Need for the Holy Spirits Work
John 3: 1- 18
By Pastor Jesse Licardo
June 22, 2024, Lakewood CA
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
John 3:1-14, 16-18 ESV
The context:
John 3:1-15
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
Who was Nicodemus?
Nicodemus is a name in Greek meaning victory of the people
- He was a Pharisee
- A ruler of the Jew
- A teacher of Israel
- A member of the Sanhedrin
Ultimately he became believer of Christ and together with Joseph of Aremathaea took down and embalmed the body of the Lord. (You will find all the information in John 3:1, 10/ John 7:50-51/ John 19:38-42
John 7:50-51
“Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?””
John 19:38-42
“After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.”
The setting:
- came to Jesus by night
The discourse:
- John 3:2-4
“This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?””
Born Again from the Greek word gene the another. The root word genes and mean to generate or produce.
Another does not mean again but “above”
Proper translation is to born from above.
John 3:5
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
What does Christ mean?
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
Ezekiel 36:25-27 ESV
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”
Titus 3:5 ESV
Jesus rephrases his answer in verse 3 to verse 5 from seeing the kingdoms of God to entering the kingdom of God.
Reason:
- you cannot see because we are separated from God. Spiritually dead, alienated.
Ephesians 2:12
“remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
- cannot enter the kingdom unless you are born again because
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
John 3:6 ESV
- Christ makes a distinction between physical birth and spiritual birth.
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.””
John 3:8 ESV
- The Lord liken the wind to the spirit of God, they are both invisible. A person cannot see it move or work, however, one can see the effect of what the spirit does.
- The bases of being born again as the Lord was conveying to Nicodemus
- It is spiritual, it happens with the work of the spirit. ,,,.
“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”
John 16:8 ESV
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
John 16:13 ESV
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Romans 8:26 ESV
“Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?“
John 3:9-10 ESV
- Nicodemus was rebuked by the Lord. He would need the Holy Spirit to illuminate and reveal to him, God’s viewpoint and perspective.
“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things. John 3:11-12 ESV
- the Lord refers back to John 1:6-11
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
John 1:6-11 ESV
- “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.”John 3:13 ESV
- The Lord’s self-revelation to Nicodemus.
- Now the Lord chooses an analogy to explain what he came to do that Nicodemus will become familiar with
- “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15 ESV
- For Nicodemus to understand the Lord, the Lord paralleled the lifting of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21, “Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” Numbers 21:6-9 ESV
- In a similar way, the Lord will be nailed to the cross and those who put their faith in him, will have everlasting life.
John 3:16 ”“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“
Literal definition of world as defined Thayer’s Lexicon bible from the Greek word Kosmos that applies to John 3:16-18
The apt and harmonious arrangement of constitution, order government.
- The world, the universe
- The circle of the Earth, the Earth
- The inhabitants of the Earth men, the human family
- Ungodly multitude, whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the the cause of God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.
Biblical verses, supporting Christ, dying for the whole world.
The Intent of Christ Atonement
What is the purpose of the atonement? To save everyone or some?
- John 3:16-18 ”“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“
2. ”The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!“ John 1:29 ESV
- John 4:42 They said to the woman it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed, the savior of the world.
- John, 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.
- John, 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
- 1Jn.2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
- 1Jn. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the father has sent his son to be the savior of the world.
- 2pet. 2:1 but false Prophets also arose among the people just as there will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies denying the master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
- Heb. 2:9 ”But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.“
- 1Tim. 4:10-11 ”For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.“
- 2Cor. 5:14-15 ”For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.“
- is.53:6 ”All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Extent of Christ atonement
For whose did Jesus die?
The universality of Christ atonement based on scripture
- John 3:16
- 2Pet. 3:9 ”The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.“
- 1Tim. 4:10 ”For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.“
- 1 Tim. 2:3-6 ”This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.“
- Ezekiel 18:23 ”Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?“
- Mt 23:37 ”“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!“
- Ezk. 33:11 ”Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?“
- Rom. 5:8; 18 “ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Verse 18: ”Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.“
- Rom. 10:13 “ For “ everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
- Titus 2:11 ”For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,“
- Is. 45: 22 ”“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.“
- Rom. 8:28-32 ”And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?“
- Rom. 8:32 ”He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?“
- John 6:40 ”For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”“
- Mt. 11:28 ”Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“
III. Efficacy and application of the atonement of Christ
When and to Whom is it applied?
The emphasis on mans act of responsibility is surely a biblical factor; man must believe to be saved
Acts. 16:31: ”And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”“
If man refuses to believe. He is lost.
