Topical Bible: Faith: Produces an Evidence of the New Birth

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Faith, within the Christian tradition, is a fundamental aspect of the believer's life, serving as both the means of salvation and the evidence of the new birth. The concept of faith producing evidence of the new birth is deeply rooted in Scripture and is essential for understanding the transformative power of the Gospel.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament frequently emphasizes the role of faith in the believer's life, particularly in relation to the new birth. In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." This new birth, or regeneration, is a work of the Holy Spirit, and faith is the means by which individuals receive this transformative experience.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, underscores the connection between faith and the new birth: "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Here, faith is presented as the channel through which God's grace operates, leading to salvation and the new birth.

Evidence of the New Birth

The evidence of the new birth is manifested in the believer's life through a transformation of character and behavior. The Apostle Paul describes this transformation in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" This passage highlights the radical change that occurs when one is born again, as the old sinful nature is replaced with a new, Christ-like nature.

The Epistle of James further elaborates on the evidence of faith, stating, "So also faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead" (James 2:17). Genuine faith, therefore, is not merely intellectual assent but is evidenced by works that reflect the new birth. These works are not the means of salvation but are the natural outflow of a life transformed by faith.

The Fruit of the Spirit

The Apostle Paul, in Galatians 5:22-23, lists the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of the new birth: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These attributes are the result of the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life and serve as tangible evidence of the new birth. A life characterized by these qualities demonstrates the transformative power of faith and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Assurance and Perseverance

Faith that produces evidence of the new birth also provides assurance of salvation. The Apostle John writes, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). This assurance is grounded in the promises of God and the observable changes in the believer's life.

Moreover, the evidence of the new birth is not a one-time event but a continual process of growth and perseverance. The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to "run with endurance the race set out for us" (Hebrews 12:1), indicating that faith is an ongoing journey marked by perseverance and continual transformation.

In summary, faith is the means by which believers experience the new birth, and it produces tangible evidence in their lives. This evidence is seen in the transformation of character, the fruit of the Spirit, and the assurance and perseverance of the believer. Through faith, the believer is not only justified but also sanctified, reflecting the image of Christ in their daily walk.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Fruitless Faith
... died for him until he has an evidence of it ... Living faith produces what I shall call
separating works. ... Faith, again, is always in connection with regeneration. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/fruitless faith.htm

Nicodemus
... the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that ... The blessing comes when by
faith the soul surrenders ... Thus they gave evidence that they were not fitted ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 17 nicodemus.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... The very Gospel which calls for repentance produces it. ... contrary faith rests upon
the best of evidence, namely, the ... The disciple, by faith, will be able to do ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

The Prayer of Faith.
... holy affections as the Spirit of God produces, that these ... their eye, they have not
had faith enough to use ... for their salvation, and they had evidence enough to ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture v the prayer of.htm

John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17 Questions About Regeneration
... Robert Abbott, have left distinct evidence that they ... mechanically, as a chemical
solution produces an effect on ... with heart, and knowledge, and faith, and prayer ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xviii john 3 3 2.htm

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
... He says then that godly sorrow produces carefulness. ... 29), who, in falling away from
the faith of the ... when once it is established by sound evidence, will easily ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 regeneration by faith.htm

The Historical Books of the New Testament, Meaning Thereby the ...
... who have fellowship with them in the same faith, is that ... We close this branch of
our evidence here, because ... in the same Clement, where he both produces the text ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/section i the historical books.htm

V. ...
... with us and with which we are filled) produces in us ... are the fruits by which you
can evidence your faith ... For as faith performs its work where it sees nothing, so ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter i v .htm

A Faithful Undershepherd
... Obedience to the word produces fruit of the required quality ... apostle exhorted the
women in the faith to be ... Evidence that the taste is converted will be seen in ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 51 a faithful undershepherd.htm

Our Manifesto
... You have the witness in yourself, the evidence of things ... which it has defaced into
blind faith; but even ... it is immutable, and nothing that man produces can be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/our manifesto.htm