Tag Archives: Authorized King James Version

The New Birth – Part 2 – The New Sinless Nature

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And now – for one of the most misinterpreted verses in the entire Bible.   Please do not try to understand it in the light of personal experience. 

1 John 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

It is essential for believers to keep in mind that the above verse is speaking of the new nature – not the old nature – because the old nature was not born of God.  The old nature is born of fallen man, and it is completely depraved.  The new nature is born of God, and it is completely holy.  The two natures are present in every born again Christian. 

what does the Bible say about the new nature?

1.  The new nature does not sin, because it is the product of the seed of God. [see above verse]

2.  The new nature does not sin, because it is the divine nature of God, and since God can not sin, the new nature that issues from His Holy Seed can not sin.  2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

what does the bible say about the old nature?

1.  The old nature will sin any time we allow it to sin.  Rom. 6:12 – Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  If you are born again, you will continue under the old nature 1 Cor. 9:27 – But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.  by not yielding to the desires of the flesh – or the old nature will keep you under, and you will live a defeated Christian life.  Rom. 8:13 – For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

2.  There is nothing good in the old nature.  Nothing whatsoever.  Rom. 7:18 – For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  The power to live a righteous life cannot be found in the old nature, it can only be found in the new nature.  Gal. 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

if you have been “born again” – you have two natures – the old and the new – and you will walk according to one or the other.   Examine your Christian walk according to the word of god – not by comparing yourself to other people.

Romans 8:5-6

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The New Birth – #1 – Jesus and the Two Births

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John 3:1-6

3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

In the above Scriptures, we see Jesus Christ and Nicodemus – coming face to face.  The Son of God – Jesus – and the son of natural man – Nicodemus.  Although Nicodemus was a very religious man, he was not a child of God.  We can sense his discomfort and shock during the “meeting of minds” he had with the Lord.  It is the same today when people learn that their religion is not enough.  It NEVER is!  Nicodemus comes to Jesus secretly,  thinking of Him only as “a teacher come from God.”  Nicodemus did not know Jesus, but Jesus knew Nicodemus –

John 2:24-25

24 But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man.

But Jesus knew that Nicodemus needed more.  Jesus knows that we need more.

  1. We need more than a teacher – we need a Savior
  2. We need more than religion – we need regeneration
  3. We need more than the law – we need life.

Jesus came right to the point when He said  – “Ye must be born again.”  Nicodemus then asks – “How can a man be born when he is old?”

Then, our blessed Savior points out the difference between the two births – “That which is born of the flesh is flesh (the flesh can not change ) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (the Spirit can not change)

THE FLESH BIRTH. . .

1. The flesh birth produces an old, sinful nature – even in a tiny baby!  Ps. 51:5 – Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

2. The flesh birth produces a corruptible nature. – 1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

3. The flesh birth produces an old nature under the sentence of death – from the moment an infant draws breath! – Rom. 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

4. The flesh birth produces an old nature, that makes every single unsaved person – a child of the devil.  1 John 3:10 – In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

THE NEW BIRTH . . .

1. The new birth produces a sinless nature.  1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

2. The new birth produces a nature that cannot sin.  1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

3. The new birth produces a righteous nature.  2 Cor. 5:21- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

4. The new birth produces a divine nature.  2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

narrow way

Every born again person, no matter what spiritual age, has two natures.  The old nature, from the flesh birth, and the spiritual nature from the new birth.  By the old birth – we are children of the flesh; by the new birth we are the children of God. To what degree we allow the old flesh nature dominate, will determine how much we sin, and conversely, how much we allow the new spiritual nature to dominate, will determine how closely we walk with the Lord.

John 3:7

 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The New Birth – Introduction

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It is of the greatest importance to fully grasp what Jesus meant when He said to Nicodemus – “Ye must be born again.”  The New Birth is Spiritual, and it is as much a birth as the actual physical birth of a human being. 

the new birth is not just a figure of speech!!!!!

Our first birth is of the “seed of man,” and the second birth is of the “seed of God.”

1 Peter 1:23

 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Therefore, one cannot become a child of God by joining a church, any more than a chimpanzee could become a man by joining the human race.  The chimpanzee can dress in human clothing, type on a computer, eat human food, and even drive a car – in many ways living exactly like a man – but the behaviors do not qualify him for the human race.  He is still a chimp.  However, if by some miracle the chimp could be “born again” by the seed of a man, then – and only then – could he become a man.  Acting like a Christian does not make you a Christian, anymore than acting like a human makes a chimp a human. 

