Proofs of the new birth.
In Acts.8:9-24 we read the story of Simon the sorcerer or Simon Magus. He used sorcery and bewitched people so they thought of him as a great person. When he heard Philip preaching the gospel, he also believed and was baptized and he followed the disciples. When he saw that people received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid hands on people, Simon also wanted that power and he tried to bribe Peter with money to get that power. However Peter rebuked him for thinking that the gift of Yahweh could be purchased with money. Peter told Simon that his heart was not right before Elohim. Peter told him to repent as otherwise Elohim’s wrath would be poured on him. Simon then begged Peter to pray for him that no misfortune would fall on him.

Many people try to read meanings into this passage and say that Simon became a Christian only to advance his career or importance. They say his conversion was not true or real. But in the same chapter v37 the Ethiopian also ‘believed’, and no one questions his conversion! The Bible says ‘Simon himself believed’. We should question or doubt the word of Yahweh.
Many believe and are baptized because they think of this act as fire insurance. We have to examine our motives for coming to Messiah. Many think that attending church and giving tithes and offerings to the church is their way of ensuring that Elohim will give them a comfortable, trouble-free life. When hardships occur, they stop coming and giving and assume that Elohim has let them down. Simon did not ask for the gifts of the Spirit. He wanted the power of the Holy Spirit which was greater than what he thought he had. He thought he could buy this power, much in the same way that Roman Catholics in the Middle Ages bought indulgences which supposedly granted them freedom from Purgatory. They did not know and even today do not know that indulgences and Purgatory are not mentioned in the Bible. The Holy Spirit is not a power that we can command. He is Elohim and He commands us, not the other way round. Today’s TV Evangelists tell you to place your hand on their hand on the TV and receive the Holy Spirit which is pure nonsense.

Many preachers ‘lead’ people to Messiah and then leave them to lead their own lives. Many profess to be Christians for their material benefits. John Polhill (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville,) writes, “The correct response to God’s gift of salvation is much more than simply a ‘what’s in it for me?’ approach. It involves genuine commitment in response to the work of God’s Spirit.”

Simon, though he believed, was not truly converted. So what are the proofs of a true conversion or the new birth?

Righteousness of life: When we experience the new birth, we start leading a righteous life. Everyone who is born of Him is a child of Yahweh. I John.2:29,’ If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him’. We will try to measure everything we do against the standard of right. In the Old Testament times, the laws and commandments were the measure of right or wrong. But now after we are born again, Yahshua Messiah is our standard. In all we do, we should ask ourselves ‘what would Yahshua do’?

Separation from sin: 1Jn 3:9, ‘Whosoever is born of Elohim doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim’. This does not mean that a born again person will never sin. Nobody is perfect. All have sinned and come short of the glory of Elohim.(Rom.3:23.) It means that we will not sin habitually as we previously did. We do not live or walk in sin, we do not continue to be slaves of sin because the ‘seed’ or word of Yahweh remains in him. This seed will grow and bring forth fruit of the spirit (Gal.5:22). There will be a built in mechanism which makes us abhor or loathe sin. We will not willfully sin. There is repentance from sin, if committed.

Love to others: 1Jn 4:7, ‘Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of Elohim; and every one that loveth is born of Elohim, and knoweth Elohim’. Elohim is love. Hatred, envy, wrath, malice, all have their source in something else than Elohim. None of these originate from Elohim.  Our love towards our fellow men should be pure and holy, shown in affection, sacrifice, help, cooperation, sympathy and devotion. 1Jn 2:15,’Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Faith in Messiah: 1Jn 5:1-2,’ Whosoever believeth that Yahshua is the Messiah is born of Yahweh: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments’. That is, one who is born again believes that Yahshua is the Messiah who was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Victory: 1Jn 5:4,’For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’ Elohim does not want us to be defeated by the enemy. Our victory shows our relationship to Yahweh. Just as tree brings forth fruit of its own kind, just as an egg of a dove hatches into a baby dove, so also the children of a ever victorious Elohim will always be victorious. Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, said,’ The heavenly life breeds birds of paradise, such as holy thoughts, desires and acts; and it cannot bring forth such unclean birds as lust, envy and malice. The life of Elohim infused in the new birth is as pure as the Lord by whom it was begotten, and can never be otherwise’.

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