What is the New Birth
Someone asked me if justification and rebirth were the same. That question lead me to listing scriptures on just what the new birth is. I used the Topical Analysis of the Bible** edited by Walter A Elwell.
This book lists a few scriptures under each topic, but if you read the New Testament you will find more scriptures that support each one of these topics. You could add to the list.
Being born again is not just deciding to be a Christian. It is not just deciding that Jesus exists. It is not deciding to obey Jesus or deciding to live right.
The New Birth by Leon Stump
"As we said, there are many substitutes people offer or mistake for the genuine new birth-"reincarnation," various false inner lights and witnesses, psychological changes, mere emotional experiences, water baptism, church membership, and going forward in a crusade or answering an "altar call". It is true that the Spirit does bear witness with our spirit in a genuine new birth, deeply effecting our emotions, and that truly born again people will be baptized in water and join in fellowship at a church. These things accompany a genuine new birth, but they must not be mistaken as substitutes for it-the new birth is more than these things.
**Many people substitute reformation of life for regeneration or the new birth.** They reform much of the outward conduct in connection with some commitment to Christ such as water baptism or church membership and mistake this outward reformation for the new birth. Many also substitute or mistake the first workings of the Spirit of God upon them for conversion-some conviction of sin, a desire for Christ, an "assent" of faith, a wooing and drawing by the Spirit accompanied by emotion. A certain amount of peace and joy may accompany these without a thorough conversion to God. We have failed to recognize this as we should; as a result, multitudes fill our churches who remain unconverted. We suspect nothing amiss and neither do they.
Being born again is a huge huge huge radical deep change from the spirit to the behavior affecting every single aspect of your life. You quite literally become a new creature in an instant. It is a recreation.
There is room for growth. You will grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ all your life, but it is still a gigantic huge radical change instantly. Old things do pass away.
II Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. I am going to list some scriptures on the new birth. There are many more under each heading. This isn't all of the effects of the new birth.
1. A person who is born again is justified which is being put in right standing with God, **
Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
2.He is adopted into the family of God.
John 1: 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Galatians 4: But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8: 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Ephesians 1: 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
3. He has been recreated in righteousness and true holiness.
(Righteousness is both imparted and imputed according to Scripture. Some groups will say that righteousness is inputed, meaning you were declared to be righteous because you're pass sins are forgiven, but they denied a very important truth that God's righteousness is imparted to us. God's righteousness is literally put into our spirit so that we can live righteously by depending upon him.
Roman six is all about that right there. It tells us that righteousness is important to us and how and how we're supposed to live because of that.)
Romans 1: 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 3: 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1: 30It is because of him that you are *in Christ Jesus,*who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
2 Corinthians 5:14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Ephesians 4:17-24. …That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which *after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.*
4. He has been forgiven of past sins.
Matt 26: 28This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke : 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2: 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 13: 38"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
Colossians 1 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. *13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.* (just another passage that proves that all people are in the dominion of Satan, a child of Satan, before they are born again.)
Hebrews 10: 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."[b] 17Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more."
5.He has been given inner cleansing.
Hebrews 1: 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 9: 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 10: 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
1John 1: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
6. Freedom from the power of sin.**
Since so many people deny this truth, I'm going to say this again.
ONE IF THE THINGS WE GET WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN IS FREEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN.
There are groups that teach that a person can never be free from sin. They are liars. They teach that we should always strive to overcome sin. We should do the best we can to live a holy life. They teach that it is not possible until we are in heaven. They are liars. That is not what the Bible teaches at all. And these are just a few scriptures to support that. You go to the New Testament you write down all the scriptures that do you say that we are free from the power of sin. Then leave whatever Church you're in this teaching opposite of that.
Romans 6: 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Galatians 1 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
1 Peter 2: 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
7. He is been free from condemnation and judgment of his past sins.
Romans 8: 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
8.He has been united to Christ spiritually.
Romans 6:5
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1: 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Philippians 2:1
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
9.He has Christ dwelling within.
Romans 8: 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
10.He has been delivered from the kingdom of Satan and put into the kingdom of God.
(Once again, this is evidence that all of man are children of the devil until they are born again. Most people deny that.)
