As was mentioned in the previous article entitled Our Introduction to the Holy Spirit, following the experience of being convicted of sin such that we recognize that we need Jesus, the sinner is born again. This occurs when a conscious effort is made towards a profession of faith in the redemptive work of Christ. When a person receives Jesus by faith, he becomes a new creation spiritually (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is made possible by the Holy Spirit.
Born of the Spirit
Jesus explained the New Birth to Nicodemus in John 3:
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4″How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
In this passage, Jesus contrasts two very different kinds of birth, both of which are necessary for entrance into the kingdom of God – the natural birth and the spiritual birth. Spiritual birth is necessary because of the spiritual death that passed on all the sons of Adam (Romans 5:12, Romans 5:15, 1 Corinthians 15:22). The experience of being born again signifies the death of the spiritually dead man and the creation of a new man with a new spiritual nature, having the capacity to express the nature of God and overcome the world (Romans 6:4, Romans 6:6, Colossians 2:12, Ephesians 4:24, 1 John 5:4, 5).
Sonship
Anyone who has been born of the Spirit has become a son or daughter of God. Contrary to what some people often say, the whole of humanity is not included in the family of God; only those who have entered into the kingdom of God through the only way (Jesus) are recognized by God as his children. Being born again not only involves the process of adoption by God the Father, but naturally puts believers into a sibling relationship with Jesus.
11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises” (Hebrews 2:11, 12).
Because we have the same Father and are part of the same family, we receive the same degree of love from the Father as does Jesus. To put it another way, God does not love Jesus any more than he loves his other children.
22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24″Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world (John 17:22-24).
Spiritual Growth of the Newborn
Much the same way newborn babies have to grow and develop, those born of the Spirit must do the same. Growing spiritually involves the development of spiritual fruit. Jesus spoke of this in John 15.
4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
The food necessary to facilitate spiritual growth is the word of God. Jesus, who is the Word incarnate, said that it was impossible to bear spiritual fruit apart from him. 1 Peter 2:2 is in complete agreement with this concept.
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
The passage most generally referred to with respect to spiritual fruit resulting from growth is found in Galatians 5.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Most Bible translations, including the New International Version which is quoted above, capitalize the word spirit. In one sense it is accurate to say that spiritual fruit is of the Holy Spirit because it occurs subsequent to one being born of the Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is not the one bearing fruit – the believer is (John 15:4, 5). Therefore, it is more accurate to say that the fruit mentioned is the fruit of the human spirit having been recreated by the Holy Spirit.
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