Who's In Control?

4 July 2014

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"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:7
handswringing

Jesus uses the perfect metaphor for Nicodemus, and us, to learn how helpless we are in our depraved state without grace. The concept of birth is of common understanding but think of it specifically in the following ways.

How much do you remember about your natural birth? Nothing? If you can't remember it, how did you control it? Of course you would respond, "I did not control it my parents did!"

Well of course you didn't control that birth. And that is the point that Jesus is making to Nicodemus. You had no control of your natural birth and neither do you control your spiritual one!

That is why Jesus told Nicodemus to "marvel not" at what He said. If there was something that Nicodemus needed to do in order for him to be born again, then he would have reason to marvel because he didn't understand! But Jesus is telling him that he doesn't need to worry about it because the new birth comes as a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit without the use of aids or means from men.

We don't DO anything. The new birth HAPPENS TO US!

Perhaps that is why Nicodemus, as well as many professed Christians today, don't truly understand what Jesus is saying here. They want control over their eternal destiny. The problem is if we were given that kind of control, what kind of progress can a person spiritually dead make when it comes to spiritual decisions and actions?

If we were true to the understanding of our own depraved nature separate from the grace of God, we would only rejoice in this sovereign act of God! He did what we CANNOT do!

Tags: grace, harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, john, new_birth, nicodemus, 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.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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