“Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
(1 John 3:9)
The doctrine of regeneration lies at the heart of the Gospel. To be born again is not a matter of personal reform or behavioral improvement but the implantation of divine life in the soul. Scripture calls it the “seed of God,” an incorruptible principle that abides in the believer, shaping him into the likeness of Christ. This is an act of sovereign grace whereby the Spirit takes a heart dead in trespasses and sins and breathes into it new life.[1]
The new birth replaces the “deceitful and desperately wicked” heart (Jer. 17:9) with a new one given by God (Ezek. 36:26). And this new life flows from the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:20). The “old man” is put off, and the “new man” is created after God in true holiness (Col. 3:10).
To ask, “Does the seed of God dwell in me?” is to search whether the evidence of this divine life is present. John declares that one born of God cannot live in sin as a pattern, for the new nature resists it. Not perfection, but transformation, marks the regenerate: new desires, new affections, and new obedience. The Spirit testifies that those born from above walk in the light, hate sin, and love righteousness.
Christ said plainly, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Entry into the Kingdom of Grace now, and the Kingdom of Glory hereafter, depends on this work of God. Thus, the soul must plead for regeneration, for only God can give it.
Contemplations:
- Reflecting on rebirth. Whenever I consider terms like the “seed of God” (1 John 3:9) and the “new man” (Col. 3:10), I am reminded of the degree to which God transforms. This is not a simple change but a complete rebirth into the spiritual family of God.
- Recognizing my original state. Knowing that my heart, without God, is described as “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:1), I recognize my urgent need for divine intervention, and I yearn for a heart aligned with His will.
- God’s power in regeneration. I often marvel at the vastness of God’s power, the same power that resurrected Christ (Eph. 1:20). How fortunate I am that such a force is available to bring about my spiritual rebirth!
- The Spirit as my guide. Whenever I consider my spiritual journey, the Holy Spirit’s role becomes evident. “It is the Spirit that gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). In every step, in every challenge, the Spirit is sanctifying and shaping me for God’s Kingdom.
Prayer (supplication)
O Lord my God, Your Word declares that unless I am born again, I cannot see Your kingdom. I confess that in myself I am dead, corrupt, and without strength. My heart is deceitful, my thoughts unclean, my will enslaved. Unless You breathe new life into me, I perish. Therefore I plead for You to let the seed of God dwell in me.
Grant, O Father, that Your Spirit would come with power into my soul. Plant within me that incorruptible seed that abides forever. Cause me to be born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Let this new birth shine forth in faith, in holiness, in love for Christ.
I plead, Lord, that You would remove the stony heart from me and give me a heart of flesh. Sprinkle clean water upon me, and cleanse me from all my filthiness. Put Your Spirit within me, and cause me to walk in Your statutes. Let me hate sin with a holy hatred and pursue righteousness with joy.
O Spirit of God, dwell in me. Convict me when I wander, quicken me when I grow dull, strengthen me when I faint. Keep Your seed alive in me. Let it not be choked by the thorns of the world nor scorched by the heat of temptation. Make it fruitful unto eternal life.
Lord Jesus, You are the vine, and I am but a branch. Unless I abide in You, I can bear no fruit. Graft me into Yourself, feed me with Your life, let Your sap flow through me. Let my life be hidden with Christ in God, and let my days show forth that I am truly born from above.
Father, may I never deceive myself with empty profession. Let my religion not be in word only but in power. Let the witness of Your Spirit testify with mine that I am Your child. And let holiness, humility, and love be the marks of Your seed abiding in me.
Keep me, Lord, in this grace until the end. Let me enter at last into the Kingdom of Glory, having known the Kingdom of Grace on earth. And let my lips and life forever praise You for the wonder of regeneration, for the gift of new birth, for the seed of God that abides.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for 1 John 3:9:
1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 4:7, Psalm 119:3, John 3:3
[1] Jonathan Edwards, “Born Again,” in Sermons and Discourses, 1730–1733, ed. Mark Valeri and Harry S. Stout, vol. 17, The Works of Jonathan Edwards (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1999), 186.
