The New Birth No. I

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THE NEW BIRTH No. I

By George W. Sinquefield

John 3:1 through John 3:3 (KJV)
¹ There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: ² The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Sin is a fact and God is a holy God and He cannot and does not tolerate sin. Sin brings the displeasure, the wrath of God upon man. It separates man from God. Man has lost his moral, intellectual and spiritual sense of God because he has lost God. He will not find God until he comes to Jesus and experiences the new birth.

Dr. K. Owen White, while pastor of the First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, received a letter from a chaplain who was serving during the war in the South Pacific.

"Bro. White, I am appalled by the things that I am discovering as a chaplain. I talk again and again with these boys individually and I discover that so many of them do not have the faintest idea what it means to become a Christian or to live the Christian life. I have made up my mind that somehow we who are pastors have been missing the boat and it is my determination to preach the message so simple, so pointedly, so plainly that anyone in the congregation shall know the way to be saved."

This is also my purpose in writing these messages on the new birth.

I. What Is The New Birth?

Dr. J. C. Ryle stated,, "The change which our Lord here declares needful is evidently no slight or superficial one. It is not merely reformation, or amendment, or moral change, or outward alteration of life. It is a thorough change of heart will and character. It is a passing from death to life. (John 5:24). It is the implanting in our dead hearts of a new principle from above. It is the calling into existence of a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17), with a new nature, (II Peter 1:4). New habits of life, new tastes, new desires, new appetites, new judgments, new opinions, new hopes, and new fears, all this and nothing less than this is implied when our Lord declared that we all need a "new birth.""

B. B. Warfield said it like this, "Being born again is a radical and complete transformation wrought in the soul by God the Holy Spirit, by virtue of which we become new men no longer conformed to this world, but in knowledge and holiness of the truth created after the image of God."

D. E. Y. Mullins put it this way, "Regeneration is a change wrought by the Spirit of God, by the use of truth as a means in which the moral disposition of the soul is renewed in the image of Christ."

Billy Graham in his book "Peace With God" discussed the new birth as "the infusing of Divine life into the human soul -- the implantation or impartation of Divine nature into the human soul."

By the experience of the new birth one is born into the family and household of God. He becomes a child of God whereas before he was a child of the devil (John 8:44, Ephesians 2:1-3).

II. The "Must" Of The New Birth

Some years ago a man by the name of A. C. McGiffert, was president of the Chicago Theological Seminary. He said, "What a man requires is not regeneration in the old sense, or a change of nature but simply an awaking to what he really is."

The Bible clearly teaches otherwise. God says that man is a sinner and on his way to hell. If he ever changes and a change he direly needs, he'll have to experience the new birth. Man's moral and spiritual condition is very clearly stated in the Bible.

Romans 3:10 through Romans 3:19 (KJV)
¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹² They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: ¹⁴ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: ¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood: ¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways: ¹⁷ And the way of peace have they not known: ¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes. ¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:23 (KJV)
²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Because man is what he is, Jesus declares that he must be born again (anew, from above) if he is to be made right with God and go to Heaven when he leaves this world.

One minister said (and I feel the same way), "I shudder when I hear Christians talk about the real needs of men, and then go on to list everything short of spiritual regeneration."

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convince man of his sinful, lost condition and point him to Jesus for salvation.

John 16:6 through John 16:11 (KJV)
⁶ But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Three times in the third chapter of John Jesus stressed the necessity of the new birth.

John 3:3 (KJV)
³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 (KJV)
⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:7 (KJV)
⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

People may differ as to what constitutes the new birth. They may differ as to the evidences of the new birth, but no one can deny the necessity of the new birth unless he wishes to differ with Jesus.

Dr. Gordon Clinard, on the Baptist Hour said, "You do not hear so much these days about the new birth. In fact, to speak of a "born again Christian" is to be tuned out by a lot of folk today."

Be that as it may, we must face the truth and the truth is that man must be born anew, born from above by the Holy Spirit of God if he is ever made right with God. Satan has succeeded in deluding men and women into believing that other things can substitute for the experience of regeneration, good works, church membership, baptism, morality, etc. Jesus said the devil is a liar.

John 8:44 (KJV)
⁴⁴ Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

He blinds people to the truth and causes them to believe lies.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)
⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The only way to get into God's family is to be born into it. Here in this life, we are born into our families and so it is in the spiritual realm. We must be born into His family if we are to be His child.

We hear talk about the universal father hood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. All this is a bunch of lies and flatly contradicts the Word of God. God is not the Father of everyone and we are not all brothers in Christ. Jesus plainly stated that some are children of the devil.

Think of what it would mean if all men were God's children. Every godless dictator in the world today, every criminal who dwells behind barred doors, every murderer and every fiend in our country and elsewhere, would all be children of God along with the rest of God's people. And not only that but when we finally reached Heaven's fair city, they would be there too, to share in all the glories and bliss with the rest of God's saints. How ridiculous and how foolish it is to even hint that all are God's children. If men ever get into God's family, they are going to have to go God's way to get there, and that is by being born again.

One cannot "see" or "enter" the kingdom of God without being born anew. Jesus did not say, "Except a man be born again he may not see or perhaps will not see the kingdom of God. He was very plain and meant that without the new birth it is an impossibility to enter God's kingdom. I am not a Greek scholar but I am told by those who are that to "see" the kingdom of God is to see with understanding. Man, in his lost condition, does not and cannot understand spiritual truth.

Romans 8:5 through Romans 8:8 (KJV)
⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)
⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The born again one can see and understand the things of God because he has the nature of God and is taught by the Holy Spirit.

