This online version contains chapters 1, 3, and 14 of The New Birth. If you would like to purchase the entire book, either in print or in digital format, you can do so through the Pentecostal Publishing House.
Table of Contents
The Universal Need for Salvation; Salvation Comes Only Through Faith in Jesus Christ; What Is Salvation?; The Relation Between Past, Present, and Future Salvation; The Lord's Statement to Nicodemus; The Kingdom of God; Peter's Answer on the Day of Pentecost; Paul's Answer to the Philippian Jailer; Comparison of the Three Answers; Understanding and Obeying the Gospel
Chapter 2. GRACE AND FAITH
Grace Defined; Man's Salvation Stems from God's Grace; Grace and Works; Grace and Faith; Justification by Faith; The Source of Faith; Faith Defined; Three Components of Saving Faith; Examples of Insufficient Belief; Faith and Obedience; Faith and Works; Continuing Faith; The Object of Faith; Faith and Repentance; Faith and Water Baptism; Faith and the Holy Spirit; Repentance, Water Baptism, and Works; Confession, Belief, and Salvation; Calling on the Name of the Lord; One Plan of Salvation; Saving Faith; An Analogy of Grace and Faith; Grace, Faith, and the New Birth
Chapter 3. THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
What Is the Gospel?; Death; Burial; Resurrection; John the Baptist's Message; Christ's Message; Peter's Message; Philip the Evangelist's Message; Ananias' Message; Paul's Message; The Message of Hebrews; The Apostle John's Message; The Gospel of New Testament Preachers; The Gospel in Typology; Saving Faith and the Gospel
Chapter 4. BIRTH OF WATER AND SPIRIT
The New Birth Doctrine; Birth of Water; Natural Birth?; Identical to Birth of Spirit?; Cleansing by the Word?; Water Baptism; Birth of the Spirit; The New Birth as a Whole; Comparison of First and Second Births; When Is the Blood Applied?; Characteristics of Born-Again Believers; Old Testament Saints Were Not Born Again As We Are; Conclusion
Chapter 5. REPENTANCE
Repentance Defined; Recognition of Sin; Confession of Sin; Contrition for Sin; Decision to Forsake Sin; Restitution; Repentance and Emotion; Examples of Repentance; The Source of Repentance; The Command to Repent; What Happens at Repentance?; Relationship to Water and Spirit Baptism; Guidelines for Altar Work; Repentance and the Christian; The Need to Emphasize Repentance; Conclusion
Chapter 6. WATER BAPTISM
Water Baptism Defined; John's Baptism; The Baptism of Christ; Early Baptism by the Disciples; Christ's Command; Early Christian Baptism; Baptismal Mode: Immersion; Does the Baptismal Mode Matter?; Remission of Sins at Baptism; Baptismal Regeneration?; Baptism - Part of the New Birth; Belief and Baptism Bring Salvation; Washing of Sins; Part of Salvation; Burial with Christ; Baptism into Christ; Spiritual Circumcision; Baptism in Typology; More than a Public Confession; "Christ Sent Me Not to Baptize"; The Human Element in Baptism; Forgiveness and Remission; Faith Is Necessary at Baptism; Repentance and Baptism Are Both Necessary; Baptism without Prior Repentance; Infant Baptism; Baptism for the Dead; Sins after Baptism; Why Did God Choose Baptism?; Distinction Between Water and Spirit Baptism; Is Baptism Necessary?; The Significance of Water Baptism
Chapter 7. BAPTISMAL FORMULA: IN THE NAME OF JESUS
The Biblical Record; Burial with Christ; Identification with Christ; Taking on the Family Name; Remission of Sins in the Name; Power and Authority in the Name; Do All in the Name; Jesus Is the Highest Name; Acceptance of Jesus as Savior; Acceptance of Jesus as the Fulness of the Godhead; Not a Magic Formula; Further Research; For All People; Oral Invocation of the Name; Matthew 28:19; Comparison of the Great Commission Accounts; The Singular Name; The Name of the Son; The Name of the Father; The Name of the Holy Ghost; The Context of Matthew 28:19; Jesus Is the New Testament Name of God; Conclusion About the Baptismal Formula; The Doctrine of the Trinity; Matthew 28:19 Teaches Baptism in the Name of Jesus; The Witness in Church History; Does the Baptismal Formula Really Matter?; Conclusion
