Old Testament reading: Psalm 51-55
“Behold I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). This verse is often cited in defense of the erroneous doctrine of hereditary depravity. This doctrine contends that all of humanity is tainted by Adam’s sin from the time they are conceived. Moreover, it teaches that, being totally depraved, no man possess the exercise of his own free will. However, this view fails to take into consideration the context of David’s deep grief regarding his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11-12). David is here utilizing a form of expression known as hyperbole, that is, an intended and obvious exaggeration, to describe his great sorrow for his sin. In tomorrow’s reading we will again see David’s use of hyperbole, this time to describe the wicked as going astray from God as soon as they are born, speaking lies (58:3). Obviously, no baby deliberately goes away from God, and no baby can speak, much less lie. In like fashion, no man is born in sin, for sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).
New Testament reading: John 1-3
“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). This is one of the most well known, yet misunderstood, texts in all the Bible. Because Nicodemus did not understand it, Jesus explained it in verse 5, yet many still do not understand. One reason for this misunderstanding is the view is a failure to recognize the language. Verse 5 is teaching the exact same thing as verse 3. There is not one birth in verse 3 and two births in verse 5 as many allege. The word “born” in verse 5 is singular, meaning both water and Spirit are a part of the one birth by which one is born again in verse 3. A second reason for the failure of most to grasp the text is because of the general disbelief in the necessity of water baptism in order to be saved, even though there are a multitude of Scriptures that so teach (e.g., Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). Also, the blessing found in each verse, entering the kingdom of God, is the same. So, there is only one birth under consideration here, and it involves both water and Spirit (cf Eph 5:26).
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