The New Birth by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 16, 1906

The New Birth

By John Norton Loughborough

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“Is the new birth at conversion, or at the resurrection?” is a question that has been propounded to me.

It may seem strange, in view of the interesting Sabbath-school lessons of last quarter on this subject, that such a query should be raised. Still there have been, and still there are, people who teach that the new birth is not at conversion, but at the resurrection of the just.

In the year 1851, while I was with the First-day Adventists, some of the ministers were teaching this very doctrine. Their principal proof-text, and really their starting-point, for that peculiar doctrine, is found in Isa. 66:8, which reads: “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” As the Lord’s coming is mentioned in verses 5 and 15 they claimed that this birth of a nation in a day related to the resurrection of the righteous.

Even admitting that construction of the text, and that in that case the resurrection was compared to a birth from the earth, it does not follow that the new birth spoken of by our Saviour and his apostles was simply and only the final resurrection of the righteous from their graves.

Those advocating this doctrine claimed that the work of conversion was only the begetting of the believer, and as the assurance of the final reception of the reward depended on the faithful life of the consecrated one, so the final reckoning day must decide whether he should be truly born, or whether in his case it was only an abortion. With that idea in mind they construed the words of Christ to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God,” as if he had said, “Except you have part in the first resurrection, you can not see the kingdom of God.”

To maintain the idea that conversion was only a begetting, and not the new birth, they so construed the following texts: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” James 1:18. “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” 1 Cor. 4:15. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3. “Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1.

There is no question that these texts refer to the conviction of the sinner, and the implantation in the heart, by the Holy Spirit, of the “word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1:23. But that work is spoken of also as a birth: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

If the new birth spoken of by Christ to Nicodemus simply referred to the resurrection, it would seem strange that he, being a Pharisee, whose prominent characteristic was faith in the resurrection, should wonder “how” these things could be. The very answer of Nicodemus to Christ shows that he understood Christ to refer to a new life that was to be entered upon here in this world, else why should he make reference to the natural birth?

Let us consider a few of the texts that mention the new birth as applicable to the present state: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” 1 John 5:1. Paul speaks thus of himself: “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” 1 Cor. 15:8. Speaking further of his conversion, he says, “When it pleased God, . . . to reveal his Son in me.” Gal. 1:15, 16. Of Christ’s dwelling in the heart by faith, he speaks on this wise: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Cor. 5:17. The margin of the Revised Version has for “new creature,” “a new creation.” The apostle said of the Galatians, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” Gal. 4:19. In the same chapter, speaking of Ishmael and Isaac, he says, “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” Verse 29.

The apostle Peter, speaking of those newly come to the faith, says, “As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2. The apostle John writes: “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. In this same epistle he says, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” 1 John 5:18. Surely there will be no keeping from sin and from the wicked one in the resurrection state, when Satan and sin will be forever destroyed.

The same apostle declares, “If ye know that he [Christ] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” 1 John 2:29. Again, “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.

It is in this world that the overcoming is accomplished. It is here that the good fight of faith is to be fought, and not after the resurrection. It is here that the Lord accomplishes for those who yield themselves to him that which he promised through the prophet Ezekiel: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze. 36:26, 27. Those who are thus filled with the Spirit of life divine from heaven, are born by the Spirit from above, and are spoken of as “born again.”

*Mountain View, Cal.