Living in Liberty

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Elder Bryce Lowrance

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What Does It Mean To Be Born Again? Part 1

28 September 2013

What does it mean to be “born again”?

We hear captains of industry, athletes, entrepreneurs, and others saying that they have been “born again” with a new perspective on their field of interest. Generally, this means they have gotten some form of “second-wind” and renewed energy in their pursuit.

But what does the Bible say about being born again? Is it simply a new way of thinking or a fresh start? Or, does it mean something much greater and more powerful than normal human experience can compare? John chapter 3 contains a conversation between the Lord Jesus and a Jewish Rabbi named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a well-learned man in the religion of the Pharisees, and had obviously seen that Jesus was no regular teacher. He comes to Jesus by night inquiring as to who Jesus really is. Jesus’ answer reveals this wonderful doctrine of God’s sovereign grace. Jesus tells Nicodemus that you must be born again to understand who He is.

The Source of the New Birth

When a musician tells another musician, “take it from the top,” we all know he means to play the song again. When Jesus tells Nicodemus, and us, “Except a man be born again,” He means essentially the same thing. This change must come from the “top” or from “above.” The first thing we must discover about the new birth is its source. John 1:12-13 states: 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. According to this text, God is the source or cause of the new birth. We are not born again because our parents were (of blood). Nor are we born again of our own free-will or decision (will of the flesh). Neither can we cause someone else to be born again with our prayers or efforts (will of man). The Bible plainly teaches that it is by the will of God that this new birth takes place. The preposition “of” shows the source or origin. The origin is God, resides in God, and the new birth comes from God above.
People are not born again because of their own decision or something they do, but solely by God’s sovereign will.

Next Article-The Nature of the New Birth

« The Mighty and Merciful Hand of God | What Does It Mean To Be Born Again? Part 2 »

Tags: born-again, grace, john, rebirth, regeneration

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.