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THE NEW BIRTH
The New Birth is indispensably necessary before any soul can
enter Heaven. In order to love spiritual things a man must be
made spiritual. The natural man may hear abut them, and have a
correct idea of the doctrine of them, but he cannot love them (2
Thess. 2:10), nor find his joy in them. None can dwell with God
and be eternally happy in HIs presence until a radical change has
been wrought in him, a change from sin to holiness; and this
change must take place on earth.
How could one possibly enter a world of ineffable holiness
having spent all of his time in sin, i.e. pleasing self? How
could he possibly sing the song of the Lamb if his heart had
never been tuned into it? How could he endure to behold the
awful majesty of God face to face who never before so much as say
Him "through a glass darkly" by the eye of faith? As it is ex-
cruciating torture for eyes that have long been confined to dis-
mal darkness to suddenly gaze upon the bright beams of the midday
sun, so will it be when the unregenerate behold Him who is light.
Instead of welcoming such a sight, "all kindreds of the earth
shall wail because of Him" (Rev. 1:7); yea, so overwhelming will
be their anguish, they will call to the mountains and rocks,
"Fall on us, and hide us from the face of HIm that sitteth on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. 6:16). And my
reader, that will be your experience, unless God regenerates you.
That which takes place at regeneration is the reversal of
what happened at the fall. The one born again is, through
Christ, and by the Spirit's operation, restored to union and com-
munion with God: the one who before was spiritually dead, is now
spiritually alive (Jn. 5:25). Just as spiritual death was
brought about by the entrance into man's being of a principle of
evil, so spiritual life is the introduction of a principle of
holiness. God communicates a new principle, as real and potent
as sin. Divine grace is not imparted. A holy disposition is
wrought in the soul. A new temper of spirit is bestowed upon the
inner man. But no new faculties are created within him, rather
are his original faculties enriched, enobled and empowered.
A regenerated person is a "new creature in Christ Jesus" (2
Cor. 5:17). Reader, is this true of you? Let each one of us
test and search himself in the presence of God by these ques-
tions. How stands my heart affected towards sin? Is there a
deep humiliation and godly sorrow after I have yielded thereto?
Is there a genuine detestation of it? Is my conscience tender so
that my peace is disturbed by what the world calls "trifling
faults" or "little things"? Am I humbled when conscious of the
risings of pride and self-will? Do I loathe my inward corrup-
tions? Are my affections dead toward the world and alive toward
God? What engages my mind in seasons of recreation? Do I find
spiritual exercises pleasant and joyous, or irksome and bur-
densome? Can I truthfully say, "How sweet are Thy words unto my
taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth"? (Psa. 119:103). Is
communion with God my hightest joy? Is the glory of God dearer
to me than all the world contains?
A. W. Pink
Seven New Things which all believers now possess:
Repentance -- A new mind about God (Acts 20:21).
Justification -- A new state before God (Rom. 4:25).
Regeneration -- A new life from God (Tit. 3:5).
Conversion -- A new attitude toward God (Matt. 18:3).
Sonship -- A new relationship with God (I Jn. 3:1).
Sanctification -- A new position before God (Jude 1).
Glorification -- A place with God (Rom. 8:30).