.

It happens by believing the gospel. A visit to Calvary to look on Christ who is hung on the Cross will bring this miracle. No stress, no struggle, and no sweating.

Repentance opened to us access to take this look at the Man of Calvary. You are to come as convicted sinner to Christ by faith, believing Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried for you and rose again for your justification the third day. This is the gospel that saves but it is powerless to save until the sinner believes it (John 3:15–16; Rome 1:16).

• The proof of the new birth is first of all inward, you have the witness of the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God (Rome 8:16).
• The second proof is the outgoing proof of loving your fellow men with the love of God (1 John 4:7–11).
• The third proof is outward which is a changed life. That is to practice righteousness, doing what is right at all cost (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 2:29).

Do you have this proofs? No student is admitted to university based on the account of written ordinary level examinations but on having his results with qualified grades. The same thing happens with discipleship, except you have the proofs above you are not born again and you are not qualified to be made in discipleship to become like Jesus.

Beloved, if you do not have the proofs it is because you did not have the experience. Now is the time to get on your knees and go to Calvary to gaze by faith on the Man of Calvary. Look and live, God is ready to save.

Will you do that now or never? Please stop pretending! Do this now for God will show you mercy!

This article is a part of the series of The Fundamentals of the Christian Life written by Joseph Ola Okunola, the Presiding officer of TREGO publications. You can purchase the book on Amazon or contact us directly here.