Question 8
Q. 8: But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?
Answer: Yes, unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.
Guest Writer: Holden Barlow
Last week’s question covered the depths of wickedness in the world and the depths of wickedness in our own hearts. We could not love God on our own. In fact, we hated God through loving ourselves and other things in this world more. To have a relationship with God, it requires love from a pure heart, which we do not possess. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all of your mind.” (Matt 22:37) But our wicked hearts would rather “be god” than to love God. In fact, we are incapable, with our sinful dead hearts, to love God the way we should. But God, being rich in mercy, provided us with a new heart. (Hebrews 8:10)
What does it mean to be born again?
Jesus uses the phrase “born again” to explain what we call the doctrine of regeneration. Regeneration is the mighty work of God by which unbelievers are given a new nature, in which we turn from sin and love God and desire to please and glorify God. We play no part in the work of regeneration. The Holy Spirit turns our hearts to love and obey Him. We love because He loved us first. (1 John 4:19)
John 3:3-5: Jesus answered 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? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Where can I find this new heart that enables me to obey God?
Look no further than the gospel. God alone can restore us and turn our hearts. We were helpless without the love of God and failing to obey His commands. Since Adam, we have fallen short of God’s commands. We needed a new Adam, in Jesus Christ. Jesus obeyed the will of God, even to the point of death on a cross. (Phil. 2:8) Jesus took on the wrath of God that we deserved. Even though his heart was obedient to every word of God, God did not treat him as such. Three days later, after Jesus was dead and buried, he rose again, proving that death had no power over Him and the punishment was paid. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in followers of Christ today (Romans 8:11). In the death and resurrection of Jesus, we receive a new heart to obey the will of God when we come to Him by faith.
Have I been Born Again?
If we are born again, we ought to see a separation from our old lives to how we now live under the grace Jesus has given us. This new spiritual life we have been gifted will give us a desire to obey God and His law.
If I have a new heart, why do I still disobey God at times?
We hear the words “new” and tend to get excited for "better”, but God loved you before you were "better.”.
Romans 5:6-8: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus died for your sins, knowing you would sin again. Paul later says in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” We will still have a struggle with sin in our lives, but never feel defeated from the fight of sin because Christ has given us the gift of His grace to restore us, forgive us, and help us press on to grow in the Christian life.
Once we have been born again, we cannot continue to sin as a habit or a pattern of life because the power of new spiritual life within us keeps us from yielding to a life of sin. We will not be sinless in this life, but we will begin to sin less (1 John 3:9)
We ought to be so in love with the grace of God that we would not want to take advantage of it. (Romans 6)
For Further Reflection:
In what areas of your life has the grace of God changed you?
Are you striving daily to make Christ Jesus your own?
How have you seen the Gospel turn your heart to obey God’s Word?
Do you feel defeated over sin in your life, or do you feel forgiven and restored?
