The New Birth

Acts 10:44–48 KJV 1900

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 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. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

1. OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL

Our sinful nature separates us from our holy God; however, Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to redeem us from our sins. We respond to this good news, the gospel, and apply it to our lives when we are born again.

Important to understand that the Bible is the infallible authority of all.

Revelation 20:12 KJV 1900

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Book of Life: recording of your actions

Books: Bible

Everything you have ever done MUST align with the Bible or you will “die in your sins.”

So it does not matter what you think, have been taught or even believe, it is our responsibility to pattern our lives after the Word of God.

So, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 2:22–24 KJV 1900

22 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: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 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

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 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? 38 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. 39 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? (vs 37)

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

Is this promise still good for us today?

Ezekiel 36:26 KJV 1900

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

This was God’s plan for sin from the beginning!

1 Peter 1:18–20 KJV 1900

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Revelation 13:8 KJV 1900

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2. REPENTENCE

Our new birth begins with repentance, or turning away from sin. Jesus paid the price for our sins and is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us when we repent.

1 John 1:5–2:1 KJV 1900

5 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. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 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? (vs 7)

What happens if we confess our sins? (vs 9)

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

Repentance is the greatest weapon in our christian arsenal!

One most often over-looked!

3. WATER BAPTISM

Being born again involves being baptized in water by immersion in the name of Jesus. Baptism is for the forgiveness or remission of sins, and it identifies us with Jesus.

Acts 19:1–6 KJV 1900

1 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, 2 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. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 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. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Is all baptism equal in the sight of God? (vs 3-4)

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

What happened after they were baptized? (vs 6)

What about

Matthew 28:19 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Question: in this is a formula, why did the disciples disobey Jesus just a few weeks later beginning in Acts 2:38?

And in every place in the book of Acts after?

4. SPIRIT BAPTISM

The new birth includes Spirit baptism - the infilling of the Holy Ghost. When we receive the Holy Ghost, we receive resurrection power and are equipped to walk in newness of life through the Spirit.

Romans 6:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 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? (vs 4)

What are we called to walk in? (vs 4)

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

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

CLOSING DISCUSSION

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?