DO HUTTERITES BELIEVE IN BEING BORN AGAIN?
Written by: Paul Wipf on Saturday, March 29th, 2014
The Lord also said, “Truly I tell you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) If one is born again he can see the kingdom but he cannot enter it unless he is born of water and the Spirit. We know that no one can really see and truly value the Kingdom of God until he is born again, born from above. (John 3:3, Matthew 13:44-46) And no one can actually enter the Kingdom of God until he has repented of his sins and has his clean heart immersed in the Holy Spirit of God. (John 3:5, Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:8, Matthew 12:43-45, Luke 11:24-26)
If there was any religious faith that based itself squarely on the reality of being born again spiritually – of the newbirth in Christ – it certainly includes the Hutterites! Today, with outside and inside forces attacking our faith, this fact needs to be underscored, and documented in some detail.
Here is what Peter Riedemann says in the official Hutterian Confession of Faith: “Since we are to be born of God in the spiritual way of Christ and not in the human way of Adam, we must carefully consider how the birth of Christ took place. It occurred . . . in faith and through the working of the Holy Spirit. Whoever wishes to have Christ’s nature and character must also be born of God. That person must, with Christ, be God’s child. This is what Peter says with the words, ‘You have been born anew, not of mortal but of immortal seed, and this seed is the word of truth.’
“Here is how this birth takes place. If the Word is heard and believed, then faith is sealed with the power of God, with his Holy Spirit. The Spirit immediately renews the person after that person has been dead in sin, restoring to life the one who stands before God in righteousness. That person has been made into a new creature, a new person after God’s likeness, and has become renewed in this likeness. Whoever is born in this way should receive baptism as a bath of rebirth. This signifies being inscribed in the covenant of the grace and knowledge of God” (Confession of Faith, p. 110).
“The Spirit leads people into all truth, motivating all they do and fulfilling God’s will. In that way people begin a new life in the power of God. Paul says, ‘Whoever is in Christ, is a new creature.’ . . .
“. . . Where does that knowledge and good conscience come from? It only comes from a heart awakened through the Word of God. God will cause the Word to flourish and to increase in a person. He will uproot all that is carnal and implant what is godly. From that originates the new birth, of which Christ says, ‘Unless a person is born anew of water and of the Spirit, entrance into the kingdom of God is not possible.’ The meaning is that whoever is instructed by the Word of God and believes it, will have his faith sealed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through that, one is renewed or born again and led into a holy, godly life. That person may then receive the water of baptism as a sign of the death of the old self. (Confession of Faith page 196-97).
If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback or require more information about the hutterites, be sure to contact us
Showing 16 comments
Rodrigo Marin-Rogers said:
On: 6th Apr, 2014 at 20:34
Do you bellieve in reincarnation?
Paul said:
On: 6th Apr, 2014 at 22:21
The Bible never mentions people having a second chance at life or coming back as different people or animals.The concept of reincarnation is completely without foundation in the Bible, which clearly tells us that we die once and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
We believe the dead body, which is buried in the earth, decomposes, and becomes again dust and earth, for, as God said to Adam: (Gen. 3:19) “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” The soul, however, which lives in the man’s body, is immortal and eternal; and if its house, that is, its body, breaks down and dies, then God takes it to Himself again, and will give it a new and transfigured body, which will be like unto the angels, and will see and enjoy all the glory obtained through the Lord Christ.
Matthew 25:46 specifically tells us that believers go on to eternal life while unbelievers go onto eternal punishment. Reincarnation has been a popular belief for thousands of years, but it has never been accepted by Christians.
Tarrel (Terry) Miller said:
On: 5th Jul, 2014 at 04:43
Thank you for addressing the new birth issue. So many x-Hutterites and some still living in colonies would have use believe that Hutterite church does not teach the new birth, at least not according to the Scriptures. They are wrong. Actually it’s impossible to be a real Hutterite without being born again. The writings of the forefathers are so clear on this important subject. That doesn’t mean, of course, that every Hutterite member is born again, and that is sad. That same problem exists in all churches, and it is a dangerous situation spiritually. I fully gave my heart to Jesus in a personal way at Forest River Colony in North Dakota almost 50 years ago because of the witness of faithful Hutterites who taught us the necessity of having a personal relationship with Jesus. Without that we would only have religion, and that would not be sufficient for salvation. I never cease to give thanks to God for those beautiful Hutterite men and women (including any preachers) who showed us the Way to God, and that Way is always Jesus. The new birth is the New Beginning, the beautiful life in the Spirit. Water baptism follows the new birth, not the other way around. One could be baptized and yet not be born again. That is a tragedy.
rochus stordeur said:
On: 19th Aug, 2014 at 08:34
hallo paul, excuse me and my bad english. i’ve got a question, not to your blog, but to the hutterian brethren. in my blog (rochusthal.blog.de) i write today about the victory of pazifism, for instance the pazifisme of the both hutterian boys, who did not dress on the american uniform in world war one and who died for that refusal naked in bitter frost. please can you write me the names of this both boys and the date of their death. my thesis is the voctory of pazifism in the 20th century by cold war, indian liberation (gandhi), liberation of the black in usa (martin luther king), south africa (mandela), the growing of mankind by welfare, the authority of uno and, only a little example, the successfull resistance of hutterian brethren. thank you and my best regards to you and your family! rochus stordeur
Hans Wilson said:
On: 9th Sep, 2014 at 05:30
Do you use musical instruments during worship?
