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Chapter 350 [Home] [Accept Jesus] [More] [Previous] [Next] 350.000.000 Torrey: p324 THE NEW BIRTH350.010.000
Torrey: p324, T:I 350.010.010
Torrey: p324, T:I, P:1 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Galatians 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 350.010.020
Torrey: p324, T:I, P:2 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 [1] As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [4] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. NOTE 1. -- It is evident that Baptism is not the New Birth. The language used above does not fit baptism. One of the passages give, Galatians 6:15, expressly contrasts the New Birth with an outward ceremonial. The same thing is evident from the following: 1 Corinthians 4:15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Here Paul tells the saints in Corinth that he had begotten them again. If Baptism were the New Birth this must mean Paul had baptized them. But Paul says he had not baptized them: 1 Corinthians 1:14, 17 [14] I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, [17] For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel -- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Clearly, the New Birth is not Baptism. This is also clear from the following passage, in which we are told that Simon was "baptized," but that his heart still was not right before God and he still was "full of bitterness and captive to sin." (Note that this Simon was a magician performing in Samaria, not Simon Peter.) Acts 8:13-16, 18-21, 23 [13] Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. [14] When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. [15] When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, [16] because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. [18] When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money [19] and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." [20] Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! [21] You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. [23] For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Compare the following two passages: Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." John 3:3, 5 [3] In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." [5] Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." QUESTION: If Baptism is not the New Birth, to what does the word water in John 3:5 refer? ANSWER: Let us look elsewhere and see what are the agents and instruments by which the work of regeneration is carried out: 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. James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 1 Corinthians 4:15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, In these passages we see that regeneration is wrought by the word of God and Spirit of God. We are born again by the word of God and the Spirit of God. Now in John 3:5 we have the Spirit. John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Can the "water" be taken to mean "the word" without forcing the language? Compare Ephesians 5:25-26 [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, It has been said that the Greek word translated "word" here in Ephesians, is a different word from the word translated "word" when the Word of God is spoken of. But see the following: 1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. Here, the same Greek word that is translated "word" in Ephesians 5:26 is used twice of "the Word of God," and that, too, in direct connection with regeneration by the Word. See also: John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. But some may ask why did Jesus not plainly say, without a figure, "Except a man be born of the word and the Spirit"? The answer to this is very simple. The whole passage is highly figurative. The word translated "the Spirit: is itself figurative: means literally "wind" and is without the definite article ("the"). Literally translated the passage would read, "Except any one be begotten out of water and wind." In this the wind symbolizes the vivifying element, the Holy Spirit. (Compare Ezekiel 37:9- 10.) Naturally, therefore, "the water" symbolizes the cleansing element, the "word." (Compare John 15:3.) The passage thus reduced to unfigurative language would read, "Except any man be born of the word of God and the Spirit of God." Thus we would have Jesus teaching the doctrine afterwards taught by Paul and James and Peter. (1 Corinthians 4:15, Titus 3:5, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23) Another interpretation is suggested. This takes both water and wind as symbols of the Spirit, the one setting forth His cleansing work, the other His quickening work. It matters very little, so far as Bible doctrine is concerned, which interpretation we accept: for whether or not the doctrine that men are begotten again by the Word is found here, It certainly is found elsewhere. (1 Corinthians 4:15, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23) And, if the cleansing work of the Spirit is not found here, it is found elsewhere. Indeed, whatever work you find attributed to the Holy Spirit in the Bible, you will also find attributed to the Word. This is due to the fact that the Spirit works through the Word. The Word is the Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17) If it is still insisted that the water here refers to Baptism, it is still evident that mere water Baptism is not regeneration, for the passage says, "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit." In any case, it is clear that Baptism is not the New Birth. Note w. -- It is also evident that the New Birth is not a mere outward change of conduct. The language used above does not fit this. 350.010.030
Torrey: p324, T:I, P:3 Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. The word for mind here includes thoughts, feelings and purposes. 350.010.040
