The New Birth

Part 3 - The Word and the Spirit

Jesus Christ says it plainly. "You must be born again" (John 3:7). Now we have a debate. Which comes first, the new birth or faith? Some boldly proclaim if you turn to Christ and trust in Christ you will be born again. Faith precedes the new birth. Let me remind you what Paul tells us in Romans 8:7-8, "The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Those who have a disposition of heart hostile toward God are unable to please God. Hebrews 11:6 adds. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him [God]." Comparing Scripture with Scripture, we therefore say without reserve, those with sinful mind-sets do not have the ability, native or otherwise, to exercise saving faith in Christ. The new birth must logically precede faith.

This being the case, fallen sinners are absolutely dependent upon the sovereign God. We believe in sovereign regeneration, the sovereign working of the Holy Spirit in bringing about new birth. "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).

How does the Holy Spirit normally work. He normally works in conjunction with the reading, teaching and preaching of His Word, the Bible. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, How does Christ execute the office of a prophet? Answer: Christ executeth [carries out] the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. My favorite example of this is the story of Paul giving the gospel to Lydiaby the riverside in Philippi. "A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14). While Lydiasat listening to Paul, the sovereign Lord took action from His throne in heaven. Reaching down he performed heart surgery. "According to his great mercy," He "caused" Lydia "to be born again" (1 Peter 1:3).

Unbelieving people, hurting because of sin, filled with fear and apprehensions, are incapable of exercising faith and of thus pleasing God. We need to take such people into the Bible. We need to encourage them to read the Bible, attend Bible studies, and come to worship. Ordinarily, how are people born again? "You have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23). While sitting under the ministry of Paul, Lydia was born again. The Lord opened her heart to enable her to properly respond to the things Paul was saying. The new birth brought faith into Lydia's life.

Beyond doubt, God is sovereign. God also uses means. Again, the Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches, The outward and ordinary mean whereby communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. We must therefore get unbelievers in contact with the Word of God as the means of the grace of God. "Perhaps the Lord God of hosts may be gracious... (Amos 5:15). We can pray that the Sovereign God will be gracious as long as we are faithful to use His means.