Featured Why is New Birth necessary?

Still waiting for anyone to respond to the evidence I set forth with any substance, or something reasonable to consider. One poster was hilarious. Can you imagine anyone with two grains of common sense actually making the following argument "Christ does not ever say man must be born of flesh and born of the Spirit...in order to enter the Kingdom of God."

A person would have to be a complete idiot to ever say "man not born of the flesh must be born of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God" since "man" and "born of the flesh" are synonynyms (lol). Is there any such thing as a "man" not "born of the flesh" in the sense of physical birth? If so, then how did he become a "man" without being "born of the flesh"? Isn'ti every "man" born of the flesh? So when Jesus says "THAT which is born of the flesh is flesh" is there any possibility he is excluding anyone born like "THAT" but must be including everyone born like "THAT"???? In other words, it is "THAT" condition which "MUST" be born again (v. 7) as it is "THAT" condition which has the sin problem which needs the contextual solution spelled out for this poor poster in verses 15-21.

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The only possible exception of any man born of the flesh that would not need to be born of the Spirit is the kind that did not come into this world condemned already and therefore does not have "THAT" natural birth condition described in verses 18-21 or its solution.

So, if the poster can find any "man" who does not have that condition than of course he has found one 'born of the flesh" that does not need to be "born of the Spirit' to enter the kingdom of God.

However, I have stopped addressing the poster who made this hilarious argument simply because you cannot reason with anyone who repeatedly demonstrates they are so blind, arrogant and unreasonable. It is like throwing peals before swine. I asked for anyone to provide PRACTICAL reasons why natural born humans characterized by the fallen nature which is synonymous with having a WRONG HEART CONDITION can be changed without that change being internal, supernatural and not the new birth?

God describes this sin problem as a HEART CONDITION in Deuteronomy 5:29 on the very day he gave the ten commandments proving that the law or old covenant could not change this condition because no natural born man had a heart that would obey God:

Deut. 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

No man is born with such a heart because if they were then God would not have to say "O that there were such a heart in them, that they would......" So every man "born of the flesh" needs a new heart in order to obey God and that heart must be given to them by God:

Deut. 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

If such a heart came by being "born of the flesh" then God would not have to "give.....an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear."

The entire Old Testament bears witness that all who are "born of the flesh" have an evil heart of unbelief that is at "enmity with God and is not subject to the law of God and neither indeed can be, SO
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

What Paul taught the Romans here in Romans 8:7-9 the Prophets taught Israel:

Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Psa. 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Not only Moses bears witness of such an evil immutable heart that characterizes all who are "born of the flesh" but so do all the prophets and Jesus and the apostles. This IS the common problem for all who are "born of the flesh"

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jer 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

Ge 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

It does not matter when or where they are born as all who are "born of the flesh" have this same common problem and it is oxymoronic to even suggest obedience to the Old Covenant can remedy that problem when the problem is a disobedient heart.

There is but ONE solution to this internal irreversable heart condition of all who are 'born of the flesh" and that is to be "born of the Spirit" which is defined as God giving a new heart or an obedient heart, or a heart that God writes his law upon - meaning that God gives a heart that loves God and wants to obey his commandments:

2 Cor. 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

The new birth is God giving those "born of flesh" the same kind of heart found in Christ:

Ps 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

This is what it means to be "created IN CHRIST Jesus UNTO good works..." - Eph. 2:10

This inward change of heart for God is what the new inward man is all about as a creative act of God called the new birth:

This is the solution for Jews living at the time of the writing of Paul of which the new birth is removing the vail from their heart:

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The new birth is a creative act of God that changes the heart from a condition of spiritual darkness to spiritual light:

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Only When God changes the heart (new birth) are those "born of the flesh" willing to hear:

Ac 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

The unregenerate state is a state of a blind heart due to being separated from the life of God whereas union with the life of God is being quickened (born again/regenerated).

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

(CONTINUED)

 

Under the Old Covenant, there was no solution for this CONDITION OF HEART but by the very same INWARD change of heart by God called "circumcision of heart" and Israel was rebuked by God under the old covenant administration as proven by Ezekiel (Ezek. 44:7-9) and Jesus (Jn. 3:3-21):



6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,

7 In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers,uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.

8 And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.

9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger,uncircumcised in heart,nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.


Which meant that Israel was to demand a profession of faith that their hearts had been "circumcised" by God (born of the Spirit) in addition to being circumcised in the flesh (born of the flesh) to worship in God's House.


