Where can we find the concept of born-again or born-of-the-spirit in the OT?

tonychanyt · Apr 22, 2024

The following OT verses point to the NT born-of-the-spirit or born-again concept:

Psalm 51:

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The heart often refers to the inner spirit of man.

Deuteronomy 30:

6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

Ezekiel 11:

19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 18:

31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?

Jeremiah 4:

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.

Jeremiah 31:

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD.

a new covenant, i.e., the NT

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Nicodemus taught these OT verses. Jesus reprimanded him for not grasping the idea of being born-again.

See also Born of WATER and the Spirit.

Grafted In · Apr 22, 2024

Romans 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

BobRyan · Apr 23, 2024

Grafted In said:
Romans 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Rom 2:
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.

Heb 4:2 For indeed we have had the gospel preached to us, just as they also did;

Gal 3:8 "the gospel was preached to Abraham"

Grafted In · Apr 23, 2024

BobRyan said:
Rom 2:
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.

Heb 4:2 For indeed we have had the gospel preached to us, just as they also did;

Gal 3:8 "the gospel was preached to Abraham"

Thank you.
At first I didn't understand why you appeared to be correcting me, but now I see that I did misinterpreted Romans 4:11.
My oppologies to the membership.
Bill

BobRyan · Apr 23, 2024

Grafted In said:
Thank you.
At first I didn't understand why you appeared to be correcting me, but now I see that I did misinterpreted Romans 4:11.
My oppologies to the membership.
Bill

I was not intending to correct you -- I think you make a good point that Abraham is the father of both the Jews and the gentiles according to Rom 4.

9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

Righteousness by faith, "having been justified by faith we have peace with God" Rom 5:1 - comes not from Abraham but from God and it is applied directly to each one that comes to Him in faith.

But the Rom 4 idea is that Abraham is a type -- of the gentile and also of the Jew. So "in a sense" the father of both "in the faith"

Grafted In · Apr 25, 2024

Grafted In said:
Rebekah in Genesis 24

keepitsimple144 · May 22, 2024

He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it.
O Lord, by these things men live; Isaiah 38:15-17

This is my covenant with them: My Spirit and my words that I ·give you will ·never leave you...Isaiah 59:21

keepitsimple144 · May 22, 2024

tonychanyt said:
Where can we find the concept of born-again or born-of-the-spirit in the OT?

The life of mortals is like grass, Psalm 103:15-16 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; Prov 11:7

“I, even I, am he who comforts you." Isaiah 51:12
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; Psalm 104:29-31

Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord, Psalm 33:10-12

All Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalm 145:10-13

“Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, I, the Lord, have created it. Isaiah 45:8

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Where can we find the concept of born-again or born-of-the-spirit in the OT?

tonychanyt

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Grafted In

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BobRyan

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Grafted In

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BobRyan

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Grafted In

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keepitsimple144

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keepitsimple144

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