John 5:39-40: ”You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.“
John 7: 17 ”If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.“
- Jh. 3:16
- Eph. 2:8-9 ”For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Heb. 11:6 ”And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.“
- Rom. 6: 23 ”For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
- Acts 4:12 ”And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”“
- Rom. 5:2 ”Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“
- Rom. 10:13 ”For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”“
- Jh. 3:36 ”Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.“
- John 3:15-19 ”that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.“
- Det. 5:16; 31 ”“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.“ 31; ”But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’“
- Mk. 16:16 ”Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.“
- John 6:40 ”For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”“
- John 3:36 ”Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.“
- Rom. 10:9-10;13 ”because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.“ 13; ”For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”“
- Jh. 8:24 ”I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”“
- Jh. 1: 12 ”But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,“
- Jh. 20:31 ”but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.“
- Jh. 11:25-26 ”Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”“
- Jh. 6:47 ”Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.“
- 1 John 5:5 ”Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?“
- 1 Cor 1:21 ”For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.“
- Acts 16:30-31 ”Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”“
- Acts 10:43 ”To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”“
- Acts 2:21 ”And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’“
- John. 6:35 ”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.“
- 1 Jh 5:13 ”I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.“
- 2 Cor. 5:17 ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.“
- Rom 8:1 ”There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.“
- Romans 4:24. ”but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,“
- Romans 1:16 ”For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.“
- John 3:15 ”that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.“
- 1 Jh 5:1 ”Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.“
- Gal 2:16 ”yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.“
- Eph 1:13 ”In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,“
- Rev. 3:20 ”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.“
- Jh. 6:37 ”All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.“
Let us answer the question on the order of Salvation
Does regeneration precedes faith?
Calvinist the likes of McArthur, Piper, Sproul, claims and teaches that regeneration precedes faith, using John 3:3 as proof text is this scriptural?
What is regeneration in Greek?
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3824: παλιγγενεσία
Paliggenesia
From Palin & Genesis
Definition: Regeneration, renewal
παλιγγενεσία (T WH παλιγγενεσία (cf. Tdf. Proleg., p. 77 bottom)), παλιγγενεσίας, ἡ (πάλιν and γένεσις), properly, new birth, reproduction, renewal, recreation (see Halm on Cicero, pro Sest. § 140), Vulg. and Augustineregeneratio; hence, "moral renovation, regeneration, the production of a new life consecrated to God
“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””
John 3:3
Is faith the fruit of regeneration or the cause of it?
- This is the false premise
- Faith does not cause regeneration
- Grace Does
- God regenerates those who believes freely
- He does it graciously
- He does not have to regenerate a person who respond in faith, he chooses to do so graciously
- Example, the Prodigal Son Luke 15
“And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’””
Luke 15:11-32
- When the son came to his senses and realized the folly of his decision he learned to humble himself returned home. In his coming home, does he earn or merit anything?
He deserved to be punished but the choice of the father to restore him as a son and receive him back that is completely the choice of the father and the father alone
He and he alone is responsible for the restoration and reconciliation of the son.
The choice of the son to come home is his own responsibility upon realizing his mistake and humbling himself.
God and God alone is responsible when we come to Him in repentance to restore us and reconcile us.
He does not have to but he chooses to do so. He has no obligation to regenerate us based on His goodness and grace. Ephesians 2:4-8
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
Ephesians 2:4-8
Faith is not the cause of regeneration
Faith is what God chooses to regenerate
It means that God regenerate those who trust in Him
In the Calvinist doctrine they teach that regeneration precedes faith
What they really saying is that you have to be born sin in order to believe meaning the cause of the faith is regeneration
What does the Bible says, Acts 16:30-31
“Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””
Acts 16:30-31
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV
Notice the order
- You have to Believe to be save
- Faith comes before being born again
- Romans 10:9
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
So how does the spirituality dead person get a new life/born again?
By believing
John 1:9-13
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” “who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
- The scriptures over and over and over again have faith preceding being made alive or regeneration
- Colossians 2:12 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
- In scriptures faith precedes regeneration not because it has to, but because God chooses to give birth or a new life to those who believe in Him
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
- In scripture we are all to repent and believe
- Faith and repentance for the forgiveness of sin to be restored.
- On Calvinist framework as John Piper said “we can say first that regeneration is the cause of faith. Having been born of God results in our believing. Our believing is the immediate evidence of God’s begetting.”
- This is a false doctrine based on philosophical and logical reasoning and has no scriptural bearing
- Grace is the cause of regeneration not human faith
- Human faith is useless apart from the atoning works of Christ
- Calvinist the likes of Piper McArthur Sproul reverses, the order that is based on scriptures to fit their tightly woven theological framework AND narrative of their tulips system and sacrifice scriptural context for intellectual assumption that supports their theological framework rather than scriptural truth
- John 5:39-40 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
What do we need to do to have life?
Come to Jesus
Piper said having born of God results in our believing
That is Calvinism not Scriptural
Is it written in the Bible that a person must be regenerated in order to believe or does the Bible must believe in order to be regenerated?
Do we need a new life in order to believe or do we need to believe in order to have a new life?
Reminder
The Bible is our authority.
What does the Bible say is the order
Ezekiel 18:30-32
““Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.””
Acts 11:18 “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.””
John 1:12 “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
No one refuses to believe in the Gospel because God does not want to save them, ultimately they personally refuse God
Romans 1:20-21
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:20-21
What are they to do? They need to humble themselves, repent and believe so that us to be reconcile to God
The scripture is very clear the order of things because God is the God of order
