\u201cSo is every one that is born of the Spirit.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n
John 3:8.<\/p>\n
1. How is every one that is \u201cborn of the Spirit,\u201d \u2014 that is, born again, \u2014 born of God? What is meant by the being born again, the being born of God, or being born of the Spirit? What is implied in the being a son or a child of God, or having the Spirit of adoption? That these privileges, by the free mercy of God, are ordinarily annexed to baptism (which is thence termed by our Lord in a preceding verse, the being \u201cborn of water and of the Spirit\u201d) we know; but we would know what these privileges are: What is the new birth?<\/p>\n
2. Perhaps it is not needful to give a definition of this, seeing the Scripture gives none. But as the question is of the deepest concern to every child of man; since, \u201cexcept a man be born again,\u201d born of the Spirit, \u201che cannot see the kingdom of God;\u201d I propose to lay down the marks of it in the plainest manner, just as I find them laid down in Scripture.<\/p>\n
I. 1. The First of these, and the foundation of all the rest, is faith. So St. Paul, \u201cYe are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.\u201d (Gal. 3:26.) So St. John, \u201cTo them gave he power\u201d (exousian<\/i>, right<\/i> or privilege,<\/i> it might rather be translated) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, when they believed, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, not by natural generation, nor of the will of man, like those children adopted by men, in whom no inward change is thereby wrought, \u201cbut of God.\u201d (John 1:12, 13.) And again in his General epistle, \u201cWhosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.\u201d (1 John 5:1.)<\/p>\n
2. But it is not a barely notional or speculative faith that is here spoken of by the Apostles. It is not a bare assent to this proposition, Jesus is the Christ; nor indeed to all the propositions contained in our creed, or in the old and New Testament. It is not merely an assent to any or all these credible things, as credible. To say this, were to say (which who could hear?) that the devils were born of God; for they have this faith. They, trembling, believe, both that Jesus is the Christ, and that all Scripture, having been given by inspiration of God, is true as God is true. It is not only an assent to divine truth, upon the testimony of God, or upon the evidence of miracles; for they<\/i> also heard the words of his mouth, and knew him to be a faithful and true witness. They could not but receive the testimony he gave, both of himself, and of the Father which sent him. They saw likewise the mighty works which he did, and thence believed that he \u201ccame forth from God.\u201d Yet, notwithstanding this faith, they are still \u201creserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. For all this is no more than a dead faith. The true, living, Christian faith, which whosoever hath, is born of God, is not only an assent, an act of the understanding; but a disposition, which God hath wrought in his heart; \u201ca sure trust and confidence in God, that, through the merits of Christ, his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God.\u201d This implies, that a man first renounce himself; that, in order to be \u201cfound in Christ,\u201d to be accepted through him, he totally rejects all \u201cconfidence in the flesh;\u201d that, \u201chaving nothing to pay,\u201d having no trust in his own works or righteousness of any kind, he comes to God as a lost, miserable, self-destroyed, self-condemned, undone, helpless sinner; as one whose mouth is utterly stopped, and who is altogether \u201cguilty before God.\u201d Such a sense of sin, (commonly called despair, by those who speak evil of the things they know not,) together with a full conviction, such as no words can express, that of Christ only cometh our salvation, and an earnest desire of that salvation, must precede a living faith, a trust in him, who \u201cfor us paid our ransom by his death, and fulfilled the law of his life.\u201d This faith then, whereby we are born of God, is \u201cnot only a belief of all the articles of our faith, but also a true confidence of the mercy of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. An immediate and constant fruit of this faith whereby we are born of God, a fruit which can in no wise be separated from it, no, not for an hour, is power over sin; power over outward sin of every kind; over every evil word and work; for wheresoever the blood of Christ is thus applied, it \u201cpurgeth the conscience from dead works;\u201d and over inward sin; for it purifieth the heart from every unholy desire and temper. This fruit of faith St. Paul has largely described, in the sixth chapter of his epistle to the Romans. \u201chow shall we,\u201d saith he, \u201cwho\u201d by faith \u201care dead to sin, live any longer therein?\u201d \u201cour old man is crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.\u201d \u2014 \u201cLikewise, reckon ye yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign\u201d even \u201cin your mortal body,\u201d \u201cbut yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead.\u201d \u201cFor sin shall not have dominion over you. \u2014 God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, \u2014 but being made free,\u201d \u2014 the plain meaning is, God be thanked that though ye were, in time past, the servants of sin, yet now \u2014 \u201cbeing free from sin, ye are become the servants of righteousness.\u201d<\/p>\n
5. The same invaluable privilege of the sons of God is as strongly asserted by St. John; particularly with regard to the former branch of it, namely, power over outward sin. After he had been crying out, as one astonished at the depth of the riches of the goodness of God, \u2014 \u201cBehold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! Beloved, now are we the sons of God: And it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is;\u201d (1 John 3:1) \u2014 he soon adds, \u201cWhosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: And he cannot sin, because he is born of God.\u201d (1 John 3:9.) But some men will say, \u201cTrue: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin habitually.\u201d<\/i> habitually!<\/i> Whence is that? I read it not. It is not written in the Book. God plainly saith, \u201cHe doth not commit sin;\u201d and thou addest, habitually!<\/i> Who art thou that mendest<\/i> the oracles of God? \u2014 that \u201caddest to the words of this book?\u201d Beware, I beseech thee, lest God \u201cadd to thee all the plagues that are written therein!\u201d especially when the comment thou addest is such as quite swallows up the text: So that by this methodeia planes<\/i>, artful method of deceiving, the precious promise is utterly lost; by this kybeia anthropon<\/i>, tricking and shuffling of men, the word of God is made of none effect. o beware, thou that thus takest from the words of this book, that, taking away the whole meaning and spirit from them, leavest only what may indeed be termed a dead letter, lest God take away thy part out of the book of life!<\/p>\n