Chapter 8. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit; The Baptism of the Spirit; Biblical Terminology; Filled with the Spirit; Part of Salvation; The Founding of the New Testament Church; A New Experience for the New Church; Old Testament Prophecy; New Testament Promise and Command; Fulfillment in the Apostolic Church; The Significance of Acts; The Day of Pentecost; Samaria; Paul's Conversion; The Gentiles in Caesarea; The Disciples of John at Ephesus; Conclusion About the Spirit Baptism; Those Saved in the Gospels; Only for the Apostolic Church?; Salvation in Acts Without the Spirit?; How to Receive the Holy Spirit; The Work of the Spirit; Conclusion
Chapter 9. SPEAKING IN TONGUES
Speaking in Tongues Defined; Isaiah 28:11-12; Mark 16:17; The Day of Pentecost; Cornelius Spoke in Tongues; The Ephesians Spoke in Tongues; The Samaritans Spoke in Tongues; Paul Spoke in Tongues; Comparison of the Accounts in Acts; Other Possible References; Are Tongues Necessary?; The Reasons for Tongues; Not a Sign of the Spirit's Abiding Presence; After the Baptism of the Spirit; The Gift of Tongues; I Corinthians 12; I Corinthians 13; I Corinthians 14; Conclusions about I Corinthians 12-14; How Does Speaking in Tongues Occur?; Objections; Miracles Exist Today; Tongues Have Not Ceased; Receiving the Spirit without Tongues?; Conclusion
Chapter 10. THE WITNESS IN CHURCH HISTORY: BAPTISM
Problems in Studying Church History; Repentance and Water Baptism; Water Baptism by Immersion; Water Baptism as Part of Salvation; The Earliest Formula; First and Second Centuries; Third Century; Fourth Century; The Medieval Age; The Reformation Era Forward; Oneness Believers Throughout History; Twentieth Century; Conclusion
Chapter 11. THE WITNESS IN CHURCH HISTORY: TONGUES
First and Second Centuries; Third Century; Fourth and Fifth Centuries; The Medieval Age; The Reformation Era Forward; Twentieth Century; Statistics on Pentecostals Today; Conclusion
Chapter 12. ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS?
Basic Principles; Are the Heathen Lost?; Moral and Sincere People; Those Who Profess Christ; Professing Christians in Church History; Extra-biblical Speculations; A Second Chance after Death?; A Subnormal New Birth?; Destiny of Infants; Degrees of Punishment; Conclusion
Chapter 13. FOUR ASPECTS OF SALVATION
Justification; Regeneration; Adoption; Sanctification; God's Eternal Plan of Salvation; Summary
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
In the apostolic movement today there is a great need for comprehensive books in important doctrinal areas. It is the author's hope that The New Birth will help to meet this need with respect to the doctrine of salvation. This book does not cover all concepts relative to salvation, but it focuses on one aspect: the conversion experience or regeneration. This book is Volume II of the Series in Pentecostal Theology. Volume I, The Oneness of God, was published in 1983, and Volume III, In Search of Holiness, was published in 1981.
The New Birth attempts to present biblical truth in an understandable yet scholarly way, not from the viewpoint of denominational dogma but from the viewpoint of what the Bible itself says. Numerous biblical references have been included so that the reader can search these things out and come to his or her own conclusions. If the reader approaches this subject with a prayerful, sincere, truth-seeking, studious attitude (rather than with a prejudiced or even a gullible mind), God will illuminate the truth of His Word as it relates to salvation.
All biblical quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated. Abbreviations used are KJV for King James Version, NIV for New International Version, and TAB for The Amplified Bible. If not specified otherwise, definitions of Greek words are taken from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.
I would like to express special thanks to my mother, Loretta A. Bernard, for offering numerous suggestions, particularly for Chapters 3, 5, and 6. Also, I would like to express appreciation to my father, Elton D. Bernard, who gave inspiration and desire to undertake this project, and to my wife, Connie, who gave much encouragement and support.
The purpose of this book is not to condemn anyone who does not
agree with or who has not experienced what is taught, but rather
to encourage all to receive the fulness of salvation that God has
provided in Jesus Christ.
David K. Bernard
Jackson, Mississippi
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