Bible Study #8
The New Birth
1. What was the image that God gave to man when He created him?
(Genesis 1:26, 27) Then God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let him rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the heavens, over the beasts, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. And God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
2. According to Jesus, what is the nature of God?
(John 4:23,24) But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father also seeks such to worship him. God is Spirit; and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
3. Who is the image of God?
Hebrews 1:3 Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having made purification of our sins by himself, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
4. Of what nature do we become partakers when we are born again?
(2 Peter 1:4) Through which he has given us precious and very great promises, that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5. For what did God predestine us?
(Romans 8:29) For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
6. Many believe that the new man is the old man transformed or improved by the work of God in us. What does the Bible say about the new man?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
7. What relationship does the new creation have with the resurrection of Christ?
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 2:1-5 And he gave you life, when you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you walked in time past, following the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved).
8. Are the children of the new creation born, or made?
(John 1:12, 13) But to as many as received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
9. The children of religion are the fruit of a catechism or religious instruction. For them, being born again is an improvement of their past life. What is it to be born again according to God?
(John 3:3-6) Jesus answered and said to him: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
10. What do we become when we are joined to the Lord?
(1 Corinthians 6:17) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
11. Who created the new man in us, and what image did He give him?
(Colossians 3:10,11) And clothed with the new, which, according to the image of him who created it, is being renewed unto full knowledge, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian nor Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all, and in all.
12. According to whom was the spiritual man created, and what character does he possess?
(Ephesians 4:23, 24) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
13. Who is formed in us when we receive regeneration?
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified together with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I again suffer birth pains, until Christ is formed in you.
14. What is the instrument of God that works in our regeneration?
(1 Peter 1:23) “… having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever.”
15. What is the condition of the natural man?
Ephesians 2:1-3; And he gave you life, when you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you walked in time past, following the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Romans 8:7 Because the designs of the flesh are enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be.
16. Why do all people need regeneration in order to see and to enter the Kingdom of God?
1 Corinthians 15:50 But this I say, brethren: that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. John 3:3-6 Jesus answered and said to him: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
17. How will the image of Christ be restored in the resurrection of the body?
(1 Corinthians 15:45-50) So also it is written: The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man, who is the Lord, is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. But this I say, brethren: that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
18. In what way did the prophets of the Old Testament speak of and announce the time of the new creation?
(Jeremiah 31:31-34) Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; because they invalidated my covenant, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law in their mind, and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor, nor each his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 32:37-41 Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I drove them in my anger, and in my fury, and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell securely; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me. And I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land in truth, with all my heart and with all my soul.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be cleansed from all your uncleanness; and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances and do them.
