Born Of God

John 1:12-13 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Titus 3:4-7 – But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:23 – For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 John 5:1,3-4 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well…In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Galatians 6:15 – Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Application:

• ·         Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but comes through God’s mercy alone. “Washing of rebirth” is a reference to new birth, of which baptism is a sign. It cannot mean that baptism is necessary for regeneration, since the New Testament plainly teaches that the new birth is an act of God’s Spirit and is not effected or achieved by ceremony. The new birth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are central to the gospel message.
• ·         The new birth comes about through the direct action of the Holy Spirit, but the word of God also plays an important role, for it presents the gospel to sinners and calls on them to repent and believe in Christ. Tthe seed is doubtless the word of God, which is imperishable, living and enduring.
• ·         Anyone who loves God the Father will naturally love God’s children.
• ·         To overcome the world is to gain victory over its sinful pattern of life, which is another way of describing obedience to God. John speaks of two aspects of victory: (1) the initial victory of turning in faith from the world to God; (2) the continuing, day-by-day victory of Christian living.
• ·         Membership in God’s family is by grace alone—the gift of God.
• ·         Redemption is the restoration and fulfillment of God’s purposes in creation, and this takes place in Christ, through whom all things were made and in whom all things are restored or created anew.
• ·         In Christ the redeemed undergo a transformation that results in an entirely new being. Creation again takes place.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV