NEW BIRTH AND SALVATION ARE THE SAME

By disciplerami on August 7, 2014 • ( 0 )

John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:3,23 are good places to show the need and reality of the new birth.

“3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, 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? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BORN of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jn 3:3-5

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Pt 1:3

“22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been BORN AGAIN not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Pt 1:22,23

The new birth happens when God’s grace meets an obedient faith that is obedient to the truth with repentance and immersion into Christ. This new birth is is synonymous with being a new creature in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. The old is passed away and new things have come! Paul talked about this reality in Galatians 2:20. The old, sinful Paul is dead and buried and now Christ is alive in him. Paul talked to the Romans about being raised to walk in newness of life, Romans 6:3-5. This transformation happened when he and the Romans were buried with Christ in Baptism and were raised by the power of God to walk in newness of life. When the Christian’s sins are washed away, he was is newborn baby in Christ, 1 Peter 2:2. That’s the beginning and a baby in Christ needs to keep growing. But to be specific and to give glory to God, being born again and being saved are ways of describing the blessed reality that is the work of God’s grace. “We were saved by grace” is the everlasting song we will sing before His throne. God bless you.