Born from Above
2:29 opens Chapter three (3) If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. That is the first mention of “born again: in first John and John is familiar with the doctrine of the N.B. seeing he used it in Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And in John Chapter 3. Joh 3:3 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. 3:4 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? Joh 3:5 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. Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. These words lead us to know this birth is not from this world. So please consider with me the following thoughts:
God’s Love is Foreign to this world. “What manner of love” = How great such love? Leads to the knowledge this love is not from this world. “For God so loved that He gave....” Born again means born from above, Php_3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: “Conversation” here means citizenship. Paul was proud of his Roman citizenship and God has blessed America with freedom, The Land of the free and it is our country and if you live here, it should be the place of your earthly citizenship. Love it or leave it. You are first a citizen of the country of your birth.
If you have been born again you have another citizenship, and that citizenship is in heaven. And that is the country of where you have been born [the second birth]. And that is not just a title to be “called the sons of God” but because of His love and grace you are His child. [John 3:16]. We are citizens of a Kingdom not of this world, Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
We are not omniscient and know not all things about the future. And here is what we do know, 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as He is. 1It is enough for us to know that on the last day and through eternity we shall be both with Christ and like Christ; for the fuller revelation of what we are going to be we are content
What happens in the New Birth
1] We are delivered and translated, Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Being saved, born again is not a light thing and if you have been born again it is truly a miracle of God, Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Being born again is not a choice you make but a work done in you by the Holy Spirit, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The unsaved world does not know you because they do not know Christ. The image of God as the new man has been stamped in us at the moment of being saved, Ephes. 4:24 and Col 3:10, And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: [put off as in Col. 3:9 and put on in v10 is not something you do but is a work of Grace by the Holy Spirit at regeneration, see 1 John 3:9]
The LORD works through the prayers and compassion of another believer,” The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” “Psa_126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Lam_1:12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Is there any sorrow like the sorrow of one who is lost? He said, warn the wicked of their wicked way, Eze_3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Eze_33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
God works through many means and ways to bring you face to face with the gospel and He works through the words of another believer or preacher. I do not know if Margie would have been saved or if I would have left N.C. for the ministry if Dr. E.W. Johnston had not answered God’s call to come to N.C., The preaching of the Cross is the power of God in the believer, 1 Cor. 1:18-31 i.e., V18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
2] The preaching of the Cross is the dynamite of God and the saving power of the gospel is there for anyone that believeth.
No other message has this power [dunamis from which we get our word dynamite] Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power [dynamite]of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 1 Cor. 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power [ that word “dynamite” = For many years Dr. Lee Roberson of Highland Park Baptist had a Radio Broadcast: “Gospel Dynamite” and always open with Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; ….”
3] But also, it has a message to the believer. [! Cor. 1:18] Notice the verse says, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [Cf 1 Cor. 15:2, By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.] It is time that you establish truth [ A settled truth]in your life, = salvation is the Gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ, [Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9.
1] You are not born again by keeping in memory; you are saved by believing that Jesus is the Son of God, [Joh 5:24 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.].
2] Born from Above is compared to a birth! Why? Something you can wrap your brain around: You cannot become unborn. When you are saved, you are given Eternal Life/Everlasting Life, [Cf. John 3:15-16 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.]. And you are only born one time in physical birth. You cannot go back physically and be born. The same is true of being born of God, you cannot be born again but one time and at that time you are placed into the Body of Christ, 1 Cor.12:13. You cannot be unborn spiritually no more than you can be unborn physically.
3] Born from above is an eternal birth, therefore 1 Cor. 15:2 “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain, is not about a person keeping theirself saved but about the believer stirring up their pure minds by way of remembrance, [ 2 Peter 1:9-13 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;]. Paul puts in perspective in Gal. 3:1-5
Remember the LORD’s Supper? Jesus said, “In remembrance of me”, [1Cor. 11:24-26 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.].
In 1 Cor. 15:2, the gospel includes more than justification by faith which is eternal life. It also includes daily sanctification, [Cf. Gal. 2:20, Ephesians 2:10 and James 1:21, Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. And to whom is He speaking? To those who are born of Him, Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
What is my job as a Pastor? Answer: To present every believer fully developed, grown up in Christ, no longer a babe. Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: “Whom we2 preach, warning every man - This does not mean warning of danger, but “admonishing all of the claims of the gospel and bringing to remembrance.” Our word warn is commonly used in the sense of cautioning against danger. The Greek word here means to put in mind; to admonish; to exhort.”
“Whom we preach,” The person of Christ = For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. “Preach” means to proclaim, to announce the truth. warning every man, [ means to put in mind, to admonish. Warning carries a certain harshness, but it is truth with kindness and Paul but in perspective in Acts 20:31] teaching every man in all wisdom; = means to give the Word of God as the Wisdom of God.
1 Cor. 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. “Prudent” the one who is wise in his wisdom. He may be able to put together all things by intelligence but that is not the wisdom of God, Isaiah 29:14
Perishing does not always mean eternal condemnation, see 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [Cf. The Book of Jonah 3:2-9]. It is true the unbeliever will perish in the lake of fire [Rev. 20:15]. But it is also warning the believer about their life of disobedience, and the need to repent to avoid death and destruction as the Ninevites did, [ Cf. The Book of Jonah 3:2-9]
The question comes from the believer, what must I do? [1 John 1:6-9]. Confess your sin and start walking in the light. What would have happened if the Ninevites refused to repent? Answer: Death and destruction. What happens if the believer refuses to repent and confess their sin? God chasten, 1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The moment you believe in Jesus for eternal He gives you that life but that does not excuse our lack of obedience to Him and the need to be in fellowship with Jesus. If you die out of fellowship with Christ, you will suffer shame at the JSOC. The way back to fellowship is confession of sin, 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,
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