A. Begotten of the Spirit. (Born Again).
1. John 3:5-8 "Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
a. The difference between natural birth and spiritual birth is spiritual birth gives spiritual life.
2. 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.”
a. The Holy Spirit, or the incorruptible seed is the source of the new birth. The word of God, the Bible, is the means by which the Spirit makes the new birth.
3. John 1:12-13 "Yet to all who received 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."
a. We become children of God. We are not born that way. Like begets like. An eternal God begets eternal children. In the human family conception and birth are not dependent on the baby, but on the parents. So it is with God.
B. Washed in the Rebirth.
1. Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (KJV)
a. This washing took place at the Cross through the shed blood of Jesus.
2. 1 Cor. 6:11 "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
a. Paul said you were (past tense) washed. This is a once for all experience.
3. John 13:8-10 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."
a. Jesus used different words here to say that in order to have fellowship with Him one doesn't need to repeat the complete bath of the new birth. He only needs daily cleansing of his soul that becomes dirty by walking in a sin cursed world. This is why Jesus said that eleven of them were clean (saved through the complete washing of the new birth), but not Judas who had never experienced the new birth.
b. The need of a sinning Christian is not to be reborn all over again, but to experience the daily cleansing through confession of the sin.
C. Baptized in the Holy Spirit.
1. 1 Cor. 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
a. We are not only identified with the Holy Spirit, but with all Christians as well.
2. Acts 1:5 "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
a. We have been permanently immersed in the Holy Spirit and forever enclosed by Him.
D. Given the Guarantee of the Holy Spirit.
1. 2 Cor. 1:22 "set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, <guaranteeing> what is to come."
a. He is in the hearts of all Born-Again Christians guaranteeing our inheritance. It is like an engagement ring that signifies the promise of marriage. It is an advance payment for things to come.
2. Eph 1:14 "who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory.
E. Sealed with the Holy Spirit.
1. 2 Cor. 1:22 "set his <seal> of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
2. Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
a. A seal is a sign of ownership and authority.
3. 2 Tim. 2:19 "Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
a. If the Holy Spirit is present, there will likewise be departure from sin.
4. 1 Cor. 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
a. The presence of the Holy Spirit causes our body to become a holy temple.
5. 1 Cor. 2:12 "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
a. He enables the Born-Again Christian to comprehend spiritual truth in Scripture.
6. Romans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
a. We have Gods love pouring into our hearts at all times.
7. Gal. 4:6 "Because you are sons, God sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts who calls out, "Abba, Father."
a. He motivates us to love God in gratitude. He causes us to cry out "Abba" Father toward heaven. Abba means daddy, which is an intimate way of calling our father.
8. Romans 8:9 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."
a. He creates within us the inner conviction that we truly are His. If a person does not have the Holy Spirit in them, then they are not a Christian.
F. Released from a Relationship With satan.
1. Col. 1:13 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."
a. The grip satan has a person who is not Born-Again is overwhelming and controlling. No one could ever release themselves or escape from such power. Only Jesus can save them. The lost person is a slave to sin. They are owned and bound by it.
2. Eph. 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
a. The wars we fight are against those things we cannot see.
G. Redeemed.
1. Romans 3:24 "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
2. Eph. 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"
a. Only the shed blood of Jesus can redeem us.
b. Jesus provided the ransom payment. He bought us. He paid the price with the infinite, eternal value of His blood. He bought us out of the marketplace of sin, and we now belong to Him by right of purchase. Once we are purchased by Jesus, we will never be sold back.
3. John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
4. Gal 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
H. Sins Have Been Atoned For By Jesus.
1. 1 John 2:2 "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
2. Romans 3:25 "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished."
a. God has accepted Jesus as our atonement. His death upon the cross has satisfied Gods demands for all our sins; past, present, future.
I. Forgiven Of All Sins.
1. Col. 2:13 "When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins."
a. Forgiveness is a present possession.