So, if any poster can find a "man" who is not born of the flesh, or who is without the adamic fallen heart condition, or who is in no need for the only solution for that condition, then you have found a man which the word "must" does apply to with regard to the new birth. This is the kind of foolishness and extremism that one must resort to in order to deny this self-obvious truth applicable from Adam to the present as the same self-obvious problem exists from Adam to the present - a heart problem - that has only one possible solution from Adam to the present.

I will not respond to such circular reasoning that Ezekiel said this under the old Covenant and therefore it could not mean what he says because they assume such a truth did not exist under the Old Covenant. It is oxymoronic to assume obedience to the Old Covenant by such a heart condition is the solution for that heart condition. The Old Covenant was NEVER designed to give life, to justify, to save anyone at anytime by its sacrifices, or ceremonial ordinances but it was ALWAYS designed to lead individuals to the knowledge of their sinful condition so they would turn from self to Christ as presented in the gospel preached to them (heb. 4:2; Acts 10:43) which when empowered by the Holy Spirit created a new heart within them both then and now (Ezek. 44:7-9; Jn. 3).

Ezekiel 36:26-27 is addressed to THE NATION of Israel and the promise of new birth AS A NATION yet in the future but the truth of Ezekiel 36:26-27 has always been applicable to INDIVIDUAL Jews and Gentiles since Genesis 3:15 who have been given a new heart that can see and hear and respond to God by repentance toward sin and faith in God's promised Christ provision which they obtained on the basis of promise rather than on the basis of fulfilment in time.

I have written this to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see the obvious. Only God can open eyes and ears of those who can't see the obvious and I will leave that work to him as to try is only to cast pearls before swine.

 

This truth is so-self evident that one must force their minds shut, must close their eyes, and stick the fingers in their ears to miss it.

Man by nature from natural birth has no heart for God but does have a heart for sin and for rebellion against God. That is his state by nature from birth. This is taught clearly from Genesis to Revelation. To "born of the flesh" is to be born with a heart that is at enmity with God and is not subject to the law of God and neither indeed can be. This is an axiomatic truth of Scripture universally from Genesis to Revelation.

The PRACTICAL PROBLEM for those who deny it is they must explain how such natural born human beings come into possession of a heart that loves and obeys God apart from a supernatural internal work by God that produces a CHANGE OF HEART. Those living from Matthew to Revelation have the very same HEART problem and that change of heart in the New Testament scriptures is defined as the NEW BIRTH or regeneration or quickening and that is why they are called "children" of the light because they are BORN spiritually into the KINGDOM OF LIGHT by God creating light IN THE DARKENED heart.

The Old Testament calls that CHANGE OF HEART to be "circumcised in heart" while the external type of that internal change is called "circumcision of the flesh." The New Testament defines this old testament condition of "circumcised in heart" to be the new birth. No human being can circumcise "the heart" and so it is a supernatural internal change. That change produces the very same thing as new birth produces A HEART FOR GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD.

Therefore THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME in both Old and New Testament scriptures. - HEART PROBLEM. The heart PROBLEM is defined the same in scriptures from Genesis to Revelation and that is enmity toward God (love of sin) and refusal to submit to his authority (not subject to the law of God). There can only be ONE SOLUTION - change of heart so the heart is no longer enmity with God but loves God, no longer in rebellion to God's authority but in submission. There can be no other possible solution. There can only be ONE WAY this solution occurs since it is INTERNAL and beyond the scope of man's willingness as it defines his willingness and that is this is a CHANGE WROUGHT BY GOD supernaturally.

This is such a self-evident and obvious truth that to defend it only complicates simplicity. To avoid this obvious truth by responding what about infants is hilarious! What in the world does the objector thing "born of flesh" refers to - old age???? The infant comes into this world in the womb of his mother and the Bible clearly and repeatedly teaches human beings are conceived with this HEART PROBLEM.

The objector flees to the AMBIGUOUS and the AMBIGUITY of scripture to flee from the obvious truth that the only kind of change from this condition is by a supernatural act of God of a HEART CHANGE. It makes no difference at what stage of human existence a human being exists and dies, the problem is the same and the solution is the same - new birth or change of heart or they cannot see or enter the kingdom of God. The only real issue is whether or not God saves dying infants not HOW they are saved as their is only ONE SOLUTION for all who are "born of the flesh."

