When Is A Sinner Born Again? Galatians 1:15-16

I have no interest in answering the foolish questions of men about the chronological sequence of events in a man’s salvation. I will leave that to theologians who have nothing better to do than dissect the scriptures. But I do want to tell you when a person may with confidence say, “I am born again by the grace of God.”

The Apostle Paul tells us that he was saved, born again “when it pleased God”. Salvation comes to chosen sinners at “the time of love” appointed by God in sovereign predestination before the world began.

The new birth is wrought in chosen, redeemed sinners by the irresistible power and grace of God the Holy Spirit, who have been “separated” by him from their mothers’ wombs. Those who are the objects of God’s grace are under the special care and protection of the angels of God (Heb. 2:14) and the providence of God (Hos. 2:6-23; Rom. 8:28) until the appointed time of their calling. It is in that sense that God’s elect are secretly separated from their mothers’ wombs.

The new birth is wrought in those sinners separated from their mothers’ wombs by God, when the Lord God, by the power of his Spirit is pleased “to reveal his Son in” them. Christ must be revealed to us by the preaching of the gospel; and he must be revealed in us by the sovereign operations of the Holy Spirit. No one is, or can be, born of God until he reveals his Son in them. This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture.

When you know Christ, you are born again. The Lord Jesus Christ said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

When you believe on Christ, you are born again. “Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else"(John 3:15, 36; Isa. 45:22). We are not born again by believing on Christ. We cannot believe on him unless we are born again Faith is the fruit, not the cause of the new birth. If you trust Christ, this is the assurance of the gospel - You are born of God - You have everlasting life in Christ!

When you have Christ, you are born again. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:10-13). Get Christ and you get life. Miss Christ and you miss life. “Christ in you” is the hope of glory. Life, eternal life is not getting the right creed, but getting the right Christ. CHRIST IS LIFE! WITHOUT CHRIST THERE IS NO LIFE!

Don Fortner