2. Eph. 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
a. The standard of forgiveness is the wealth of God’s grace. It is given according to, not out of.
3. 1 Tim. 1:13-15 "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst."
a. Paul said he was the chief among sinners. If he could be forgiven, so can anyone.
4. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
a. When we became a Christian we were (past tense) washed and forgiven.
5. Eph. 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
a. Because we have been forgiven we should forgive.
6. Col. 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
a. When a child of God sins they need restoration, not regeneration. Daily sin will make us feel guilt, but not the guilt that leads to eternal punishment.
J. Free From The Law.
1. Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
2. 1 Cor. 15:56 "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law."
3. Romans 7:7-10 "What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death."
a. We are no longer under law, but under grace. Sins dominion was through the law. Humans Beings do not have the ability to keep the law manifested by their sin which brought them under the curse of the broken law.
4. Gal 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
a. Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law because He actually became the curse.
5. Romans 7:4-6 "So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
a. Faith in Jesus releases us from our obligation to a broken law and from any obligation to keep it.
K. Made Alive In Jesus.
1. Eph. 2:1-5 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved."
a. This says that a person who is not Born-Again Christian, is dead. A dead person can't do anything for themselves. Their one need is life. Only God can make them spiritually alive.
2. Eph 2:6 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
a. As God breathed into Adam, so God must breathe into the lifeless spirit and make it alive. Just as Jesus could never die again, so it is with us.
b. We are dead to the law and delivered from the law in our new position in Jesus.
c. Just as a woman is no longer under the law of the husband after his death, so a Christian is free from the law through his identification with Jesus' death and resurrections. We now are married to Him in resurrections life.
L. Sanctified. (Set apart).
1. 1 Cor. 1:2 "To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours."
a. We were positionally sanctified, set apart from the world for God the Father.
2. 1 Cor. 6:11 "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
a. These carnal (worldly) Christians at Corinth were never-the-less "set apart ones" whose position in Jesus made possible their sanctification.
3. John 17:17-19 "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."
4.1 Peter 1:16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
a. Sanctification should progressively be taking place. God wants us to be holy as He is holy. Our practice is not yet up to our position.
5. Eph. 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
6.1 John 3:2 "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
a. We need to be set apart daily from the influence of the sin nature, the system of the world, and satan.
b. The death of Jesus and His resurrection, His ministry of intercession in the presence of God the Father, and the application of the Word by the Holy Spirit can enable us to walk a holy, separate life.
M. Made Perfect.
1. Heb. 10:14 "because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
a. Made perfect means to bring to completion, to the end, or to maturity of adulthood.
b. Positionally God sees us as perfected persons. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever. His death happened back in time, but the results last forever. Positionally we can be no more perfect than we are right now, no matter what or circumstance or situation.
N. Qualified.
1. Col. 1:12 "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
a. We have been rendered fit or sufficient by God to participate in the inheritance given to all Christians. It is a completed work which produces an acceptable standing before God.
O. The Born-Again Christian Has No Condemnation.
1. Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
a. The guilt of sin, the penalty of sin, and the sins themselves have been erased!
2. John 3:18 "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
a. God could not condemn us any more than He could condemn His own son Jesus, because we are in Him. This is why a genuine Christian doesn't sense any moral guilt or the shadow of eternal wrath over him when an evangelistic message is being preached. We have peace with and before God by faith in Jesus. God has instituted by the Spirit a sense of "no condemnation" within us, His children.
3. John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
4. Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
a. There should be no fear within the Christian, but rather thanksgiving for what God has done for us, and a prayerful concern for the lost. A Christian of course can sin, and God will chastise us for that sin now. The sin of the world will be dealt with at the "Great White Throne" judgment. (Rev 20:11-12)
P. The Born-Again Christian Is Hidden In Christ.
1. Colossians 3:1-4 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things, for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory."
a. The Born-Again Christian has ascended into the heavenly places. As far as God is concerned, you are not even here. You are where Jesus is! Therefore, your identity is in Jesus and not in yourself.