Colossians 1 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption,[e] the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 2: 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,[b] God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 3: 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
11. He is granted nearness to God
Ephesians 2: 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
12. He has a new self and governing disposition
(Because you are born again and re-created, you are no longer governed by disposition of sin but by the disposition of righteousness. You are brand-new creature inside.)
Jeremiah 31
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Ezekiel 11
19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Romans 6: 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Romans 8: 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Ephesians 4: 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3: 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator
1 John 2 29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
13. He now has peace with God
Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Galatians 5
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 2 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Philippians 4
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1
19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
14. He has been given access to God the Father
Hebrews 10: 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with
We will grow in the knowledge of these effects and the manifestation of them in our lives, but we get them in a measure at the instant of justification. Every one of them. In an instant.**
I often like to quote others who say what I want to say but do it much better.
From the article titled The New Birth.
"Although the new birth does not perfect us (there is much room for growth and perfection in holiness following),
*Since a few have falsely accusing me of saying or believing that a person who is born again is now perfect, let me or rather the author of this article repeat this*
"Although the new birth does not perfect us (there is much room for growth and perfection in holiness following),
it is a far more drastic and thorough change than what we modern evangelicals have made it out to be. This, as we have said, is evident from the very term Jesus used-"born again." Just as the natural conception and birth produces a person, the supernatural new birth by the Spirit of God produces a new person."
John Wesley defined the new birth thus:
We, as well as the Heathens, "are alienated from the life of God;"…"every one of us," by the corruption of our inmost nature, "is very far gone from original righteousness;" so far, that "every person born into the world deserveth God’s wrath and damnation;" that we have by nature no power either to help ourselves, or even to call upon God to help us: All our tempers and works, in our natural state, being only evil continually.
So that our coming to Christ, as well as theirs, must infer a great and mighty change. It must infer not only an outward change, from stealing, lying, and all corrupt communication; but a thorough change of heart, an inward renewal in the spirit of our mind.
Accordingly, "the old man" implies infinitely more than outward evil conversation, even "an evil heart of unbelief," corrupted by pride and a thousand deceitful lusts. Of consequence, the "new man," must imply infinitely more than outward good conversation, even "a good heart, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;" a heart full of that faith which, working by love, produces all holiness of conversation. The change from the former of these states to the latter, is what I call The New Birth (The Works of John Wesley, Vol. 1, p. 214).
Notice that, in keeping with our Scripture texts on the new birth, Wesley argues for a far greater change in the new birth than what we do today. Consider also these remarks from his sermon entitled, "Marks of the New Birth:"
An immediate and constant fruit of this faith whereby we are born of God, a fruit which can in no wise be separated from it, no, not for an hour, is power over sin;--power over outward sin of every kind; over every evil word and work;for wheresoever the blood of Christ is thus applied, it "purgeth the conscience from dead works;"-and over inward sin; for it purifieth the heart from every unholy desire and temper…."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." (I John 3:9). But some men will say, "True: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin habitually." Habitually! Whence is that? I read it not. It is not written in the Book. God plainly saith, "He doth not commit sin;" and thou addest, habitually! Who art thou that mendest the oracles of God?-that "addest to the words of the book?" Beware, I beseech thee, lest God "add to thee all the plagues that are written therein!" especially when the comment thou addest is such as quite swallows up the text: So that by this [Greek], this artful method of deceiving, the precious promise is utterly lost; by the[Greek], this tricking and shuffling of men, the word of God is made of none effect. O beware, thou that thus takest from the words of this book, that, taking away the whole meaning and spirit from them, leavest only what may indeed be termed a dead letter, lest God take away thy part out of the book of life! (John Wesley, Vol. 5, pp. 214,215)
It is evident from our Scriptures on the new birth that it is a change of heart as well as a change of life. Therefore, evidence of it must not be sought in either the one or the other alone, but in both the heart and the life. The new birth produces a change of inward motives, desires, affections and characteristics as well as a change of outward conduct and behavior.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a born again person, this is good news. This is shouting and praising God and dancing around good news. These are some of the spoils that Isaiah 53 promised but Jesus Christ would share with those who are born again. This is good news.
If it is not good news to you, I would once again suggest two things.
One is to examine yourself and see if you even are in the faith as Paul recommends.
