From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part one of a series

We live in a time when many claim to be "born again" but are not. What exactly is the "new birth" according to Scripture?

In the United States presidential election of 1976, both of the major candidates claimed to be "born-again Christians." But Jimmy Carter, a liberal Baptist, believed (and still does) that a woman has the "right" to kill an unborn child in her womb. In recent years he has blasphemously stated that Jesus Christ would approve of sexual perversion and same-sex marriage.[1] Gerald Ford, a member of the liberal Episcopal church which teaches salvation by works commencing with water baptism, likewise supported abortion and so-called same-sex "marriage".[2]

Some of his "religious advisers" claim that Donald Trump has "prayed the prayer of faith" and has been "born again" but he regularly takes God's name in vain and uses filthy language in his speeches. In his first post-election news interview in 2016, he said he is "fine" with same-sex "marriage".[3] We know that Mr. Trump has heard the Gospel, and we need to pray that He will receive Christ.

You Will Know Them By Their Fruits

Speaking of those who falsely claim to be born again, or who claim that someone else has been born again who is still lost in sin, Jesus declared this:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:15-23)

Understanding the New Birth

What does it truly mean to be born again? The Apostle John under divine inspiration describes those who have received the new birth as those

...who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)

The Apostle Paul under divine inspiration describes both the nature and the effects of the new birth:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The new birth is not "easy believe-ism." It is not the work of man. "Born again" is not a label that man can apply without warrant to himself or to others. The new birth is the supernatural work of God. In this series we shall explore what Scripture declares about the supernatural character of the new birth:

• It is regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
• It involves receiving Jesus Christ, by faith, as Savior and Lord.
• It involves partaking of the Divine nature.
• It means being made "the righteousness of God."
• It involves becoming the temple of the living God on earth.
• It is a spiritual resurrection now, and the surety of a physical resurrection yet to come.
• The new birth is compulsory if you are to become, and live, as a child of God - both in this world and in the world to come.

Sadly, these vital truths are little grasped among many today who claim to be "born again" - even many men who stand in pulpits. May God the Holy Spirit burn these truths deeply into our hearts as we examine them together. And may we, as God exhorts us,

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

References:

1. "Jimmy Carter: Jesus Would Approve of Same-Sex Marriage" as viewed on 7/1/2019 at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jimmy-carter-jesus-would-approve-of-same-sex-marriage/.

2. "Gerald Ford's Views on Homosexuality" as viewed on 7/1/2019 at https://americansfortruth.com/2007/01/03/gerald-fords-views-on-homosexuality/.

3. "Trump Says He's 'Fine' With Gay Marriage in '60 Minutes' Interview" as viewed on 7/1/2019 at https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-says-he-s-fine-gay-marriage-60-minutes-interview-n683606

Next: Regeneration by the Spirit

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