Saturday, August 19, 2006

Ye Must Be Born Again


YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Words: William T. Sleeper, 1877

*cyberhymnal

A ruler once came to Jesus by night
To ask Him the way of salvation and light;
The Master made answer in words true and plain,
“Ye must be born again.”

Refrain

“Ye must be born again,
Ye must be born again,
I verily, verily, say unto thee,
Ye must be born again.”

Ye children of men, attend to the Word,
So solemnly uttered by Jesus the Lord;
And let not this message to you be in vain,
“Ye must be born again.”

Refrain

O ye who would enter that glorious rest,
And sing with the ransomed the song of the blest,
The life everlasting if ye would obtain,
“Ye must be born again.”

Refrain

A dear one in Heaven thy heart yearns to see,
At the beautiful gate may be watching for thee,
Then list to the note of this solemn refrain,
“Ye must be born again.”


There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:1-8

THE TWO BIRTHS:

A true child of God has two births; one of the flesh, the other of the Spirit, giving man a flesh nature and a Spirit nature. The flesh nature is neither good nor righteous. This results in warfare between the Spirit andthe flesh, which continues until physical death, or the return of the Lord.

The flesh nature of the man does not change in any way with the new birth, but can be controlled and kept under submission by the new man through prayerful submission to God. John 3:3-7; Romans 7:15-25; Romans 8:8; Gal. 5:17; I John 3:9; I Peter 1:23; IJohn 5:18, I John 1:8

It is by the calling of the Holy Spirit, and our response to this call, that we are born again into the Kingdom of God. It is He [the Holy Spirit] alone who calls us, who convicts of sin which leads to true sorrowful repentance, and who 'keeps us unto that day'.

Man is saved by undeserved mercy through faith and nothing of man enters into his salvation; it is a free gift.

Man's efforts, regardless of how good or well intended, before or after salvation, have nothing to do with it.

Salvation is by the finished work of Christ and nothing can be added to it.

Anything added to the 'Good News' message of salvation by grace through faith alone, is an accursed message and becomes 'another Gospel'


AN ACCURSED MESSAGE

1. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:7.

2. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ, and therefore the teller of this message is telling a lie. Proverbs 30:4-6.

3. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and is a subtle way of calling God a liar. l John 5:10.

4. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ by adding man's righteousness as a condition of salvation. Isaiah 64:6.

5. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and is in reality the preaching of a false Gospel which will not save anyone. ICorinthians 1:17.

6. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and is a message that causes the lost to be blinded to the truth. II Corinthians 4:4.

7. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and causes saved persons to become confused. Galatians 2:13; I Corinthians 1:10; I Corinthians 15:11.

8. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and keeps the true Christian from a clear witness. Galatians 2:16.

9. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and brings persecution to the preacher of the true message. Galatians 5:11.

10. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and is in reality the preaching of a religion that will not save anyone. lCorinthians 1:17.

Most Christians are not aware of how serious it is to add to what Jesus Christ said was finished.

-It is the difference between whether or not a person is truly saved.

-It is the difference between heaven and hell.

"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9

Acts 15:11 says, "But we believe that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved."

Eternal life is not received by, attained by, or kept by a person's works.

We are saved by grace through faith alone.

Grace by definition excludes all works.

"And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6

One work added to grace would render it no more grace. If you were to add one drop of poison to a glass of pure water, it would render it no more a glass of pure water: but a glass of poisoned water. The gospel of the grace becomes poisoned when just one human work is added to the plan ofsalvation.

THE GRACE TEST

What is the grace test? This is an easy way of testing whether or not you have the true message of the gospel as it is given in the Bible.

You simply ask, "Did Jesus pay for all my sins on the cross?" or; "Do I have to do something more then believe by faith to gain my salvation?"

If you belive you have to do anything at all to be saved, then you have not heard the true Gospel message, and have failed the grace test.

You will stand before God on the basis of your works (Your righteousness] which are as filthy rags in the sight of God. Isaiah 64:6

You don't want to do that my friend.

Remember, don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you anything less or more then the truth; which is Salvation is the gift of God. Romans 6:23

2 comments:

  1. 7. An accursed message is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and causes saved persons to become confused. Galatians 2:13; I Corinthians 1:10; I Corinthians 15:11.


    an answer to a question tonight.

    Thanking Jesus. sunshine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your quotation of William Sleeper's gospel song, "Ye Must Be Born Again." (Today is the 105th anniversary of the author's death.) Thanks too for your staunch defense of grace. It is a message much needed. God bless.

    ReplyDelete