Before I make this post, I must say that I do post many articles and messages on the new birth. Why? Much of what passes for Christianity is alas a falsehood unless and this is the key, a person is
devinely born again or born from above. It is not a prayer we say or a decision we make or an exercise of our " free will ", it is completely a work of God. The natural man does not understand this truth for it is spiritually discerned. God alone draws a person to Christ and the Holy Spirit does the work within. This is yet another article on the new birth. May God bless the reading of this article by perhaps an unregenerate person and spark life in them or quicken them unto new life in Christ Jesus. Rick Bates

"You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God!" 1 Peter 1:23

No one is born a Christian. No one comes into the world with a pure heart.

The new birth is not effected by baptism--yet some have wickedly declared that we are regenerated by baptism, made children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of Heaven. A person may be baptized in infancy, or in riper years--and yet like Simon Magus, remain "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity!" Acts 8:23

The new birth is not merely external, nor does it consist in mere religious duties. Some people have been preserved from immoralities, yet they too must be born again.
A man may perform a multitude of religious duties, and yet have an unholy heart.
He may be honest and fair in his dealings, and yet be an enemy to God.
He may be of a generous disposition to others, and yet not of a gracious disposition.
He may be able to say with the young ruler, "All these things have I kept from my youth up," and yet lack the one thing needful.

The new birth is not merely a profession of faith. Not all who profess Christ, possess Him.


The new birth is a change wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit in the understanding, will, and affections of a sinner--which is the commencement of a new kind of life; and which gives another direction to his judgment, desires, pursuits, and conduct.

This new birth is a divine change. Thus He who gave man his physical being at first, can alone create him in Christ Jesus unto good works. He alone can enstamp His own image, and make us partakers of a Divine nature. To give life to the dead, and to bring a clean thing out of an unclean--is the work of Omnipotence, and the effect of sovereign grace! "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man--but of God!" John 1:13

This new birth is an inward and invisible change.
The understanding is enlightened,
the judgment is informed,
the affections and desires are purified,
the will is subdued, and subjected to the will of God,
the soul is turned from the love of the world and the creature, to the great Creator and His service.
Regeneration cleanses the corrupt fountain of the heart, and demolishes the strongholds of Satan. It is a change . . .
from heart wickedness, to heart holiness,
from enmity to God, to love to God,
from the image of Satan, to the image of God.

This new birth is a universal change, extending to the heart and life. Not only the mind--but the man is renewed. The tree is made good, and its fruit is good. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

He who is born again, gives evidence that he has passed from death to life. It is visible in his conduct--the observer of him perceives the change. How different now, from what he once was!

The following are the principal evidences of regeneration:
(1) Hatred to sin.
(2) Victory over the world.
(3) Brotherly love.
(4) Delight in spiritual duties.
(5) A life of holiness.
(6) Self-loathing, and constant faith in the sacrifice of Christ.
(7) Sincere love to Christ.

~ ~ ~ ~

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Tom

With the way things are going in society, it could
very well become like it was during WW11, where for example in Holland
some Dutch people such as the Ten-Boons hid Jews in
their attic.

Recently I was having a conversation with a good friend and others about this
and he said that he would not hesitate to hide some and lie
If it meant it would save their someone’s life.
When I said that I understand that sentiment, but a lie is a lie and their is no case
in Scripture that says it is ok to lie period.

They were shocked at me when I said this, and said Rahab is a good
example of when it is ok to lie when she protected the Jewish spies.
They went onto say that you can not separate Rahab’s lie from her faith.

I said let me just say that I pray I am not sure what I would do
In a situation like that. I pray I never need to find out.

Their response is that it if I did not lie, I would be complicit in their murders.
Even if lying to protect someone’s life is a sin, like any sin, in 1 John 1:9, when
we confess to God our sins, God will forgive us.
In their attempt to prove me wrong they found an article by John MacArthur, and
were equally as shocked at him.
According to them, MacArthur says that there are no valid excuses
for lying, even if it is to save someone’s life.
MacArthur went onto say that those who disagree are just a product of society.

My Reformed friend said, that in a case like that, he could live with himself if
lie saved someone’s life. Whereas if he told the truth and it cost someone’s life,
He could never live with himself.

Any thoughts?

"You must be born again!" John 3:7

The imperativeness of the new birth is evident from the fact that man is a fallen creature. Originally he was made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), fitted to enjoy fellowship with Him. But upon his apostasy, he . . .
was alienated from his Maker,
became unsuited unto the Holy One,
and fled from Him.

The natural man is . . .
totally depraved,
a slave of Satan,
dead in sin,
and, therefore, it is no marvel that he needs to be born again.

He is devoid of . . .
any love to God,
any delight in Him,
any relish for heavenly things,
any ability to perform spiritual acts.

A miracle of grace, then, must be wrought upon him before he is qualified to enter the Father's house. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people--for those who have been made "fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:12), for without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

An unregenerated person would be entirely out of harmony with the ineffable purity of the celestial courts, and could no more enjoy their company and activities, than could a deaf man enjoy an oratorio, or a blind man enjoy the beauties of an exquisite sunset. A spiritual kingdom requires a spiritual nature, and in order to the acquisition of that, the natural man must be regenerated--divinely regenerated, for the creature can no more quicken himself than he could give himself a natural being.

Regeneration is no . . .
mere outward reformation,
process of education, or
even religious cultivation.
No, it consists of a radical change of heart and transformation of character--the communication of a gracious and holy principle, producing new desires, new capacities, and a new life. Then, do not marvel that in order thereto, a man must be born from above.

It is beginning to look more and more like Covid vaccines are going to become absolutely mandatory in the near future. Already, in the health care profession, in many places such as B.C. Canada the government is considering seriously about forcing all health care worker to take the vaccine.

The borders between Canada and the US are opening up soon to all fully vaccinated people and they make it sound like this is a permanent thing.
I read a newspaper article today from the head doctor in B.C today, that claims the variants such as the Delta Virus, makes it absolutely mandatory that non-vaccinated people get vaccinated soon, or the variants will be out of control.
I have a good reason to suspect these government and health officials have an agenda and I do not trust them at all.

I am hearing other rumblings that, they may be coming down hard on those who will not get vaccinated; even to the point of jail time, or forced vaccination. All ready, many people I know even n Churches are trying to guilt people who have yet to receive the vaccine. Family members turning against other family members who have not received the vaccine.

My question is, what should we do if our convictions say we should not get the vaccine, especially if it becomes mandatory and vaccinated family members treat unvaccinated like criminals?

Tom