New Birth Question

Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 

This Scripture is expressly clear—the New Testament was "of no strength at all while the testator liveth." Before Christ went to Calvary and purchased redemption's plan, the Old Testament was still in effect. Colossians 2:14 says, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances [the Old Testament ordinances] that was against us, which was contrary to us, and [He] took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." 

The Old Testament was still in force until Christ went "to his cross." New Testament benefits were not available, and the new birth is a New Testament benefit. This is why, prior to being seized in the garden, Jesus told His disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter ['the Holy Ghost'; John 14:26] will not come unto you" (John 16:7). 

The Holy Ghost had not been given prior to when as Jesus said, "But if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). In John 7:39, the inspired penman wrote, "The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." If "the Holy Ghost was not yet given," one could not be "born of the Spirit" (John 3:6). 

This is the reason, even after His Resurrection, Jesus instructed the disciples to "tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Luke continued in the Book of Acts, revealing what this power is. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). The first aspect of this "power" received from the Holy Ghost is referred to in Romans 8:2 as "the Spirit of life," which brought "newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

In Luke 24:49, Jesus spoke of this as "the promise of my Father." Hebrews 11:39, speaking of the Old Testament brethren, reads, "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, RECEIVED NOT the promise." The Old Testament brethren did not have the same experience we enjoy in this New Testament dispensation—it was not available. Since the "testator" had not yet died, and the old covenant was still in force, the disciples also did not enjoy the new birth until the Spirit was given.

Consider these words of our Lord: "In the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory ..." (Matthew 19:28). This expressly shows "regeneration" was not available until Christ was back on "the throne of his glory," after the Resurrection and Ascension. In Luke 22:32, Jesus told Peter, "When thou art converted ...." Obviously, at that juncture, Peter was not "converted." He did not yet have New Testament conversion.

Earl R. Borders

From the June 2026 issue of  The Gospel Trumpeter