Conversion,

         

          

                        Or The New Birth

 

How did Jesus emphasize the necessity of conversion?

 

     “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 

Matthew 18:3

 

In what other statement did He teach the same truth?

 

      “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.” 

John 3:3

 

How did He further explain the new birth?

 

      “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.”

John 3:5

 

With what comparison did He illustrate the subject?

 

      “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 3:8 

 

What takes place when one is converted to Christ?

 

      “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 

2 Corinthians 5:17

 

Ref.- Acts 9,  22,  26.

 

Through what was the original creation wrought?

 

      “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” 

Psalms 33:6

 

Through what instrumentality is conversion wrought?

 

      “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 

1 Peter 1:23

 

What change is wrought in the conversion or new birth?

 

      “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened {[made alive]}us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” 

Ephesians 2:5

 

What is one evidence of this change from death to life?

 

     “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 

1 John 3:14

 

From what is a converted sinner saved?

 

     “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” 

James 5:20

 

Ref.  Acts 26:14-18

 

To whom are sinners brought by conversion?

 

      Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

      Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 

       Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

       Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psalms 51:10-13

 

In what words to Peter did Jesus indicate the kind of service a converted person should render to his brethren?

 

      “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

       But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” 

Luke 22:31,32

 

What gracious promise does God make to His people?

 

     “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” 

Hosea 14:4

 

By what means is this healing accomplished?

     “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” 

Isaiah 53:5

 

What are the evidences that one has been born of God?

 

 

     “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” 

1 John 2:29

 

     “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 

1 John 4:7

 

What indwelling power keeps such from sinning?

 

      “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 

1 John 3:9

 

Ref.  1 John 5:4,  Genesis39:9

 

What will be the experience of those born of the Spirit?

 

      “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” 

Romans 8:1

 

What is true of everyone who believes in Jesus?

 

      “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 

1 John 5:1

 

What change is wrought by beholding Jesus?

 

      “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 

2 Corinthians 3:18

 

Comment- We were slaves to sin.  Jesus came down and suffered with us, and for us, and delivered us. As we behold Him in His Word, and in prayer and meditation,, and serve Him in the person of others, we may be changed more and more into the glory of His likeness, then, if faithful, we shall someday see Him “face to face.”