THE MARKS OF THE NEW BIRTH
So is everyone that is born of the Spirit (John 3:8)
I propose to lay down the
marks of the new birth in the plainest manner, just as I find them laid down in
Scripture. The marks of the new birth are faith, hope, and love.
Faith is the foundational
mark of the new birth. By faith we do not mean mere assent to the proposition
‘Jesus is the Christ,’ but also a disposition of the heart. It is a rejection
of the flesh and an active trust in Christ. It yields power over sin, so that
whoever is born of God does not commit sin. It also yields peace which passes
understanding.
There is such a thing as
false hope, but true hope is a mark of having been born again. This is the
assurance of salvation. The Spirit bears witness that we are, indeed, children
of God. Present sufferings cannot destroy such hope.
The greatest of these marks
is love. Primarily, this is a love for God, but this produces a love for all
people (neighbors and supposed enemies). We are willing to die for them. This
love exists, first and foremost, in the heart. But if plays out in actions
towards God and people.
Each of us knows if we are
presently experiencing this faith, this hope, and this love. Is this your
present experience? If so, you bear the marks of new birth.
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