Born from Above

Scripture: John 3:3 (KJV)

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Personal Reflection

Conviction alone cannot save. A sinner may become frightened about judgment, troubled over sin, or emotionally affected by preaching and still remain spiritually dead. Something supernatural must happen: he must be born again.

We are to distinguish conviction from regeneration. Regeneration is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit by which a spiritually dead sinner receives spiritual life. Just as an infant does not cause his own physical conception, a sinner does not produce his own new birth. God causes us to be born again.

This new birth produces real change. The Spirit gives new desires. Sin's reigning power is broken, though its presence remains. The person who once loved darkness begins loving light. He desires Christ, repentance, obedience, holiness, and the things of God.

This does not mean the Christian immediately becomes perfect. Sanctification continues throughout life. But regeneration creates something that was not there before: spiritual life.

This truth protects us from reducing salvation to merely “making a decision.” Decisions do not resurrect dead souls. Only God can do that.

It also gives us assurance concerning God's power. If God could raise us from spiritual death, He can continue transforming us throughout our Christian pilgrimage.

Our testimony therefore is not ultimately, “I found Christ.” Scripture teaches something far more glorious: when we were dead and unable to come, God came to us, opened our hearts, gave us life, and brought us to Christ.

Contemplation

Does my life demonstrate the new desires and changed direction that accompany the new birth?

Puritan Quote

Stephen Charnock wrote:

“Regeneration is a universal change of the whole man.”

Prayer

Father, I praise You for the sovereign work of Your Spirit in giving spiritual life to dead sinners. Continue transforming my desires, thoughts, and conduct so that the reality of the new birth may increasingly be seen in me. Amen.

Application

Read Ezekiel 36:25–27 and identify several evidences that God promises will accompany the new heart and new spirit.