PIPER FRIDAY – Why Must We Be Born Again?

PIPER FRIDAY – Why Must We Be Born Again? October 24, 2008

It has become something of a habit for me to watch a Piper sermon as part of the preparation of my heart to preach. I don’t mean the preparation of my sermon material; rather I mean the preparation of my heart. Getting my heart into the right place to preach is a bigger challenge for me than writing a good set of notes. Piper stirs my heart in ways no one else I listen to does—in order that I should be grateful to God and sensitive to other people. He cares for his listeners and is passionate about his God.

The talk I want to highlight today certainly is a clear example of all those things, and it is also the single most important topic we can ever speak about. There is nothing more important than helping us to understand the new birth correctly. We need to know for certain that we are saved. In this talk Piper explains seven reasons why we need to be born again, which I will share here:

  1. Apart from the new birth, we are dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1-2)
  2. Apart from the new birth, we are by nature children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3; Psalm 51:5)
  3. Apart from the new birth, we love darkness and hate the light. (John 3:19-20)
  4. Apart from the new birth, our hearts are hard like stone. (Ezekiel 36:26; Ephesians 4:18; Romans 1:18)
  5. Apart from the new birth, we are unable to submit to God or please God. (Romans 8:7-8; John 3:5)
  6. Apart from the new birth, we are unable to accept the gospel. (Ephesians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 2:14)
  7. Apart from the new birth, we are unable to come to Christ or embrace him as Lord. (John 6:44, 65; 1 Corinthians 12:3)

John Piper


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