A Cardinal Error
“The cardinal error into which many tend to fall is to think of ourselves as Christians in terms of our believing and holding on, instead of looking at ourselves in the way in which Scripture always presents the position to us…There has been so much emphasis upon decision, receiving, yielding, being willing, and giving ourselves that salvation is regarded almost exclusively in terms ouf our activity…many are in trouble simply because they do not realize the truth concerning the new birth…Nothing is more glorious that the doctrine of the rebirth; and this is obviously the work o God in us through the Spirit. We do not give birth to ourselves, we are not reborn because we believe. We believe because we are reborn.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Two passages come to mind that support Pastor Jones comments: John 3:1-8 and Ephesians 2:1-10. Consider →
John 3:1-8 “1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:1-10 “ 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Jesus told Nicodemus, and us by extension, that before anyone can see (understand) or enter the kingdom of heaven he or she must be born again, And Paul writes that this new birth happens in a person’s life when he or she are spiritually dead toward God. Persons do decide, they do receive, they do yield and-they do become willing, but this follows their spiritual rebirth.
Thankyou Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for your wonderful work of regeneration.
It is interesting how many people have adopted the philosophy that we are all God’s children. A simple reading of Scripture refutes such an idea.
Turning for instance to the Gospel of John we read from the very first chapter: “10 He (God the Son) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Does not this passage clearly state that before those who received Him, were not God’s children, yes. How then was it possible for them to become God’s children? They believed and accepted Him. That is, they committed themselves in faith in His claims and promises. Note they were not born into this world as children of God. They became what they were not. That is, they became children of God.
The question is, am I, are you a child of God? Not if we have not believed in Him and committed ourselves to Him. How do we determine if we are truly His Children? If we follow Him, and have made Him Lord of our lives, then we are children.
Steve
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