To wiggle and weasel around that ONLY POSSIBLE SOLUTION (heart change) based upon human ability to discern good from evil makes no difference at all about the ONLY POSSIBLE SOLUTION as the bottom line is IF such are saved by God they are saved by the very SAME WAY - HEART CHANGE by God's power.

 

Abraham was "born of the flesh" and therefore came into this world by that natural birth with a natural heart opposed to God and spiritual things. What changed Abraham from an idol worshipping God hater to a idol hater God worshipper? What changed Abraham's unbelieving heart to a believing heart? How did characteristics that Paul restricts to the "fruit of the Spirit" occur WITHIN Abraham and then made manifest by his outward life?

There are only three possible logical options:

1. Abraham changed his own heart

2. Abraham participated with God changing his own heart

3. God gave Abraham a heart not received by being "born of the flesh" thus a new birthed heart.


Since Paul had the very same problem as Abraham there are only three possible options for him too:

1. Paul changed his own heart

2. Paul participated with God changing his own heart

3. God gave Paul a heart not received by being "born of the flesh" but by new birth.


If such a new heart was possible by the first two options for Abraham, so also it is possible for Paul because it is the SAME PROBLEM.

Those who deny CHANGE OF HEART is not the new birth deny the obvious. What kind of heart came with the FIRST BIRTH or "born of the flesh"????? If the first heart characterizes BEING BORN of the flesh, then a NEW heart would characterize a NEW BIRTH or a birth NOT OF THE FLESH but "OF GOD" as it is God from whence the new heart comes and it is God who CHANGES the heart.

If one says this CHANGE OF HEART is not the new birth, then why would Abraham or Paul need the new birth since THEIR SAME PROBLEM can achieve a solution WITHOUT new birth?

Mankind prior to the Old Covenant living between Genesis and Exodus certainly could not obtain such a change "under the Old Covenant." Mankind living under the "old Covenant" could not achieve such a change by the Old Covenant as God plainly says they did not in Deuteronomy 5:29 and 29:4. So being under or not under the Old Covenant makes no difference with achieving this change of heart. Neither does it make any difference merely living under the New Covenant administration. Before, during or after covenant administrations the problem remains the same and the solution remains the same - it is OF GOD not OF FLESH. The covenant administrations don't save anyone, it is God that saves the very same way before, during or after any covenant administration in human history. He saves according to the "blood of the EVERLASTING covenant" (Heb. 13:20) by the "lamb slain from the foundation of the world" according to promise rather than according to time of existence or time of the cross as God applies it by how HE SEES THE CROSS as an eternal present that spans from eternity past to eternity future.

Personal and individual salvation was and is always directly by God under the unconditional terms of the everlasting covenant. The Old Covenant saved no one but merely declared individual and personal salvation in gospel types in anticipation of Christ's first coming. The New covenant saves no one but merely declares individual and personal salvation in the clarity of the gospel in anticipation of Christ's second coming and the perfection of all saints in salvation.

The change of heart secured in David was based upon the unconditional terms of the "everlasting covenant" rather than "under the Old Covenant".

Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. - 2 Sam. 23:5

He is not speaking of the Old Covenant as that was made with Israel as a nation. He is speaking about "the blood of the everlasting covenant."

The change of heart secured for individual Jews under the Old Covenant was not by the Old Covenant made with the NATION of Israel but by the "blood of the everlasting covenant" which was UNCONDITIONAL:

Isa. 55:1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Isaiah had just preached the gospel two chapters earlier (Isa. 53) and Paul says it was the gospel (Rom. 10:15). This same "everlasting covenant" is the same unconditional covenant for all the saved from Genesis to Revelation as it is the same covenant made with Abraham and to "ALL" of His seed, or ALL WHO ARE OF FAITH or ALL THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE including those born "under the law" equally as those not born under the law.

The Old Covenant was a NATIONAL covenant never designed to save, justify, regenerate ANY INDIVIDUAL. Individual salvation was always under the unconditional "everlasting covenant" directly applied by God and never applied by any covenant administration on earth, whether it is the "old" covenant public administration or the new covenant public administration as both have ordinances, ministers and public houses of worship (Heb. 9:1). The New Covenant administration is the clearest manifestation and declaration of the "blood of the everlasting covenant" by its ministry, ordinances and public worship and mission. The baptism in the Spirit was administered to the tabernacle, to the temple and to the church, all as public houses of worship. The tabernacle and temple were types of the church. The Tabernacle was clothed in skins of animals. The temple in stone. The church consists of both, a congregation of water baptized believers in their own skins assembled together as metaphorical living stones, to offer up public worship through acceptable sacrifices.

