Ye Must Be Born Again

Have you ever noticed the verb "be" in this statement made by the Lord Jesus in John 3:3? It is called a being verb.

It is called thus because it indicates action done upon the subject as opposed to an action verb in which the action is done by the subject.

Now, why is this significant? It is significant because of the way modern theology has ignored (not to mention massacred) the plain and simple meaning of Jesus’ words.

It asserts that the new birth is something brought about by some action performed by the sinner.

The verb, however, shows the honest seeker that the new birth is not brought about by the sinner’s action (believe, repent, be baptized, join a church, do good works, etc. . . . ), but the new birth is something done unto him and for him by a sovereign act of God, the Holy Spirit.

We are told in John 1:12-13 that this new birth was not brought about by an act of man’s will, but by the sovereign grace of God.

You see, this way God gets all the glory, for it rightly belongs to Him. The way of modern theology is to brag about what "I" did to get saved and how many others "I" helped get saved.

Ephesians 2:8 tells us that since man is saved by grace, there is no room for boasting.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.