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BIBLE STUDY FOR THE WEEK

THE NEW BIRTH EXPLAINED M.V. JOHN 3:3

One doctrine that has been discussed so much in the church (universal) and yet remains unclear to so many in the church is the doctrine of the NEW BIRTH. Records show that John Wesley preached about this doctrine more than any other in his lifetime. When asked why, He said ‘because ye must be born again’. The Bible tells us how to be born again and what that means. All the troubles in the world are due to either my sin or someone else's. All of mankind is sinful, thus separated from the holiness of God. This is the reason why there is a need for the NEW BIRTH.

THE SIN PROBLEM

All of us have sinned Psalm 51: 3 & 5 Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23 Rom 5:12-14 1 John 1:8.

What exactly is sin? If you asked ten different people, you might get ten different answers. Some might say that sin is "doing something wrong or breaking the law", while others might say that sin is "hurting another person" Still others might deny the very existence of sin, saying that there is no such thing as right or wrong-- in short, that there are no real absolutes in this world. However, most people agree (regardless of culture) that there are certain actions that are wrong, and should be punishable by fines, imprisonment or even death.

Sin is a terminal disease that eats away at the very heart of this planet. It destroys individual people, families, cultures, even the earth itself. Our world is defiled by it.

The Bible says that sin is a heart condition. It is a condition of rebellion against God, which stems from pride. The Hebrew definition of the word sin means "to miss the mark." Our actions, though they may be "sinful" are really only the fruit of our rebellion against God. Our outward actions merely mirror our true inner condition. It is our true inner condition that God is concerned with. He knows the "real you" better than you yourself do, because he sees "the inner man" and all your secret thoughts and motives.

DEALING WITH SIN

We cannot deal with our sin by "cleaning ourselves up" the outside, because:

I. We are all slaves to our sinful nature, and we can only be cleansed from within. John 8:34. Our problem is a heart condition.

II. Dead in sin Ephesians 2:1.

III. Ephesians 4:18 we are "...alienated from the life of God..."

IV. Just as a body without physical life is declared physically dead, so anyone who is separated from God is described in the Bible as spiritually dead. As long as we remain spiritually dead, we cannot know God.

The only way sin can be dealt with is by Christ Romans 5:8, II Corinthians 5:21, John 3:16, Colossians 1:12-18, I John 1:7

THE NEED FOR THE NEW BIRTH

We all need a new life. We need to be cleansed from sin and it's penalty (which is death) and restored to fellowship with God who made us all. That is what Jesus Christ meant in John 3:7, John 3:3. Without the experience of the "new birth" we have no hope of enjoying the glories of heaven nor escaping the terrors of hell. Without the new birth we cannot please God neither can we live holy Isaiah 64:6. Have you been born again?

THE NEW BIRTH: WHAT IT IS NOT AND WHAT IT IS

The "new birth" is not a religion, not living up to a creed, not a set of rituals, nor joining a church or denomination. It's a transformation. Our old nature is

changed and we receive a new one. Old things pass away and all things become new in Christ. We receive a new heart, new desires, new ideas, and a new direction because of this new nature. A birth is the coming into being of a new life, which has the nature of its parents. When you were born the first time, you were made a partaker of the nature of natural man. When you are born again, you become a partaker of the divine nature (II Peter 1:4). God then becomes your heavenly Father.

OUR PART

We must accept God's Word that says we all are sinners and know that it is sin that separates us from God and repent or "turn away" from that sin. Until we each acknowledge, and ask forgiveness for our own guilt, we will never be free from it. It will eventually lead us right into hell.

"The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9)

God wants to give us His power over sin. We cannot conquer sin without that power. God wants to give us life for death, beauty for ashes, health for sickness, joy for grief, peace for strife, love for hate. God's Word says, "...I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Do you want abundant life? This abundant life comes only as we are born again and as we follow on and receive all that God promises us.

It isn't always easy following God, but nothing worthwhile ever was. You may be ridiculed and persecuted. You will face many temptations to fall back into your old nature. But you can be assured that God is with you, and He will give you power to overcome every one of them.

CONCLUSION

You can pray right now and ask God to come into your heart and receive the new birth. Simply talk to Him as you would talk to another person. Your sins will be forgiven there and then. Then you will begin a new life according to II Corinthians 5:17.

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