The only way to become a child of god is to be “born from above,” by the “incorruptible seed of god.” 

The New Birth is a new creation! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 –  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The New Birth is a spiritual resurrection!

Ephesians 2:1-9 –  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The New Birth is regeneration!

Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost

The New Birth is partaking of the Divine Nature!

2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The New Birth is receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith!

John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

The New Birth is being made the righteousness of God!

2 Corinthians 5:21 –  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

the new birth is compulsory (not optional!) if you are to become a child of god. 

John 3:6-8

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Repentance – #6 – The Importance of Repentance

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Repentance is so important that god commands “all men everywhere to repent.” 

Acts 17:30

 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

All means ALL!!!!!

1. The lost are to repent.  Jesus said:  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.   (Matt. 9:13)   He said again:  3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem.  5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.   (Luke 13:3-5)

2. Backsliding, born-again Christians are to repent.  Paul said: Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. (2 Cor. 7:9)   The believers in the church at Corinth were quite carnal.  In his first letter to them, he called upon the church to discipline the guilty party, in his second letter he rejoices because the guilty have repented. 

3.  Local churches are to repent!  In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapters 2 and 3, our LORD sent seven letters to seven churches.  He called upon five of them to repent.

The church at Ephesus was to repent because she had left her first love. 

The church at Pergamos was to repent because she permitted the doctrine of Balaam to to be taught, and to eat thing sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 

The church at Thyatira was to repent because she suffered Jezebel to teach and seduce God’s servants to commit fornication. 

The church at Sardis was to repent because she was a dying congregation. 

The church at Laodicea was to repent because she thought she was rich and did not need anything.  In her opinion – she had arrived.  She did not know that she was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and God was ready to spew her out of His mouth. 

God called on all five of these churches to repent – or he would remove their candlesticks – and they would cease to give their light in the spiritual darkness of the world. 

 The lost are to repent – or perish.

The back-slidden Christian is to repent – or be disciplined.

The local church is to repent – or lose its effectiveness in a world lost to sin. 

Coming up next, the final installment on Repentance – the evidence of repentance!

Repentance – #5 – Impossible to Renew Unto

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Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is  impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The words highlighted in red are the key to understanding this challenging portion of Scripture.  The word “impossible” is saying that the person who so sins, will find it impossible to repent again.

Once again, we will first cover what the Scripture does NOT mean, so that we can fully expose what it DOES mean.

!!!THIS PASSAGE – HEBREWS 6:4-6 – IS NOT ABOUT A BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN!!!

1. Simon Peter backslid. . . Matt. 26:69-75 , repented, John 21:3-17, and was restored to fellowship with the Lord.  King David sinned, 2 Sam. 11:1–27, repented, Psalm 51:1-19, and was restored to fellowship with the Lord . . . 2 Sam. 12:13.

ANY BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN CAN REPENT AND BE RESTORED TO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD.  ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS TO BACKSLIDING, SUCH AS LOSS OF POSITION IN THE CASE OF A FALLEN PASTOR,  FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD CAN STILL BE FULLY RESTORED. 

Lamentations 3:22

 It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

2. So if Hebrews 6:4-6 is not about backsliding, what does it mean?  It is about religiousness.  This Scripture is proof that being religious does not save anyone.  Profession and confession without internal conversion – means no eternal life.  By all outward appearances, they appear to be, and are called – Christians. 

But Jesus said –

Matthew 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

Esau so sinned against the Lord when he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage. . .  Gen. 25:27-3.  Later he tried to repent, but found it impossible to do so!  His repentance was not genuine, in that he lamented over what he had lost, not in what he had done!  He wanted the blessing – but he wanted it on his terms – not God’s.

Hebrews 12:16-17

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

At the Great White Throne Judgment – only the wicked dead will be judged.  They too, like Esau, will try to repent, but will find it impossible. . .

Revelation 20:11-15

11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

great white throne judgment

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Abundant Life – #5 – The Mature Life

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2 Peter 3:18

 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Just as there are four stages of growth in the  natural man, there are four stages of growth in the new born spiritual man, which leads to maturity in the Christian life.

