CONFIDENCE ?
Why should we (evangelical Christians) have confidence that the preaching/sharing of Gods Word is of eternal benefit? Going over just four verses of scripture should give more than adequate reason for that confidence.James 1:21.... Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (moral uncleanness and vulgarity and wickedness which is abounding; Wuest), and receive with meekness the engrafted (Greek emphotos: implanted, impregnated) Word, which is able to save your souls.
1 Peter 1:23.... Being born again, not of corruptible seed (seed: Greek spora: a sowing, by implication parentage; Strongs), but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
1 John 3:9.... Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (Greek poieo: to continually do) sin; for His seed (Greek sperma: sperm) remaineth in him: and he cannot sin (habitually) because he is born of God.
Galatians 4:19.... My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you...
All of these scriptures attest to the truth that Gods Word is alive and powerful...(Hebrews 4:12), and that this is one of many redemptive analogies found in the Word of God.
In addition, the Greek word used in all the New Testament appearances of the English word brother is: adelphos, which means: out from the same womb.
So, whether in the human family sense or in the sense of the family of the Lord, i.e., those who have been born-again, or born anew, the idea of the Word of God being the seed/sperm that impregnates the new believer and results in the new birth, is valid.
It would even appear that one could say that there is a gestation period from the time of first hearing the Word until the Holy Spirit makes it real (Christ is formed) in the innermost being.
This has been our own personal experience on the field. For instance in Korea, where we held Bible studies with many who wanted to learn conversational English. A college student, who had come to the study several times, asked me to repeat the scripture we were studying over and over. Finally, she blurted out: I believe! I believe!
Coupled with the statement of God Himself that His ... Word will not return unto [Him] void... (Isaiah 55:11) We can have great confidence that the most productive occupation in which the born-anew believer can be involved, is the preaching/sharing of the Word of God. LETS GO TO WORK !!
To lend some support to what is set forth above, here are a few more scriptures and definitions .
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul says in Chapter 4, verses 4,5...
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
The word begotten here is the Greek gennao, and means: to procreate; fig. to regenerate; conceive, be delivered of.
There are scholars and non-literalists who declare that this is strictly metaphorical. But
combined with the scriptures cited above, one should certainly use care not to denigrate the Word of God.
Paul continues this concept in Philemon verse 10... I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten (same word gennao used here) in my chains.
Peter uses a related word in 1st Peter 1:3... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Here the word begotten is from the Greek anagennao and means to beget; bear. And of course Paul would agree that it is the work of God, through the Word of God, which both Paul and Peter preached . that resulted in the birth/re-birth of those who believed.
Further study and thought has led to the following considerations
As humans have the capacity to refuse sexual intercourse, so they have the capacity to refuse/reject the Word of God. This is just another facet of the many redemptive analogies found in scripture.
Some believe that God brings new life to the un-believer (who has no free will according to their belief) without his/her permission, or without even the ability to exercise faith
or even without their awareness until they have been regenerated; this belief may (without stretching the analogy presented above) be likened to the rape of one who is unconscious or under a drug induced mental vacuum.
To finish this off, here is some advice given by God (through Peter) in Peters second letter, Chapter 1, verses 5-8... giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self control perseverance (patience), to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptures from the KJV and NKJV, some bolding added. Written by: WAB
