7008 - Born of God - John 1:12-13

Our study in the gospel of John brings us to verses 12 and 13 of chapter 1. Listen to the message they carry about being “born of God”.

“Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

These verses lay out for us two very different realms of birth. Let’s consider first that realm conveyed by the word natural descent. Children born by the affection of husband and wife, contribute to the realm of natural, physical, procreation. This is the way God designed a family to grow. Many times physical birth is produced by careful and thoughtful planning.

Many babies are unintentional, unplanned-for happenings, but nevertheless, their arrival increases the population.

These kind of events are each and every one natural procreation – a new person with an eternal soul has appeared on earth. This is called “being born.” Every person who enters the earthly society experiences birth. There is no other way to have life on earth.

But the Scripture clearly declares that there is another kind of birth – in verse 13 it is called being “born of God.”

Because of the sin problem on earth every person who experiences natural birth, has a great and urgent need to be born of God. The eternal destination of each soul is determined by their response to God’s offer to the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is the central subject of the New Testament.

In John 3 (vv3-8) a religious leader named Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus. Jesus told him that unless a man is born again [or born of God] then he would not even be able to get a glimpse into the Kingdom of God.

Such words sounded strange to Nicodemus so he asked Jesus: “How can a man be born when he is old? … Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

You see, Nicodemus was as confused as many people are today when they hear the gospel message. Scripture tells us (1Cor 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.”

Without the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the life of an unbeliever, to explain the deep truths of God, and to bring understanding about such things, then this person will not be able to respond to God. They will not be able to be born of God.

Let’s go back to the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. After Nicodemus’ question Jesus sought to explain with these words: “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (vv5-6).

Thus, Jesus explained to Nicodemus the difference between natural birth and spiritual birth.

Natural birth is accompanied by many body fluids. This seems to be the explanation of birth of a new-born by the mother.

Then Jesus introduces a new idea to Nicodemus – a sinner must be born by the Spirit. This is the picture of being born of God. It is a spiritual birth.

Both of these births must be experienced by a person in order to be cleansed from the blemish and impurity of sin, as well as to be reconciled to holy God.

This reconciliation and cleansing miracle was the very mission of Jesus Christ on earth. By His death He gave His sinless blood to wash away the contamination of sin. The sacrifice of His life was the offering which reconciles every person to God who accepts, by faith, the gift of eternal life offered by God.

Every person who believes these truths, and invites Jesus to be Lord of his life is “Born of God.”