"The New Birth"

Discussion:

Acts 10:44–48 KJV 1900

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

God hat to give Peter a vision 3 times!

Our fallen sinful nature separates us from our Holy God.

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection redeems us from sin and restores our relationship with God.

Our response to the Gospel (good news) should be that we apply this Jesus experience (Repentance and New Birth) to our lives.

Our Response to the Gospel

Acts 2:22–24 KJV 1900

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Acts 2:36–39 KJV 1900

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

What was the response of the crowd when Peter confronted them with the reality that Jesus was crucified as part of God’s plan? (verse 37) ____________________________________________________________

What did Peter tell them to do in response to the realization that Jesus was crucified for them? (verse 38) ____________________________________________________________

Is this promise still for us today? ____________________________________________________________

Grace is a gift of God that we can not merit or earn.

Our response should be a “Saving Faith”.

The Faith Chapter in Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:7 KJV 1900

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Repentance

Our New Birth experience is preceded by repentance, or turning away from sin.

Jesus paid the price for our sin and faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us when we repent.

1 John 1:5–2:1 KJV 1900

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

What cleanses us from sin? (verse 7) ____________________________________________________________

What happens if we confess our sin? (verse 9) ____________________________________________________________

Is repentance a one time act? Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________

Read from commentary

Water Baptism

We must be born again.

John 3:1–16 KJV 1900

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Being born again involves being fully immersed in water invoking the name of Jesus.

Baptism is for the forgiveness and remission of sins; it also identifies us with Jesus.

Acts 19:1–6 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Read from commentary

Is all water baptism equal in the sight of God? (verses 3 & 4) ____________________________________________________________

What did the people do to take on the name of Jesus? (verse 5) ____________________________________________________________

What happened after they were baptized? (verse 6) ____________________________________________________________

Spirit Baptism

Romans 6:3–5 KJV 1900

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

In baptism, we identify with Jesus’ what? (verse 4) ____________________________________________________________

What are we called to walk in? (verse 4) ____________________________________________________________

How do you think we can identify with Jesus’ resurrection? ____________________________________________________________

The New Birth also includes Spirit Baptism, the infilling of the Holy Ghost (Spirit).

Once we receive the Spirit, we have resurrection power and are equipped to walk in newness of life.

Read from commentary

Closing

What does it mean to be born again?

What are the consistent elements of the New Birth experience for New Testament believers?

How can we share the hope of the New Birth with others?