John 16:12 through John 16:15 (KJV)
¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

George Whitfield was once asked why he preached so much on the subject, "Ye must be born anew." He answered, "Because ye must be born anew." There is no subject in the Bible which should call for more consideration than this. For all our hopes of eternity are wrapped up in it. It is the dividing line between life and death. Heaven and Hell.

Now all denominations have to face this truth or they do not believe the Bible. It matters not what their creeds, doctrines, or standards might be, they all have to face the fact that a man must be born again. We hear people say, "It doesn't matter which church you go to; after all they are all going to the same place." If the new birth is left aside , if the means of entrance into God's kingdom is left out, then it is certain that all are not going to the same place. A person must be born again.

III. To Whom Did Jesus Address Himself When He Said, "Ye Must Be Born Again?"

Jesus spoke these words, not to an irreligious, wicked, blasphemous person, but to the outstanding religious character of his day. His name is Nicodemus.

His name. Bible scholars tell us that his name comes from two words meaning "superior to all the people." From the religious, moral, ethical standpoint, Nicodemus, like Saul of old stood head and shoulders above the rest of the people.
He was a pharisee. We usually associate phariseeism with hypocrisy since Jesus dealt with some of them as He did but originally it carried no such connotation. They were a religious party which arose during the silent years between the Old and New Testaments. They protested against unbelief and infidelity in Israel. They sought to bring about a revival. They gave themselves to the defense of the Scriptures and traditions of the fathers. People looked to them for interpretation of the Scriptures. Nicodemus belonged to this party.
He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling party of the nation. In matters of doctrine and conduct, the decisions of the Sanhedrin were final.
He was a master in Israel. Jesus referred to him as "a master of Israel" or "the teacher of Israel." T. W. Gilbert in his devotional commentary on John says, "The designation evidently implies an official position, and probably refers to Nicodemus as the man who was the official exponent of the decrees of the Sanhedrin, or the Rabbi who was regarded as the recognized expounder of Judaism.

Now comes the shock. Jesus said that this man, this deeply religious man, this morally clean man was lost and must experience the new birth if he was ever to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Nicodemus; with all your fine qualities; with all your religious profession; with all your respectability; the place you hold in society; the esteem with which you are held by your associates; the places of authority you hold in the religious life you your age; all this will avail you nothing unless you experience the new birth.

One has said, "There is an all too common notion among people that only a certain class of people need to be born anew, those who have tasted the very depths and dregs of sin, have fallen into the depths of corruption and immorality and wickedness. These surely need a revolutionary change in their lives but if you have been born in a Christian home, been sprinkled as an infant, go to Sunday School and church, have been instructed and confirmed, then somehow, these we're led to believe do not need to be born anew." This is a lie from the pits of hell itself.

It is clear from the Bible that everyone is a sinner and everyone must experience the new birth in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Have you experienced this new birth?

Someone has well said, "It is an everlasting calamity to be born and not to be born anew."

IV. How Can One Be Born Again?

Nicodemus wanted to know and he asked Jesus.

John 3:4 (KJV)
⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

John 3:9 (KJV)
⁹ Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jesus said:

John 3:14 through John 3:15 (KJV)
¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ¹⁵ Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus took him back to the twenty first chapter of Numbers in the Old Testament where it is recorded how the Israelites began to speak against Moses and against God and how "the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people and much people of Israel died."

Numbers 21:8 through Numbers 21:9 (KJV)
⁸ And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. ⁹ And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Jesus made it clear and plain as He could to Nicodemus. He was saying in effect, "Nicodemus, the same way that those serpents had bitten those children of Israel, so sin has bitten men today and they need a remedy. But just as Moses was commanded to make a serpent of brass and the people looked up at it and were healed, just so must I be lifted up on a cross, and men who are bitten by sin may look to me and believe that that is God's way of salvation, and they shall be saved." And just so it is. Those Israelites believed what God had said concerning the brass serpent which was lifted up, and were healed; and we are to look to Calvary's cross and see the suffering Son of God giving His life for our sins, and by faith God saves us.

But someone asks, "Is that all I have to do?" Well, what else did Jesus say to do? Nothing. All that we have to do is to believe what He said; that is sufficient. If we try to add to it, then we are adding to God's say of salvation.

Somebody said to Mr. D. L. Moody in the very heyday of his evangelistic career, "Mr. Moody, the Lord has used you to lift two continents Heavenward and Godward. I wish you would give me a few words of resume of you evangelistic work. I would like to print it in my journal."

"I'd be glad to," said Mr. Moody. And the young journalist produced his pad, poised his pencil to take in rapid shorthand the story of what God had wrought through D. L. Moody.

"Put up your pencil," said Mr. Moody. "You won't need it. I think you can remember all I am going to tell you." And then he said, "My name is Dwight L. Moody. I was born the first time in 1837. I was born the second time in 1856. My body is soon to die, but my spirit, born two times, is immortal."

That's all he said, and that is enough. He was emphasizing the fact of the new birth.

Friend, have you been born again? You can be if you'll trust Jesus as Savior. You may visit the various cities of this world; New York, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Shanghai, etc but you'll never enter into that city which hath foundations, whose maker and builder is God, unless you experience the new birth.

You may visit the beautiful lakes of Switzerland with their beautiful blue waters or Northern Michigan with beautiful lakes but you'll never sit beside the river of the water of life which proceedeth out from the Throne of God unless you have been born from above.

You may satisfy the appetites of the body with the choicest food this world can offer, but you'll never eat fruit from the Tree of Life unless you have turned from your sin and trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior -- been born from above.

John 3:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:36 (KJV)
³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.