The new birth, or regeneration, is an important doctrine for those who consider themselves to be “born-again Christians.” I would like to point you to two resources of late that have focused on this particular subject.
1. The Free Grace Broadcaster, a quarterly publication of Mt. Zion Chapel Library (Pensacola, FL), has their current issue (Winter 2007) focusing on the new birth. Here are the table of contents:
a. “The New Birth Defined” by William Plumer
b. “The Spirit That Breathes Life” by Octavius Winslow
c. “The Necessity of the New Birth” by Arthur W. Pink
d. “Biblical Terms of the New Birth” by John Gill
e. “New Birth, Repentance, and Faith” by James Buchanan
f. “New Birth, New Creature” by Octavius Winslow
g. “The Marks of the New Birth” by J.C. Ryle
h. “The Eternal and Efficient Cause of the New Birth” by John Gill
i. “The New Birth and the Preacher’s Obligation” by John Owen
j. “The Necessity of the Spirit’s Work” by C.H. Spurgeon
2. John Piper has recently started a series on the new birth entitled, “You Must Be Born Again.” Piper explains, “We will begin with “What Is Regeneration?” The other messages will deal with: Why is it necessary? How does it happen? What are the evidences that it has happened?” To date, Piper has preached three messages:
a. “You Must Be Born Again”
b. “What Happens in the New Birth?” Part 1
c. “What Happens in the New Birth?” Part 2
Stay tuned to Desiring God’s blog for updates on future messages in this series.
It is an interesting juxtaposition to have this series on the heals of the Bridges Conference. How many time did we hear that God has given sufficient grace if man will just avail himself of it? Be it baptism or confession, or what ever mechanistic means the non-Calvinist wants to bring forth, they all result is whited sepulchers filled with dead men’s bones. Hebrews tells us that these sacrifices could never take away sin. Even the washings of the High Priest were not effectual, or they would have ceased to be offered; he would have been perpetually cleansed. The robes, the ephod and head covering, were nothing more than grave clothes and all the sacrifices leading up to his entering in, wails of mourning for the dead. In all that we have been shown, it is still our tendency to strive and not rest. The call to repentance is a call to rest, and it still remains for the people of God. If Aaron would not have come out, then there would have been hope in the mechanisms. But God said that he gave laws that were not good for us. Instead he prepared something much more glorious, Himself. And, he entering in rested, for he alone is Lord Sabaoth. It is finished, there is nothing left for us to do, but to rest, to trust in him. For those who believe that there is still at least something for them to do, they fail at the knowledge of faith. Therefore grieve for our confused brothers in the SBC, who have not yet laid down their life for his.
I was reading this message regarding false professors by Spurgeon and in the middle of his sermon the words below. I guess this says a lot about the Bridges Conf. I was there and came away knowing that I was not a Southern Baptist. We also cannot join untruth with truth.
False Professors Solemnly Warned
August 24, 1856
by
C. H. SPURGEON
And let me say a word to those of you who, like myself, are strong Calvinists. No class of persons are more maligned than we. It is commonly said that our doctrine is licentious; we are called Antinomians; we are cried down as hypers; we are reckoned the scum of creation; scarcely a minister looks on us or speaks favourably of us, because we hold strong views upon the divine sovereignty of God, and his divine electings and special love towards his own people.
Larry,
You said you came away from the Building Bridges Conference knowing that you were not a Southern Baptist?
I am curious… would your reasoning be because Southern Baptist are not Calvinistic enough? Southern Baptist are to Calvinistic? Southern Baptist are a mixed bag of one, two, three, four, and five pointers? Or was it something altogether different that made you come away with this realization that you are not a Southern Baptist?
No attempt at building an argument here… I just really would like to know what influenced your decision.
Grace Always,
I started attending a SBChurch approx. 2 years. Years earlier the Holy Spirit lead me to the Doctrines of Grace through Romans 3:11 and others. Taught it at home Bible study and was immediately hammered even after 15+ years of teaching the same group. I had no knowledge of Calvinism. I taught it at Sunday school same results. As I sat through the Bridges Conf. I quickly remembered how God help me discover the truth. For various reason I had decided not to attend the Church I was going to, to find another Church, one that had a pastor and believed in Calvinism. I would quiz pastors some would say they believed but when preaching not a word as was the case from the Church I left. I never was sure what that Church believed.
My Pastor found me at the placed I worked (heard about me, always spoke of Election) I started going to his Church. We went to NC and I told him I was skeptical, I liked SBC but after listening and reading the blogs that followed, I decided I would not support the SBC. I was looking for a Scriptural discussion Calvinists some not much from others. Jeff Noblit gave us a wonderful sermon and we would do well to listen.
I guess you could say I disappointed with the “non-Calvinists for their lack of use of Scripture and maybe the Calvinists for continuing to bridge with non Calvinists who have untruth as part of their beliefs.
I am a lay person wanting to teach the “TRUTH” – so many of the folks in the pews, if they happen to come across Bridges messages and listen, will say well if the guys with their decks in the clouds can’t I agree what chance to I have. I have heard this a lot, I have been diligent in what I teach to remind the folks of their inabilities to believe and how they became a Christian to help them grow. I have said enough I pray for the folks in the pews. God’s Grace
Larry,
Thanks for the honesty brother… I know there are many “Reformed” Southern Baptist who often feel exactly as you feel.
I guess for me what keeps me hanging on to the SBC by my fingernails is that I have been around long enough to remember when there was “No” reformed movement in the SBC. And now I see such a gathering as took place in NC, and I hear the report from lifeway clearly giving evidence that the reformed movement in the SBC is growing… and while I know we have a long way to go, and we will not get there anytime soon, I am encouraged by the progress.
One thing to remember in this is that “Reformation is a work of God’s Sovereign Spirit”. And it happens in a denomination the same way it happened for you and me… one soul at a time coming under the conviction of the truth by the Spirits opening our understanding of the Scriptures.
Thanks for sharing Brother Larry… and regardless of where the Spirit leads you, please pray that our Sovereign God would continue His mighty work of Reformation in the SBC…
Grace Always,
Greg – you can count on my prayers. I can’t seem to see how it is possible to link truth with untruth.
Thanks & Blessing