Proof of the New Birth
Notes
Transcript
Intro; As we come to the last message on “The New Birth” tonight, I want us to consider where we’ve been and look at where we need to be.
Man is born of the corruptible seed [Adam, sin nature] but must be born of incorruptible seed [Jesus, righteous nature of God] to enter His kingdom
The New Birth is trusting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith surrendering our will to Him [John 1:12]
In the New Birth a person becomes a new creation in Christ [2 Cor. 5:17]
The New Birth is the regeneration of a person [Titus 3:5]
The New Birth is a spiritual resurrection [Eph. 2:1]
The New Birth is being made the “righteousness of God” [2 Cor. 5:21]
The New Birth is partaking of the divine nature of God [2 Pet. 1:4]
But the New Birth will not be forced upon a person, it is a choice we must make when the opportunity arises!
We’ve studied the New Birth and the Means behind the New Birth, tonight I want us to look at “The Proof of the New Birth”
Proof- there must be verifiable evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement or matter. The real value of something can be judged only from practical experience or results and not from appearance or theory.
The proof of the pudding is being able to eat it!
The proof of the New Birth is being able to see it!
Text: 1 John 5:1-2
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
Prayer
Every born again believer in Christ will have three defining proofs of the New Birth in their life. And John shows them to us in these verses; Inward proof, Outpouring proof and an Outward proof.
1. Inward Proof; 1a
1. Inward Proof; 1a
When a person comes to faith in Christ, then you become personal proof [evidence] that you have become a child of God. There is a inward change that becomes proof you have experienced the “New Birth.”
What is that inward proof? The witness in himself that Jesus is the Son of God and the assurance of eternal life
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
[v. 10] Witness- [martyr] testimony; to provide information about a person or an event concerning which the speaker has direct knowledge
You have an inward change in your life that you know has taken place because of God’s Word and the change in your will.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
[v.11] Assurance of Eternal life- without doubt of ones justification in Christ and the confidence of life everlasting
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Because one has been born again/inward changed, we have the confidence to witness/testify of this change and tell others about reconciliation in God and eternal life in Jesus Christ. No one would do this unless they were assured of it!
The New Birth is an inward transformation that lays the foundation for everything else in a persons life in Christ!
2. Outpouring Proof; 1b
2. Outpouring Proof; 1b
The Outpouring Proof of the New Birth is having love for our fellow man the same way God loves us.
Agape’- a love of the will [not feelings]; love of need, pity;
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The love of God in us should pour out of us towards others;
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
This type of love is not capable for a person to have or practice in the flesh, it only comes from an inward change. This love is God loving others through us.
3. Outward Proof; 2
3. Outward Proof; 2
The Outward Proof of the inward change is the “practice of righteousness” in our life.
Loving God is keeping His commandments;
John 15 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible for believers to read and re-read often. It is the perfect picture of “Outward Proof” of the New Birth.
Verses 1-11 speak of the relationship between Christ and the believer [context is His disciples];
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Verses 12-17 cover the importance of the believers relationship with other believers;
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
Verses 18-25 speak of our witness to the world based upon our relationship in Christ and with other believers;
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
Verses 26-27 cover the promise of the Helper in the believers life to nourish the first two relationships so we can show “Outward Proof” to the world that we truly are people of the New Birth!
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
If you are born again of God, you will give Outward Proof of the New Birth at all times and at all costs.
Close;
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
