The New Birth
A Sermon on the New Birth
Originally preached Feb. 19, 1954
Scripture
Sermon Description
Why do some believe in Christ’s message while others do not? In this sermon titled on the new birth, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this by appealing to the biblical doctrine of the new birth. This new birth is an act of God by which He regenerates the hearts and minds of fallen people. From this act of regeneration comes the new life with new desires and dispositions. This new person lives a Spirit-empowered life that evidences the supernatural work of Christ. In this it is seen that regeneration does not merely change one’s standing with God, but it transforms their very hearts and minds. Because this new life is brought about by the work of the Spirit, it is kept by the work of the Spirit so that once a person has been born again they cannot lose this new nature. The new person cannot become old again, for it is the Spirit that forms and keeps them. Once the Spirit transforms the believer, they will seek a life that honors Christ. This seeking of Christ and His kingdom do not make a person new, but it is the result of the Spirit regenerating them and making them a new creation in Christ Jesus the Savior.
Sermon Breakdown
- Regeneration is a profound change that takes place within us. It is not merely a change in our relationship to truth or a person.
- Regeneration is illustrated by the process of grafting. A new life is put into us, like a graft is put into a tree. There are then two natures in one - the old and the new. The old nature must be pruned off so the new nature can grow.
- Regeneration is essential according to Scripture. No one can see or enter the kingdom of God without being born again. Holiness is essential to see God, and regeneration implants holiness in us.
- Regeneration is essential because of the character of God and the sinful character of man. There is no correspondence between the two without regeneration.
- Regeneration is not brought about by moral influence or baptism. It is the direct work of the Holy Spirit.
- The relationship between regeneration and the Word is that the Word is used to bring regeneration to birth and fruition, not to actually regenerate. Regeneration must come first.
- Old Testament saints and infants prove regeneration is the direct work of the Spirit, not the result of the Word.
- Regeneration can never be lost. It is the work of God, and nothing can separate us from His work. Those who are truly regenerate will not continue in sin.
- Regeneration shows itself in the life of the believer. True believers will abide because they have the life of God in them. Those without life will not abide.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Regeneration: Questions and Answers
What is regeneration according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, regeneration is a profound and instantaneous work of God in the depths of a person's soul. It is a "change in the fundamental disposition of men," not merely a change in some faculties of the soul but something that happens "in the subconscious." It's a divine implantation of a new principle of life within the person that enables them to respond to spiritual truth. Lloyd-Jones describes it as God "creating anew, as He created out of nothing at the beginning."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones illustrate the nature of regeneration?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the illustration of grafting to explain regeneration. Just as a cultivated shoot is grafted into a wild tree, and gradually the new nature takes over as the wild branches are pruned, so in regeneration a new nature is implanted within the person. The old nature still exists, but as the new nature grows and the old is "mortified," the new increasingly dominates. Unlike a poker that only remains hot while in the fire, this change is permanent and internal.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe regeneration is absolutely essential?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that regeneration is essential because: 1. Scripture explicitly states it (John 3:3-5, Galatians 6:15, Hebrews 12:14) 2. God's holy nature requires a corresponding nature in us for fellowship 3. There is nothing in fallen human nature that can respond to spiritual truth 4. "Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14) He emphasizes that regeneration must come at the beginning of Christian experience, not as a result of human effort.
What is the relationship between regeneration and the preached Word according to Lloyd-Jones?
While some Scripture passages suggest regeneration comes through the Word (James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23), Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between the act of generation and "coming to birth." He argues that the Word is instrumental in bringing to birth what God has already implanted, but the actual regeneration is God's direct, immediate work. He cites examples like Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened so she could receive Paul's message (Acts 16:14).
Can regeneration be lost according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically teaches that regeneration cannot be lost. He argues: 1. It is God's permanent work 2. "No man shall pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28) 3. 1 John 3:9 teaches that one born of God "cannot sin" (continue in sin) because God's seed remains in him 4. Those who permanently fall away were never truly regenerate (1 John 2:19) 5. The passages in Hebrews 6 and 10 refer to people who had experiences but were never truly regenerate
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones prove regeneration is a direct work of God rather than mediated through baptism?
Lloyd-Jones rejects baptismal regeneration by pointing to: 1. Evidence in Acts that people were baptized after showing evidence of new birth 2. The salvation of Old Testament saints who were regenerate without Christian baptism 3. The reality of saved infants who cannot consciously receive the Word He concludes that regeneration must be the direct, immediate operation of God, not something dependent on human understanding or ritual.
Great Biblical Doctrines
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.