The Birth of the Spirit
By Editor
REPLY. That the birth of the Spirit is our change from mortality to immortality, we think is plainly taught in the Scriptures. But, 1. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” How? By having been born of the Spirit? or in the sense that we shall be when born of the Spirit? No; but by the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom. viii, 15. But the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father, is not the adoption. Paul tells us what this is in verse 23. “Waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” 2. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” Instead of this being an objection to the position here taken, we consider it a strong text in its favor. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” We will “read on.” “For his seed remaineth in him, and he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God.” Now unless we take the position that it is impossible for a person to sin, after conversion, we cannot apply the birth of the Spirit to that event. 3. “Every one that loveth is born (gegennetai, is begotten, see criticism on this word in REVIEW, No. 25, Vol. VII) of God.” 4. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born (gegennetai, begotten) of God.” 5. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” How? by an actual birth into his kingdom? No; but by FAITH in Jesus Christ.” Gal. iii, 26. There is then a sense in which we are called the children of God even here in our present state; but such scriptures as Rom. viii, 15; Gal. iii, 26, &c., fully explain what that sense is. That the new birth is not conversion, appears very evident from the fact that a person after conversion, does not fulfill the characteristics of one who has been born of the Spirit. He is not as the wind, unseen in his movements; [John iii, 8:] nor is it impossible for him to sin: [1 John iii, 9; v, 18:] he has only received that Spirit into his heart which will, if he cherishes it, quicken his mortal body at the last day.” Rom. viii, 11. We do not deem it necessary to prolong our remarks, as this portion of the subject, the birth of the Spirit, is more fully discussed in REVIEW, No. 25, Vol. VII, above referred to, in the conclusion of the article, “Ye must be born again.”