1. The baby stage.  1 Cor. 3:1-4 – And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  A baby thinks only of itself.  If the baby is denied what it wants, it will wail.  The baby seeks its own, its feelings are easily hurt, and – it is often jealous.  The baby lives to be served – it never serves.  It can only drink milk, and cannot eat solid food.  The baby cries a great deal – but never sings.  It tries to talk – but makes no sense.

IT IS A SAD BUT TRUE FACT, THAT MANY CHRISTIANS DISPLAY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRITUAL BABY.  THOUGH THEY ARE BORN AGAIN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD – THEY NEVER GROW AND DEVELOP SPIRITUALLY.  THE SPIRITUAL BABY IS A CARNAL CHRISTIAN.

2. The little child stage.  1 John 2:12 – I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. Some Christians grow enough to become little children spiritually – but many stop there.  Spiritual little children are often untruthful, envious,  and even cruel.  When rebuked, they take on the role of martyr.  If crossed, they feel resentment, and may even make a scene.  They are talebearers, repeating everything they hear (grownups call it gossip!)  The child is given to emotional outbursts, and their immaturity causes them to be easily puffed up.  They live for praise, and will accept that praise from ANYONE!  The child only seeks after what will appeal to self.

ARE YOU A SPIRITUAL CHILD????

3. The young man stage.  1 John 2:13 – I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  Another sad fact – not many believers reach the stage of a young man in Christ.  He is strong and virile – well able to overcome his enemy – Satan (in his many forms) The young man’s vision for the future consists of his faith and courage.  He is preparing for his most productive years.  

WE CAN BECOME A YOUNG MAN SPIRITUALLY BY “PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS!”  1 COR. 13:11 – WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD: BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.

4. The father stage.  1 John 2:13 – I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  This stage can be reached by all believers – but SO FEW EVER ATTAIN IT.  The spiritual father has peace with God.  Rom. 5:1 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  The father knows the peace of God.  Phil. 4:7 – And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  He rejoices in his spiritual children.  1 Thess. 2:19 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?  The father has learned contentment under ALL circumstances.  Phil. 4:11 – Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  He knows the ONLY source of true strength.  Phil. 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  The father NEVER broods over the past, but continually looks to the future.  

Phil.3: 13, 14 –   13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  He knows that ALL  things work together in his life for ETERNAL GOOD.   Rom. 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

THE SPIRITUAL FATHER ENJOYS THE ABUNDANT LIFE NOW – AND WILL ENJOY IT IN THE LIFE TO COME.  EPH. 2:7 – THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHEW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

This concludes our study of the Abundant Life.  Next up in our deep study of doctrine – Repentance!

The Nature of Sin – #2 – What is Sin?

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This second part of five studies on the nature of sin has to do with how we perceive it.  Since the very beginning in the Garden of Eden – man and his adversary the devil – have tried to cloud the issue – the existence of sin. 

It is impossible to deny the existence of sin.  Our entire world has been deep in a conflict  between good and evil  for thousands of years.  If, as pop-culture and satanists maintain, sin is an “illness,” or mere “lifestyle” choice – then there would be no need for prisons, or even a judicial system! 

Left to his own imaginations – mankind, under the influence of the evil one – relabels sin to make it more palatable.  Adultery is changed into  indiscretion.  Gluttony, perversion and idleness become simple weaknesses  of the flesh.  To devout religionists – it is the absence of good – their own brand of good, to be precise.  Academia defines sin as ignorance, and evolutionists lump it into the “nature of the beast,” hash.  The most recent permutation in the “renaming the sin game” is identifying sin as a disease needing to be treated by science.  The patient is not a sinner – the patient is sick!  

SINCE MANKIND IS INCAPABLE OF DETERMINING THE TRUTH ABOUT SIN – IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE RELY ONLY ON GOD AND HIS WORD TO DEFINE SIN FOR US.

Sin is the transgression of the law.  1 John 3:4 – Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is coming short of the glory of God.  Rom. 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Sin is rebellion against God.  Isa. 1:2 – Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.

Sin is unbelief, it makes God a liar.  1 John 5:10 – He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

Sin is “doing it my way,” planning your  life according to your own will, without seeking the will of God.  Isa. 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Sin is all unrighteousness.  1 John 5:17 – All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you and a fact to condemn you.  Sin is a volitional act of disobedience against the revealed will of God.  [Author unknown]

sparrows

Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.