Torrey: p324, T:I, P:4 2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. The natural or unregenerate man is intellectually blind to the truth, "the things of the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:14), corrupt in his affections (Galatians 5:19- 21), perverse in his will (Romans 8:7). This is the condition of every unregenerate man, no matter how cultured, refined or outwardly moral he may be. (See the Chapter on the Present Standing before God and the Condition of Men outside of the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ.) In the New Birth God imparts to us His own wise and holy nature, a nature that thinks as God thinks (Colossians 3:10), feels as God feels, wills as God wills. (1 John 3:14; 4:7-8) "Our things are passed away, behold they are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) Compare Ezekiel 36:26-27 The New Birth is a most desirable and glorious experience. Just to think that the All Holy God comes to men who are sunken in sin, dead through trespasses and sins, the vilest of sinners, blind, corrupt, perverse, and imparts to them His own, holy and glorious nature. The doctrine of the New Birth is one of the most precious and inspiring in the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. Galatians 5:19-21 [19] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Romans 8:7 [6] The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; [7] the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Colossians 3:9-10 [9] Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 4:7-8 [7] Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Ezekiel 36:26-27 [26] I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 350.020.000
Torrey: p328, T:II 350.020.010
Torrey: p328, T:II, P:1 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 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; When anyone submits himself to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit takes up His abode in Him. 350.020.020
Torrey: p328, T:II, P:2 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. NOTE: -- While the regenerated man is not in the flesh, he still has the flesh. Galatians 5:16-17 [16] So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. [17] For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. The new nature received in regeneration does not expel, destroy nor eradicate the old nature. The two exist side by side. The old nature is present, but its deeds are to be put to death through the Spirit. Romans 8:12-13 [12] Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. [13] For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, The flesh is present but we are not under its dominion. It is said by some that Galatians 5:17 represents a lower experience, but in Romans 8 we get a higher experience when the carnal nature is eradicated. But in Romans 8:12- 13 we see the flesh still present but triumphed over. 350.020.030
Torrey: p328, T:II, P:3 Romans 8:1-2 [1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. What the law of sin and death is we see in the following: Romans 7:14-24 [14] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. [15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. [21] So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God's law; [23] but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? After regeneration the law still works, but the higher "law of the Spirit of Life" comes in and sets us free from its power. Whereas in man merely awakened by law, the "law of sin and death" gets a perpetual victory, in the regenerate man the law of "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" gets the perpetual victory. 350.020.040
Torrey: p329, T:II, P:4 Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. NOTE: -- The regenerated man, however, does not at once manifest perfectly that of which he has the germ in himself. He begins as a babe and must grow: 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, Ephesians 4:11-15 [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. [14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. The new life must be fed and developed. 350.020.050
Torrey: p329, T:II, P:5 Colossians 3:9-10 [9] Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. This result of the new birth is a progressive process. The mind of the believer is brought day by day into conformity with that of God. 350.020.060
Torrey: p330, T:II, P:6 Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 350.020.070
Torrey: p330, T:II, P:7 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. Of course the faith that John here speaks of is a faith that is real -- i.e., a faith that enthrones Jesus as Christ in the heart. Compare these two passages: Matthew 16:16-17 [16] Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." [17] Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. John 1:12-13 [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 350.020.080
Torrey: p330, T:II, P:8 1 John 5:3-4 [3] This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, [4] for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. The world is at variance with God, it lies in the evil one, and it is constantly exercising a power to draw the believer into disobedience to God, but the one born of God by the power of faith gets the victory over the world. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 350.020.090
Torrey: p330, T:II, P:9 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. NOTE 1 -- What is meant here by sin? Sin here is manifestly something done. What kind of a something done is defined in verse 4, "transgression of the law" or "lawlessness," i.e., such acts as reveal disregard for the will of God as revealed in His word. Sin then is here, a conscious intentional violation of the law of God. The regenerate man will not be doing that which he knows to be contrary to the will of God. He may do that which is contrary to God's will, but which he does not know to be contrary to God's will. It is not therefore lawlessness. Perhaps he ought to have known that it was contrary to God's will, and when he is led to see it he will confess his guilt to God. Taking sin in a broader sense than John here takes it, it is sin. NOTE 2 -- The tense of the verb here used is the present, which denotes progressive or continued action. The literal translation of the passage would be "Every one begotten out of God, sin is not doing, because his seed in him is remaining; and he cannot be sinning, because out of God he is begotten." It is not taught that he never sins in a single act, but it is taught that he is not going on sinning, making a practice of sin. What his practice is will appear under the next heading. The one begotten of God cannot be sinning, because he is begotten of God. The new nature imparted in regeneration renders the continuous practice of sin impossible. 350.020.100