Hans Wilson said:
On: 9th Sep, 2014 at 05:41
Can a Christian(non-Hutterite though) join the Hutterites?
Do you believe that other Christians are still saved though they are not Hutterites? (eg. other parts of the body as it says in 1 Corinthians 12:14-23?)
I am not meaning to be rude or trying to prove you wrong I would just like to know as I, being a Christian have wondered about the Hutterites and would maybe join them if possible and if God says to.
search said:
On: 4th Oct, 2014 at 03:54
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for search
Frans Baatenburrg de Jong said:
On: 3rd Nov, 2014 at 07:39
Throughout history believers have been born again, but we have to realize this rebirth was always only spiritually. Many times people continued living on with bad habits, suffered deseases and bad persecution. The real rebirth will take place when Christ comes back as a New Adam, and together with a restored Eve that God will raise then also, he can then have the long awaited Marriage of the lamb and make a true Family. People can then be grafted more substantially on the Messiah, and finally the long awaited Kingdom of God will arise …
Frans Baatenburg de J said:
On: 8th Nov, 2014 at 23:34
To be born again, actually means to be reborn into God`s lineage, since Adam& Eve adopted the lineage of Satan. Most substantially this can only happen when the Messiah returns, Marries with a restored Eve, makes a Family and people who believe in them can be en grafted on that Family more substantially and `enter` God`s lineage as a couple, as blessed Family
Evangelist Clayling Woods said:
On: 14th Mar, 2015 at 15:12
I was so amazed to the born again documentary. Yes Jesus is lord ! ,but there is another step ,you must receive the holy spirit. Acts 2:38 you must pray in full repentance and truth and ask God to fill you with the holy ghost and you shall receive the holy spirit and the evidence of this is you will speak in holy tongues, this is real ,God reached you and changed your life stay on this track God bless.
Lorenzo Peña said:
On: 14th Aug, 2016 at 17:09
I doubt that the Confession of Faith is a mandatory dogma for Hutterite Christias the way official dogmas are compulsory for protestants or caholics.
Anyway, despite the literal ring of several misguiding sentences you quote, the huge difference, the chasm, between “born again” in the Lutheran or Calvinist sense and “born again” for a Hutterite (or any other true anabaptist, for that matter) is the issue of “by faith ALONE”, not by REPENTING OF THE SINS, by conversion OF THE HEART, which means by deeds, not just by words. Thus communal life, the communion of saints, both material and spiritual, is needed for salvation.
JAMES H. THOMAS said:
On: 14th Sep, 2016 at 21:36
WHAT IF ONE DECIDES TO FOLLOW JESUS BUT DIES BEFORE HE IS BAPTISTED. DOES HE STILL GET INTO HEAVEN?
Paul said:
On: 15th Sep, 2016 at 05:03
What we learn from the saved thief on the cross is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and no matter the number of our sins and no matter if we, or the world, think our sins are minor or extreme, it is never too late to repent and accept the free gift of salvation
Luke 23 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” As this man was about to die, he turned to Christ for forgiveness, and Christ accepted him. This shows that our deeds don’t save us—our faith in Christ does. It is never too late to turn to God. Even in his misery, Jesus had mercy on this criminal who decided to believe in him. Our lives will be much more useful and fulfilling if we turn to God early, but even those who repent at the very last moment will be with God in paradise.
Jo said:
On: 23rd Jul, 2017 at 06:53
Do the hutterites believe in the gifts of the spirit corithians 12 and the evidence of speaking in tongues as a sign of that baptism.please email strivefurtherlove@gmail.com
Jo said:
On: 23rd Jul, 2017 at 07:07
Sorry that was the evident sign that those in acts spoke in tongues after recieving the baptism of the holy spirit in samaria.or a members free to pray in tongues and it is not forbidden
A Bible Believer said:
On: 5th Jun, 2018 at 13:43
Paul Vetter,
It’s me again. Sorry if I’m being a total nuisance, but I love to study the Word. So I’m having trouble with a quote from the above article:
“The meaning is that whoever is instructed by the Word of God and believes it, will have his faith sealed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”
Where can I find a verse to support “the sealing of our faith”? I can’t seem to find one in the Bible… If you’d like, feel free to respond by email.