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Hope
Unlimited
Chapter
12: New Birth And The Holy Spirit
YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN." This word of our Lord Jesus has
appeared as a flame in the way of many, like the drawn sword of the
cherub at the gate of Paradise. They have despaired, because this
change is beyond their utmost effort. The new birth is from above,
and therefore it is not in the creature's power. Now, it is far from
my mind to deny, or ever to conceal, a truth in order to create a
false comfort. I freely admit that the new birth is supernatural,
and that it cannot be wrought by the sinner's own self. It would be
a poor help to my reader if I were wicked enough to try to cheer him
by persuading him to reject or forget what is unquestionably true.
But is it not
remarkable that the very chapter in which our Lord makes this
sweeping declaration also contains the most explicit statement
regarding salvation by faith? Read the third chapter of John's
Gospel and do not dwell alone upon its earlier sentences. It is true
that the third verse says:
`Jesus declared,
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless
he is born again." ' (John 3:3)
But, then, the
fourteenth and fifteenth verses speak:
`Just as Moses lifted
up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.' (John
3:14-15)
The eighteenth verse
repeats the same doctrine in the broadest terms:
`Whoever believes in
him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and
only Son.' (John 3:18)
It is clear to every
reader that these statements must agree, since they came from the
same lips, and are recorded on the same inspired page. Why should we
make a difficulty where there can be none? If one statement assures
that is only available to those who are born again, and another
assures us that the Lord will save us if we believe in Jesus, then
we may safely conclude that the Lord will give to those who believe
all that is declared to be necessary for salvation. You see, the
Lord does in fact produce the new birth in all who believe in Jesus;
and their believing is the surest evidence that they are born again.
We trust in Jesus for
what we cannot do ourselves: if it were in our own power, why do we
need to look to Him? It is ours to believe, it is the Lord's to
create us anew. He will not believe for us, neither are we to do
regenerating work for Him. It is enough for us to obey the gracious
command; it is for the Lord to work the new birth in us. He who
could go so far as to die on the cross for us, can and will give us
all things that are needful for our eternal safety.
"But," some
might respond, "a saving change of heart is the work of the
Holy Spirit." This also is most true, and let it be far from us
to question it, or to forget it. But the work of the Holy Spirit is
secret and mysterious, and it can only be perceived by its results.
There are mysteries about our natural birth into which we dare not
pry: still more is this the case with the sacred operations of the
Spirit of God. "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear
its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is
going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." This much,
however, we do know - the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit cannot
be a reason for refusing to believe in Jesus to whom that same
Spirit bears witness.
If a man were bidden
to sow a field, he could not excuse his neglect by saying that it
would be useless to sow unless God caused the seed to grow. He would
not be justified in neglecting to till the soil because the secret
energy of God alone can create a harvest. No one is hindered in the
ordinary pursuits of life by the fact that unless the Lord builds
the house they labor in vain who build it. It is certain that no man
who believes in Jesus will ever find that the Holy Spirit refuses to
work in him: in fact, his believing is the proof that the Spirit is
already at work in his heart.
God works in
providence, but men do not therefore sit still. They could not move
without the divine power giving them life and strength, and yet they
proceed upon their way without question; the power being bestowed
from day to day by Him in whose hand their breath is, and whose are
all their ways. So is it in grace. We repent and believe, though we
could do neither if the Lord did not enable us. We forsake sin and
trust in Jesus, and then we perceive that the Lord has wrought in us
to will and to do of His own good pleasure. It is idle to pretend
that there is any real difficulty in the matter.
Some truths which it
is hard to explain in words are simple enough in actual experience.
There is no discrepancy between the truth that the sinner believes,
and that his faith is wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. Only folly
can lead men to puzzle themselves about plain matters while their
souls are in danger. No man would refuse to enter a lifeboat because
he did not know the specific gravity of bodies; neither would a
starving man decline to eat till he understood the whole process of
nutrition. If you, my reader, will not believe till you can
understand all mysteries, you will never be saved at all; and if you
allow self-invented difficulties to keep you from accepting pardon
through your Lord and Saviour, you will perish in a condemnation
which will be richly deserved. Do not commit spiritual suicide
through a passion for discussing metaphysical subtleties.
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