Born Again~By The Word of God

Posted by: Stephen E. Smith on 2008-04-26

Born Again~By The Word of God

Stephen E. Smith: General Overseer of The Church of God

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (1 Peter 1:23)

Our sermon title may seem to suggest that one may be born again by some other means than the Word of God. Of course this is not possible, but it is possible for people to recieve something they think is real salvation, only to discover on judgement day that it was a false experience. In the world of religion today, there are multitudes who testify to being "born again" Christians. Yet many of these have not recieved a real change in their souls, and their continued sinful activity reveals that what they received was not according to the Word of God. They have failed to study the scripture to learn what this experience is really about, and have been decieved into accepting something less than true biblical salvation. In our scripture text, the apostle Peter places special emphasis on examining one's "born again" experience to be sure it is according to the Word of God.

"Corruptible seed" represents false teachings that pervert the Word of God. These damnable doctrines lead people into counterfeit experiences. Seducing spirits are plenteous, and they stand ready to promote the corruptible seed and plant it in the hearts and men and women. They lead people into feelings and emotional experiences that offer a sense of joy, but fail to bring about the biblical fruit of true salvation.

"Incorruptible seed" is the true Word of God and it will lead souls into a divine experience that will produce the fruit of a godly life. When one is truly born again, he will not only give verbal testimony to his salvation, but his life will be so radically changed that others will know he is a "new creature" in Christ.

The following scriptures from John's writing offer valuable insight into discerning the true born again experience: "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousnes is born of him" (1 Jn. 2:29). "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 Jn. 3:9). "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (1 Jn. 4:7). "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him" (1 Jn. 5:1). "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that oversometh the world, even our faith" (1 Jn. 5:4). "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1 Jn. 5:18).

According to the above verses, the born again experience produces righteousness, and those who are truly saved no longer commit sin. This alone eliminates multitudes who presently confess to being born again from the true experience. Oh, how the world today needs to hear the message of true salvation. Jesus saves, Jesus saves! He not only forgives people of their sins, but He gives them power to live holy lives, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). If the sinful lifestyle has not passed away, one has not been truly born again, regardless of his verbal testimony. Those born of incorruptible seed will produce the fruit spoken of by the Word of God.

In addition, we are told that "love" is of God and those who are born of God will not fail to "love one another." Hatred, resentment, revenge, rejection and mistreatment of others are sure signs that a person has not recieved the divine experience. When one gets saved, his heart is changed and instantly filled with love for all men, even his enemies. If confronted on the issue of "loving one another" as evidence that they are born of God, many professors of salvation would not pass the test.

The born again experience is the beginning for all who follow after God. And this experience is sufficient to the purpose for which God created it. It changes the heart of the sinner and makes him a new creature. It places him in the kingdom of God, grants him eternal life, and provides sufficient grace for him to live according to God's Word. The wonderful joys of salvation cannot but stimulate the desire for "more of God" and cause one to seek after the deeper experiences promised in the scriptures~sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost (see online articles by the same name).

Nothing less than a true born again blessing will do. People may reform their lives, abandon certain sinful activities, and raise their morals and conduct to a higher standard. They may be called "good" and even "holy" when measured by the standards of others. But their goodness and outward high standards of morality will not save them. The heart itself is still polluted with sin, and nothing but the blood of Jesus is sufficient to wash away the filth and make a new creation. It is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ that one is brought into this divine blessing and enabled to "...put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).

Jesus made it very plain when he said, "...Ye must be born again" (Jn. 3:7). There are no exceptions. Could He have made it any clearer than when he said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:3), and again, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5). Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God, much less inherit it.

This born again experience that makes a person a new creature in Christ is a result of the regenerating power of God. When speaking of being born again, Jesus said, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (Jn. 3:8). The wind cannot be seen, but it's evidence is seen as the leaves and branches of a tree quake and sway under it's breezes. The Spirit of God is the wind that blows upon the repentant soul, and it is felt there just as surely as the physical body can feel the natural wind blowing upon it! Further evidence is seen a one who goes to the altar as a depraved sinner full of sorrows for his wicked life, rises up with the glory of divine joy rediating from his face. He no longer frequents the bars, his adulterous activity ceases, lying and stealing and cursing and reveling are forsaken. He now gives his love and devotion to his wife and children, and serves God with a pure heart. He has been regenerated and born again! This scene, or something similar, has been produced in thousands of lives, testifying to the power of God to make new creatures of all who come to Him in sincere prayer.

Being born again~by the Word of God! How glorious! May this message be proclaimed without compromise by The Church of God.

(This article was originally published in the February 2003 issue of The Evening Light.)