The great "Mystery" of the gospel is that the Spirit is now being poured out upon "all flesh" both jew and Gentile and Gentiles are now EQUAL members in the new public house of God as part of the New Covenant public administration.

 

"This is eternal life that they might KNOW the only true God and jesus Christ....." - Jn. 17:3

Being quickened (born again, regenerated, circumcised in heart) is giving THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE HEART (2 Cor. 4:6) regardless of the age of a human being.

If infants dying in the womb are saved at the point of death, they are saved the very same way - quickened or being GIVEN KNOWLEDGE of the one true God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Quickening is being given knowledge -experiential knowledge by being made conscious of God and His provision in Christ. That knowledge IS the "substance" and "hope" of justifying faith.

Hence, the command of God that makes His gospel the "power of salvation" is the effectual call which puts the LIGHT OF KNOWLEGE of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ IN the heart - 2 Cor. 4:6.

This act of created metaphorical "light of knowledge" in the heart is the creation of justifying faith as the gospel which is empowered to create this "light of knowledge" is also the "substance" and "hope" of faith, thus regeneration is the act of God that creates faith in connection with the empowered gospel (effectual call) - 1 Thes. 1:4-6.

Thus we are saved (perfect tense) by grace THROUGH faith, and that not of ourselves, for it is a gift of God. NOT OF WORKS...for we are HIS WORKMANSHIP created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works."

At the perfect tense completed action of quickening ("saved" refers to being quickened in the context see v. 5) faith is created whereby the quickened embrace Christ as REVEALED by this LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE directly imparted into the darkened heart. Hence, this knowledge is the "substance" of faith and is the "hope" of faith. Thus we are "HIS WORKmanship" and quickening is being "created in Christ" that is in union with Christ "through" faith which is regeneratively produced.

 

God cannot save anyone without giving them knowledge of God and Christ as eternal life IS KNOWLEGE OF GOD and Christ - Jn. 17:3. Regeneration is effectual REVELATION of "THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" as creative command of God that places this metaphorical light "IN THE HEART."

So, no, an infant cannot be regenerated apart from knowledge of God and jesus Christ as there is no "eternal life" without that knowledge.

There are no ignoramus human beings in heaven. They all know God through Christ by direct immediate revelation called new birth, effectual calling, regeneration, circumcision of the heart, changed heart, born again, quickened, etc.

 

If infants dying between Genesis 5 and Acts 2 were not regenerated then they went to hell as they died in a state of spiritual separation from God and with a depraved nature or heart confirmed in sin.

If infants dying between Genesis 5 and Acts 2 were given another heart (regeneration) at death so were all believer regenerated at the point of faith as the regeneration of infants before Acts 2 demonstrates the regeneration of all saints prior to Acts 2.

In context, the word "perfect" in Hebrews 11:39-40 refers to the glorified state of the body in a new heaven and earth. This is the "promise" that fulfilled all the promises that these saints looked for but could not find on this earth (Heb. 11:10-17). To say they were unregenerate spirits dwelling in hades is absoltue foolishness as unregenerate spirits are at enmity with God as that is the very condition of being an unregenerate as even today regeneration is of the spirit not the body.

 

The Bible does not say at what point infants in the womb or out of the womb are regenerated. However, they must be regenerated or they remain in SPIRITUAL ENMITY with God. The foolish idea that dying infants between Genesis and Acts 2 were not regenerated spirits but abode in hades until the cross to be regenerated is just as foolish as claiming that anyone between Genesis and Acts 2 existed as UNREGENERATE spirits in hades as the unregenerate condition is a STATE OF SPIRITUAL ENMITY against God. Jesus did not present either Abraham or Lazerus in paradise in a SPIRITUAL STATE OF ENMITY.

God does not have to regenerate dying infant "before" or "after" death but can "AT" death. But the Bible does not say, and so to speculate is foolish and to deny they were regenerated either "before" or "at" or "after" death is even more foolish if they are regarded as "saved" because no UNREGNERATE SPIRIT is in a saved condition as that very condition is a STATE OF ENMITY against God. So to suggest there are "saved" SPIRITS who still exist in an UNREGENERATE state after death is pure foolishness as it is oxymoronic to be "saved" as a spirit and yet at enmity against God as a spirit one and the same time.