The other is to read the New Testament and write down every scripture that fits into these categories. Be convinced by the Bible. Be convinced of the truth according to what the Scriptures teach.
This book lists a few scriptures under each topic, but if you read the New Testament you will find more scriptures that support each one of these topics. You could add to the list.
Being born again is not just deciding to be a Christian. It is not just deciding that Jesus exists. It is not deciding to obey Jesus or deciding to live right.
The New Birth by Leon Stump
"As we said, there are many substitutes people offer or mistake for the genuine new birth-"reincarnation," various false inner lights and witnesses, psychological changes, mere emotional experiences, water baptism, church membership, and going forward in a crusade or answering an "altar call". It is true that the Spirit does bear witness with our spirit in a genuine new birth, deeply effecting our emotions, and that truly born again people will be baptized in water and join in fellowship at a church. These things accompany a genuine new birth, but they must not be mistaken as substitutes for it-the new birth is more than these things.
**Many people substitute reformation of life for regeneration or the new birth.** They reform much of the outward conduct in connection with some commitment to Christ such as water baptism or church membership and mistake this outward reformation for the new birth. Many also substitute or mistake the first workings of the Spirit of God upon them for conversion-some conviction of sin, a desire for Christ, an "assent" of faith, a wooing and drawing by the Spirit accompanied by emotion. A certain amount of peace and joy may accompany these without a thorough conversion to God. We have failed to recognize this as we should; as a result, multitudes fill our churches who remain unconverted. We suspect nothing amiss and neither do they.
Being born again is a huge huge huge radical deep change from the spirit to the behavior affecting every single aspect of your life. You quite literally become a new creature in an instant. It is a recreation.
There is room for growth. You will grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ all your life, but it is still a gigantic huge radical change instantly. Old things do pass away.
II Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. I am going to list some scriptures on the new birth. There are many more under each heading. This isn't all of the effects of the new birth.
1. A person who is born again is justified which is being put in right standing with God, **
Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
2.He is adopted into the family of God.
John 1: 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Galatians 4: But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8: 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Ephesians 1: 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
3. He has been recreated in righteousness and true holiness.
(Righteousness is both imparted and imputed according to Scripture. Some groups will say that righteousness is inputed, meaning you were declared to be righteous because you're pass sins are forgiven, but they denied a very important truth that God's righteousness is imparted to us. God's righteousness is literally put into our spirit so that we can live righteously by depending upon him.
Roman six is all about that right there. It tells us that righteousness is important to us and how and how we're supposed to live because of that.)
Romans 1: 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 3: 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1: 30It is because of him that you are *in Christ Jesus,*who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
2 Corinthians 5:14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Ephesians 4:17-24. …That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which *after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.*
4. He has been forgiven of past sins.
Matt 26: 28This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke : 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2: 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 13: 38"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
Colossians 1 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. *13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.* (just another passage that proves that all people are in the dominion of Satan, a child of Satan, before they are born again.)
Hebrews 10: 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."[b] 17Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more."
5.He has been given inner cleansing.
Hebrews 1: 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 9: 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 10: 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
1John 1: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
6. Freedom from the power of sin.**
Since so many people deny this truth, I'm going to say this again.
ONE IF THE THINGS WE GET WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN IS FREEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN.
There are groups that teach that a person can never be free from sin. They are liars. They teach that we should always strive to overcome sin. We should do the best we can to live a holy life. They teach that it is not possible until we are in heaven. They are liars. That is not what the Bible teaches at all. And these are just a few scriptures to support that. You go to the New Testament you write down all the scriptures that do you say that we are free from the power of sin. Then leave whatever Church you're in this teaching opposite of that.
Romans 6: 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Galatians 1 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
1 Peter 2: 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
7. He is been free from condemnation and judgment of his past sins.
Romans 8: 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
8.He has been united to Christ spiritually.
Romans 6:5
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1: 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Philippians 2:1
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
9.He has Christ dwelling within.
Romans 8: 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
10.He has been delivered from the kingdom of Satan and put into the kingdom of God.
(Once again, this is evidence that all of man are children of the devil until they are born again. Most people deny that.)
Colossians 1 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption,[e] the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 2: 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,[b] God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 3: 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
11. He is granted nearness to God
Ephesians 2: 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
12. He has a new self and governing disposition
(Because you are born again and re-created, you are no longer governed by disposition of sin but by the disposition of righteousness. You are brand-new creature inside.)
