Baptismal

Introduction:

To become a member of a family, you are either born or adopted into it. The new birth is the way you are born and adopted into the family of God. It is a spirtual experience that transforms you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. It is both a spiritual and moral change. Christ lives in you by the Holy Spirit. It is so vital an experience that no one can enter into God’s Kingdom without it.

1. What New Birth is Not:

a.       Being religious or churchy – Act 10:1-9

b.       Keeping the law – Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2 :16-21; Acts 13:39

c.        Being Self-righteous – Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:8-9

d.       Education and Culture – I Cor. 1:18-25

e.       Baptism – Acts 8:36-39

f.        Good works and good morals – Isa. 64:6; Acts 10:1-2,22

These things are good and important but they will not substitute for the new birth Eph 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-8

2. What then is New Birth? Jn. 3:17; Jn. 1:12-13; 1 Peter 1:23; Col. 1:12-14; Eph. 2:8-18; Titus 3:5

It is a spiritual birth. Our spirit, not flesh becomes born again. Every man must undergo this second birth to receive power to become a child of God. It is the process of substituting the Adamic, that is, the sinful nature, to the nature of God, which is the nature of His Holiness.

3. Why is the New Birth So Important?

The nature of Adam on any man will stand against him at the gate of heaven if not substituted, as explained earlier, before he gets there because;

a.        Man is spiritually dead and cannot obey, understand or please God. Rom. 8:6-8; Jer. 17:9; Eph. 2:3

b.       He must be re-born if he is to "see" or "enter" the kingdom of God. John 3:3-5

c.        Without the new birth the natural man is the child of the devil. Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10

d.       The natural man is corrupt in his affections and perverse in his will. Gal 5:19; Mk. 7: 21-23

e.       The new birth affects our taste, habits, opinion, desire, appearance and hope. II Cor. 5:17

f.         Through the new birth, we are raised from death of sin to life of righteousness

5. How Can I be Born Again?

a.       Acknowledge that you are a sinner. – Rom 3:23; Luke 18:13-14; Ps. 51:1-19

b.       Sincerely repent of your sins - Acts 3:19; Luke 13:3

c.        Confess your sins to God – I John 1:9

d.       Forsake or turn away from your sins and old ways – Isa. 55:7; Prov.18:13

e.       Believe Him and His substitutionary sacrifice – John 3:16; II Cor. 5:21

f.         Receive Him into your heart by faith and thereafter thank God for saving you – John 1:11-12; Eph. 2:8

5. What are the Evidences of the New Birth?

The following characteristics will be manifested in the believer who is born again

a.       A changed life – II Cor. 5:17

b.       Righteousness – I John 2:29

c.       Holiness – I John 5:18; 3:7

d.       Godly love – I John 4:7

e.       Overcoming life – I John 5: 4-5

f.        Witness of the spirit – Rom 8:16

6. How Can We Live this Life Successfully?

I Peter 2:2; Ps 119: 9-11; 5-16; 101; 103; 105-106; 112; II Cor 5: 15, Josh 1 : 8-9 Heb 10:23 giving ourselves to the study of the Word, to Prayer and constant fellowship with the brethren. We must also submit totally to Christ.

MEMORY VERSE: II CORINTHIANS 5:17