SUB: Born of God
TEXT: Romans 9:16
INTRO: 1) The expressions regeneration, born again, new birth, born of the Spirit, and born of God are often used interchangeably in the study of theology.
2) In this study of God's Word, two questions are examined in relation to the subject of being born of God.
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN OF GOD?
A. "Regeneration may be defined as the communication of divine life to the soul (Jn. 3:5; 10:10,28; I Jn. 5:11f.), as the impartation of a new nature (II Pet. 1:4) or heart (Jer. 24:7; Ezek. 11:19; 36:26), and the production of a new creation (II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10; 4:24)." Henry C. Thiessen
B. "The New Birth is a creative act of the Holy Spirit.
i) It is the Holy Spirit creating a new creature.
ii) It is not the Holy Spirit renovating the old life, or changing the old heart, but, according to Ezekiel 36:26, it is the Holy Spirit giving the individual a new heart, a new nature." L. R. Shelton, Sr.
C. "In regeneration, there is immediate contact between God and man.
Spiritual essence touches spiritual essence. In this immediate contact the Spirit of God changes man in his soul from natural to spiritual." R. V. Sarrells
D. "We are as dependent upon the Holy Spirit as we are upon the action of our parents in connection with our natural birth. We were not begotten by our father because we decided to be. And we were not born of our mother
because we decided to be. We were simply begotten and we were born. We did not decide to be born . . . We do not have spiritual perception of the kingdom of God nor do we enter into it because we willed to or decided to. If this privilege is ours it is because the Holy Spirit willed it and here all rests upon the Holy Spirit's decision and action. He begets or bears when and where He pleases." John Murray
E. "Regeneration is a direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the human
spirit. It is the action of Spirit upon spirit, of a Divine Person upon a human person, whereby spiritual life is imparted. Nothing, therefore, of the nature of means or instruments can come between the Holy Spirit and the soul that is made alive.
God did not employ an instrument or means when He infused
physical life into the body of Adam. There were only two factors:
i) the dust of the ground and
ii) the creative power of God which vivified that dust. The Divine omnipotence and dead matter were brought into direct contact, with nothing interposing. The dust was not a means or instrument by which God originated life. So in regeneration there are only two factors: the human soul destitute of spiritual life, and the Holy Spirit who quickens it." A. W. Pink
II. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE BORN OF GOD?
A. Except a man be born of God, he cannot receive Christ or believe on His name (Jn. 1:11-13).
B. Except a man be born of God, he cannot see or enter into the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:3-5).
C. Except a man be born of God, he cannot practice righteousness (I Jn.
2:29).
D. Except a man be born of God, he cannot stop practicing sin or keep
himself out of Satan's clutches (I Jn. 3:7-10; 5:18).
E. Except a man be born of God, he cannot love his brother (I Jn. 3:9-14).
F. Except a man be born of God, he cannot know God (I Jn. 4:7-8).
G. Except a man be born of God, he cannot love God the Father and God the Son or believe that Jesus is the Christ (I Jn. 5:1).
H. Except a man be born of God, he cannot victoriously overcome the world by faith or believe in his heart that Jesus is the Son of God (I Jn. 5:4-5).
CONCL: 1) Can you see the importance now of being "born of God"?
2) If born of God, the first proof is scriptural baptism.
