Born Again

John 3

There is a sense in which no person has a choice about whether they are born or not.

1. Ephesians 1:4 – We are chosen before the foundation of the world.
2. No baby has ever asked to be born.  Those born of rape should not be aborted because they are innocent of any crime.  Those born out of wedlock should not be aborted because they have done no wrong.

There is a sense in which the baby in the womb comes to the place of being born, just as there is a time when the lost person must come to Christ to be saved.

We might ask the question – When does life begin?

Compare Genesis 35:16-20 – the death of Rachel, and Genesis 35:21-26 – The sons of Jacob.  Verse 19 reveals that Rachel died at Ephrath, which was approximately 500 miles south of Padanaram, where verse 26 reveals that Benjamin was born.  Where was Benjamin born – in Padanaram, or in Ephrath?  He was conceived and counted as good as born in verse 26, but was physically born in verse 19.  So it is with us.  We are conceived in the mind of God in eternity, but when the fullness of time is come, we are physically born.

How long does gestation take?  9 months for the baby, but I do not know for the spiritual birth.

Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” 

There is no knowledge in the womb, just as there is no knowledge when a person is lost.

Ephesians 2:1 states that we were dead in trespasses and sins.

Romans 8:6,7 states, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” 

John 6:37 & 44 – All that the father gives the son shall come to him.  See two things: (1) The father gives to the son, and (2) those come.  Coming is what the lost person does.

Sanctification – two parts – set aside to salvation, and set aside to service.

1. Set aside to salvation - 2 Thessalonians 2:13 states, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
2. 1 Peter 1:2 states, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Set aside to service – I Thessalonians 4:3,4 states, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

Justification – two parts – justified in salvation and justification in works.

1.       Luke 18:14 states, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” 

2.       Romans 3:20 states, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

3.       Romans 3:24 states, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

4.       Romans 3:28 states, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Justified by works – James 2:21 states, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

See about glorification – two parts – glorified in this body by good works, and glorified in the new body, given to us by Christ.

See about adoption – because we are true believers, and after we are sanctified in the first part, justified in the first part, and glorified in the first part, (all the first part is by grace without any works on our part) we are adopted into the family of God. Then we show our adoption into the family of God by our works by being sanctified – set aside to service – justified by works, and looking forward to being glorified in the new body. (All these are also accomplished by grace, but our works accomplishes them.

1. Ephesians 1:5 – Adoption as it applies to our spirit in predestination.  “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
2. Romans 8:15 – We are adopted into the family of God at the point of salvation because we no longer have any sin in us.  We have no reason to fear because: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
3. Romans 8:23 – We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies – which is also called adoption.  “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”