Jeremiah 31
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Ezekiel 11
19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Romans 6: 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Romans 8: 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Ephesians 4: 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3: 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator
1 John 2 29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
13. He now has peace with God
Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Galatians 5
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 2 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Philippians 4
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1
19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
14. He has been given access to God the Father
Hebrews 10: 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with
We will grow in the knowledge of these effects and the manifestation of them in our lives, but we get them in a measure at the instant of justification. Every one of them. In an instant.**
I often like to quote others who say what I want to say but do it much better.
From the article titled The New Birth.
"Although the new birth does not perfect us (there is much room for growth and perfection in holiness following),
*Since a few have falsely accusing me of saying or believing that a person who is born again is now perfect, let me or rather the author of this article repeat this*
"Although the new birth does not perfect us (there is much room for growth and perfection in holiness following),
it is a far more drastic and thorough change than what we modern evangelicals have made it out to be. This, as we have said, is evident from the very term Jesus used-"born again." Just as the natural conception and birth produces a person, the supernatural new birth by the Spirit of God produces a new person."
John Wesley defined the new birth thus:
We, as well as the Heathens, "are alienated from the life of God;"…"every one of us," by the corruption of our inmost nature, "is very far gone from original righteousness;" so far, that "every person born into the world deserveth God’s wrath and damnation;" that we have by nature no power either to help ourselves, or even to call upon God to help us: All our tempers and works, in our natural state, being only evil continually.
So that our coming to Christ, as well as theirs, must infer a great and mighty change. It must infer not only an outward change, from stealing, lying, and all corrupt communication; but a thorough change of heart, an inward renewal in the spirit of our mind.
Accordingly, "the old man" implies infinitely more than outward evil conversation, even "an evil heart of unbelief," corrupted by pride and a thousand deceitful lusts. Of consequence, the "new man," must imply infinitely more than outward good conversation, even "a good heart, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;" a heart full of that faith which, working by love, produces all holiness of conversation. The change from the former of these states to the latter, is what I call The New Birth (The Works of John Wesley, Vol. 1, p. 214).
Notice that, in keeping with our Scripture texts on the new birth, Wesley argues for a far greater change in the new birth than what we do today. Consider also these remarks from his sermon entitled, "Marks of the New Birth:"
An immediate and constant fruit of this faith whereby we are born of God, a fruit which can in no wise be separated from it, no, not for an hour, is power over sin;--power over outward sin of every kind; over every evil word and work;for wheresoever the blood of Christ is thus applied, it "purgeth the conscience from dead works;"-and over inward sin; for it purifieth the heart from every unholy desire and temper…."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." (I John 3:9). But some men will say, "True: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin habitually." Habitually! Whence is that? I read it not. It is not written in the Book. God plainly saith, "He doth not commit sin;" and thou addest, habitually! Who art thou that mendest the oracles of God?-that "addest to the words of the book?" Beware, I beseech thee, lest God "add to thee all the plagues that are written therein!" especially when the comment thou addest is such as quite swallows up the text: So that by this [Greek], this artful method of deceiving, the precious promise is utterly lost; by the[Greek], this tricking and shuffling of men, the word of God is made of none effect. O beware, thou that thus takest from the words of this book, that, taking away the whole meaning and spirit from them, leavest only what may indeed be termed a dead letter, lest God take away thy part out of the book of life! (John Wesley, Vol. 5, pp. 214,215)
It is evident from our Scriptures on the new birth that it is a change of heart as well as a change of life. Therefore, evidence of it must not be sought in either the one or the other alone, but in both the heart and the life. The new birth produces a change of inward motives, desires, affections and characteristics as well as a change of outward conduct and behavior.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a born again person, this is good news. This is shouting and praising God and dancing around good news. These are some of the spoils that Isaiah 53 promised but Jesus Christ would share with those who are born again. This is good news.
If it is not good news to you, I would once again suggest two things.
One is to examine yourself and see if you even are in the faith as Paul recommends.
The other is to read the New Testament and write down every scripture that fits into these categories. Be convinced by the Bible. Be convinced of the truth according to what the Scriptures teach.