Article X. Grace in the New Creation
We believe that
- in order to be saved, sinners must be born again (John 3:3);
- the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17);
- it is instantaneous and not a process (Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 16:30-33);
- in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God (2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Cor. 5:19; Colossians 2:13),
- the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (John 3:8; John 1:2-13); and
- that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruit of repentance and faith and newness of life (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9).