Torrey: p331, T:II, P:10 1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. Here again we have a continuous action. The thought is not that he does righteousness in a single case, but that he makes a practice of it. By righteousness is meant the performance of such acts as are conformed to the straight line of God's will revealed in His word. Righteousness is the habitual practice of the one who is begotten of God. He may do individual acts which are unrighteous, but he is a doer of righteousness; "righteousness" is his practice. NOTE -- The force of the present tense as indicating continuous action is very evident in this verse. If we took it as referring to a single act the verse would teach that everyone who does a single righteous act is begotten of God. Of course this is not meant. It does not refer to a single act of righteousness, and evidently the contrasted passage (Chapter 3:9) cannot refer to a single act of lawlessness. 350.020.110
Torrey: p332, T:II, P:11 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. QUESTION: Who are meant by the brethren? ANSWER: 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. Those who are begotten of God. The one who is begotten of God loves every other one who is begotten of God. The other may be of any nationality, race, or heritage; he may be educated or uneducated, but he is a child of God and a brother, and as such an object of love. QUESTION: What is meant by love? ANSWER: The following verses define what John means by love. It is not mere emotion or sentiment, but that genuine desire for another's good that leads to sacrifice for him -- even the sacrifice of our own life if necessary. This love is the supreme result, evidence and test of the New Birth. 350.020.120
Torrey: p332, T:II, P:12 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! In the place of the old ideas, old affections, old purposes, old choices, are new ideas, new affections, new purposes, new choices. 350.020.130
Torrey: p332, T:II, P:13 Titus 3:4-7 [4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. GENERAL NOTE. -- These results of regeneration are also its evidence and tests, especially verses 7-11. If anyone would know whether he has indeed been begotten again let him inquire, "Are the facts stated under verses 7-11 true of me?" 350.030.000
Torrey: p333, T:III 350.030.010
Torrey: p333, T:III, P:1 John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 350.030.020
Torrey: p333, T:III, P:2 John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' Nothing else will take the place of the New Birth. Education, morality, religion, orthodoxy, baptism, reform -- none of these nor all of them together are sufficient. Galatians 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 350.030.030
Torrey: p333, T:III, P:3 John 3:5-6 [5] Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. What the character of the flesh is we learn from Paul: Galatians 5:19-21 [19] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Romans 8:7-8 [7] the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. [8] Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. "The flesh" is radically and essentially bad. They that are in the flesh "cannot please God," nor "inherit the kingdom of God." The flesh is incapable of improvement. Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil. What man needs is not to cultivate nor to improve the old nature, but to get a new one. Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 350.040.000
Torrey: p334, T:IV 350.040.010
Torrey: p334, T:IV, P:1 John 1:12-13 [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 350.040.020
Torrey: p334, T:IV, P:2 Titus 3:4-5 [4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, John 3:5-6: [5] Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." 350.040.030
Torrey: p334, T:IV, P:3 James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Compare: Colossians 1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 1 Peter 1:23, 25 [23] For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. [24] For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, [25] but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. 350.040.040
Torrey: p334, T:IV, P:4 1 Corinthians 4:15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 350.040.050
Torrey: p335, T:IV, P:5 Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, John 1:12-13 [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. This same thought is illustrated by Jesus in John 3:14-15 by a reference to the brazen serpent. John 3:14-15 [14] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. These words are an answer to the question of Nicodemus "How can these things be?" (verse 9) As the dying Israelite, with the poison of the fiery serpents coursing through his veins, was saved by looking at the brazen serpent on the pole, and had new life coursing through his veins as soon as he looked, so we dying men, with the poison of sin coursing through our veins, are saved by looking at Christ "made in the likeness of sinful flesh," lifted up on the cross, and have new life coursing through our veins as soon as we look. All we have to do with our regeneration is to receive Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! In the New Birth the Word of God is the seed; the human heart is the soil; the preacher of the Word is the sower, and drops the seed into the soil; God by His Spirit opens the heart to receive the seed (Acts 16:14); the hearer believes; the Spirit quickens the seed into life in the receptive heart; the new Divine Nature springs up out of the Divine Word; the believer is born again, created anew, made alive, passed out of death into life. Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.
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