Lesson 13: Born of God

The new birth is by the Word - the message of the gospel - and the power of the Holy Spirit. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." These were our Lord's words to Nicodemus. The one thus regenerated has eternal life and can never perish. How do we know? Because He has told us so.

 Weigh carefully the precious words of John 5:24, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word, and believes on Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment; but has passed from death to life"; and link with this verse John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no one will snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

Observe that in the first of these passages there are five links, all of which go together: "Hears" - "Believes" - "Has" - "Shall not" - "Is passed." Study these terms carefully and note their true connection. They should never be dissociated. In the longer passage pay careful attention to what is said of Christ's sheep:

a - They hear His voice;
b - They follow Him;
c - They possess eternal life;
d - They shall never perish;
e - None can snatch them from the hands of the Father and the Son.

Could there be greater security than this and could any words give clearer assurance of the complete salvation of all who come to God through His Son? To doubt His testimony is to make God a liar. To believe His record is to have "much assurance."


Do you say, "I will try to believe"? Try to believe whom? Dare you speak in this way of the living God who will never call back His words? If an earthly friend told you a remarkable tale that seemed hard to credit, would you say, "I will try to believe you"? To do so would be to insult him to his face. And will you so treat the God of truth, whose gifts and promises are never revoked? Rather look up to Him, confessing all the unbelief of the past as sin, trust Him now, and thus know that you are one of the redeemed.

Some years ago a man expressed his desire to be saved upon the invitation of the evangelist. The worker tried to show the man that the way to be saved was by accepting Christ as his Savior and believing the promise of God. But the man kept saying:
"I can't believe; I can't believe!"
"Whom can't you believe?" replied the worker.
"Whom can't I believe?" said the man.
"Yes, whom can't you believe? Can't you believe God? He cannot lie."
"Why, yes," said the man, "I can believe God; but I had never thought of it in that way before. I thought you had to have some sort of feeling."
The man had been trying to work up a sense of faith, instead of relying upon the sure promise of God. For the first time he realized that he was to take God at His word, and as he did so, he experienced the power and assurance of salvation.

 Thought Question: 
Whom are we to believe?
Why?