THE NEW BIRTH
The prophets had already talked about the radical transformation of the man called born again thereafter (Jeremiah 31: 31-35, Ezekiel 11: 19-20, Ezekiel 36: 25-26). Christ spoke clearly of the new birth to Nicodemus (John 3: 1-6) who did not know what it was. We can not talk about the new birth without talking about the old birth.
A) There are two BIRTHS:
The first or Adamic carnal birth. In Genesis 2: 7-15 The Bible tells us how man was created. It was perfect. The man rules over all and could communicate with God at any time until the day broke sin (Genesis 3). In Romans 5: 12 we see that sin and death (physical and spiritual) entered the world through Adam. Spiritual death is separation from God. The man has a spirit (Job 32: 8). Normally, the man with his mind could get in touch with its creator, but sin has destroyed the communication. Man is composed of three distinct parts of three parts: spirit, soul and physical body (1 Thessalonians 5: 23).
Mind = consciousness, intellect and subconscious /
soul = desire, feeling, emotion /
body = flesh and blood.
God spoke through the mind of man, but sin has put a veil on the mind of man. Thus the birth or old Adam was and is corrupt (1 Corinthians 15: 50, Romans 5: 14, Romans 3: 23). God loves men with immeasurable love (John 3: 16). That's why after the fall of Adam, he will give us a solution (Genesis 3: 15). It will send the living word, Jesus. "But to all who have received the word that is Jesus Christ, he gave power to become children of God. Which were born nor of the will of the flesh nor blood nor of man but of God. " John 1: 12 To be born again and have eternal life, it is mandatory to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (1 John 5: 11-13, Acts 4: 12). It is important to note that one is not born a child of God but it becomes one.
Example: This is not because parents are Pastors or pray that their children are automatically children of God and saved. To become a child of God must be a "power" that only Jesus Christ can give. The new birth is a personal matter.
A °) WHAT THE NEW BIRTH?
2 Corinthians 5: 17 and Galatians 6: 15. Being born again is a new creature or creation, a new person (1 John 3: 14, Ephesians 2 :1-8). The new birth is the passage from death to life, the communication of life to men who were dead in trespasses and sins. Water baptism is not born again as many think. The language of the passages quoted above can not refer to baptism. The passage from Galatians 6: 15 sets precisely the contrast between the new birth and ritual (circumcision, baptism, etc.). Before God. The same idea in 1 Corinthians 4: 15, "when you have ten thousand instructors in Christ you would not, however, many fathers, as it is I who have incurred in Jesus Christ through the gospel." Here Paul tells the saints in Corinth that he was born again. If baptism was born again this would mean that Paul was baptized, but that in 1 Corinthians 1: 14-17, he reminds them that this is not the case. It is therefore clear that the new birth and water baptism are not synonymous. We see evidence in Acts 8: 13, Acts 8: 20-23, Simon Magus was baptized and Philip never left, but Peter said in Acts 8: 20-23 "Simon was in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity "(which means he could be born again) and in Luke 23: 43, the thief thief on the cross was saved without even baptized in water. .
QUESTION:
If baptism is not the new birth, what is the word "water" in John 3: 5?.
ANSWER:
Look closely at certain passages in which we will see what are the agents and instruments through which operates the work of regeneration. 1 Peter 1: 23; Jacques 1: 18, Titus 3: 5. In these passages we see that the regeneration takes place by word and by the Spirit of God. We are born again through the word of God and through His Spirit (John 3: 3-5). The water symbolizes the word of God (Ezekiel 36: 25-26, John 15: 3; John 17: 17, Ephesians 5: 25-26). The birth of mind is the action of the Holy Spirit in a person's life (Romans 8: 14, Galatians 5: 16-25).
The new birth is:
- The renewing of your mind, feelings and intentions (Romans 12: 2).- Communication of a new nature, the nature of God who is born again (2 Corinthians 5v17).
The natural man is blind or not regenerated as to the truth and "things of the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2: 11). It is corrupt (Galatians 5: 19-21) and perverted in his will (Romans 8: 7). Such is the condition of all unregenerate man. Through the new birth, God communicates his own nature, wise and holy (Col. 3: 10; 1 John 4: 7-8). Things have gone bad and old and behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5: 17). .
B °) THE RESULTS OF THE NEW BIRTH
1) the regenerated man is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3: 16, 1 Corinthians 6: 19).
2) The regenerated man no longer lives in the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8: 9; Galatians 5: 16-17).Although the regenerated man is no longer in the flesh, the flesh, however, is still in him (Galatians 5: 16-17). The flesh is there but we are not under its rule, she is overcome (Romans 8: 12-13).
3) The regenerated'homme does not manifest immediately the nature of God and his perfection. It was the germ itself, it begins as a small child should grow up. (1 Peter 2: 2, Ephesians 4: 13-15, Colossians 3: 10).
4) The regenerated man no longer practice sin (1 John 3: 9). One born of God can no longer live in sin just because of that. The new nature has been communicated is the regeneration, it makes impossible the continuous practice of sin (1 John 2: 29). The regenerated man loves his brother and sisters in Christ. .