6. Suffer we the Apostle to interpret his own words, by the whole tenor of his discourse. In the fifth verse of this chapter, he had said, Ye know that he, Christ, was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. What is the inference he draws from this? Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:6.) To his enforcement of this important doctrine, he premises an highly necessary caution: \u201cLittle children, let no man deceive you;\u201d (1 John 3:7; ) for many will endeavor so to do; to persuade you that you may be unrighteous, that you may commit sin, and yet be children of God! \u201che that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. he that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.\u201d Then follows, \u201cWhosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: And he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this,\u201d adds the Apostle, \u201cthe children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.\u201d By this plain mark (the committing or not committing sin) are they distinguished from each other. To the same effect are those words in his fifth chapter, \u201cWe know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.\u201d (1 John 3:18.)<\/p>\n
7. Another fruit of this living faith is peace. For, \u201cbeing justified by faith,\u201d having all our sins blotted out, \u201cwe have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d (Rom. 5:1.) This indeed our Lord himself, the night before his death, solemnly bequeathed to all his followers: \u201cPeace,\u201d saith he, \u201cI leave with you;\u201d (you who \u201cbelieve in God,\u201d and \u201cbelieve also in me;\u201d) \u201cmy peace I give unto you:\u201d \u201cNot as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.\u201d (John 14:27.) And again, \u201cThese things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.\u201d (John 16:33.) This is that \u201cpeace of God which passeth all understanding,\u201d that serenity of soul which it hath not entered into the heart of a natural man to conceive, and which it is not possible for even the spiritual man to utter. And it is a peace which all the powers of earth and hell are unable to take from him. Waves and storms beat upon it, but they shake it not; for it is founded upon a rock. It keepeth the hearts and minds of the children of God, at all times and in all places. Whether they are in ease or in pain, in sickness or health, in abundance or want, they are happy in God. In every state they have learned to be content, yea, to give thanks unto God through Christ Jesus; being well assured that \u201cwhatsoever is, is best,\u201d because it is His will concerning them: So that in all the vicissitudes of life their \u201cheart standeth fast, believing in the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
II. 1. A Second scriptural mark of those who are born of God, is hope. Thus St. Peter, speaking to all the children of God who were then scattered abroad, saith, \u201cBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope.\u201d (1 Peter 1:3.) elpida zosan<\/i>, a lively<\/i> or living<\/i> hope, saith the Apostle; because there is also a dead<\/i> hope, as well as a dead faith; a hope which is not from God, but from the enemy of God and man; \u2014 as evidently appears by its fruits; for, as it is the offspring of pride, so it is the parent of every evil word and work; whereas, every man that hath in him this living hope, is \u201choly as He that calleth him is holy:\u201d Every man that can truly say to his brethren in Christ, \u201cBeloved, now are we the sons of God, and we shall see him as he is,\u201d \u201cpurifieth himself, even as He is pure.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. This hope implies, First, the testimony of our own spirit or conscience, that we walk \u201cin simplicity and godly sincerity;\u201d Secondly, the testimony of the Spirit of God, \u201cbearing witness with,\u201d or to, \u201cour spirit, that we are the children of God,\u201d \u201cand if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Let us well observe what is here taught us by God himself, touching this glorious privilege of his children. Who is it that is here said to bear witness? Not our spirit only, but another; even the Spirit of God: He it is who \u201cbeareth witness with our spirit.\u201d What is it he beareth witness of? \u201cThat we are the children of God,\u201d \u201cand if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;\u201d (Rom. 8:16, 17; ) \u201cif so be that we suffer with him,\u201d if we deny ourselves, if we take up our cross daily, if we cheerfully endure persecution or reproach for his sake, \u201cthat we may also be glorified together.\u201d And in whom doth the Spirit of God bear this witness? In all who are the children of God. By this very argument does the Apostle prove, in the preceding verses, that they are so: \u201cAs many,\u201d saith he, \u201cas are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.\u201d \u201cFor ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!\u201d It follows, \u201cThe Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.\u201d (8:14\u201316.)<\/p>\n
4. The variation of the phrase in the fifteenth verse is worthy our observation: \u201cYe have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!\u201d Ye<\/i>, as many as are the sons of God, have, in virtue of your sonship, received that selfsame Spirit of Adoption, whereby we<\/i> cry, Abba, Father: We<\/i>, the Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, (for so the word may not improperly be understood,) we<\/i>, through whom you have believed, the \u201cministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.\u201d As we<\/i> and you<\/i> have one Lord, so we have one Spirit: As we have one faith, so we have one hope also. We and you are sealed with one \u201cSpirit of promise,\u201d the earnest of your<\/i> and of our<\/i> inheritance: The same Spirit bearing witness with your and with our spirit, \u201cthat we are the children of God.\u201d (Rom. 8:14\u201316).<\/p>\n
5. And thus is the Scripture fulfilled, \u201cBlessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.\u201d For it is easy to believe, that though sorrow may precede this witness of God\u2019s Spirit with our spirit; (indeed must<\/i>, in some degree, while we groan under fear, and a sense of the wrath of God abiding on us;) yet, as soon as any man feeleth it in himself, his \u201csorrow is turned into joy.\u201d Whatsoever his pain may have been before; yet, as soon as that \u201chour is come, he remembereth the anguish no more, for joy\u201d that he is born of God. It may be, many of you<\/i> have now sorrow, because you are \u201caliens from the commonwealth of Israel;\u201d because you are conscious to yourselves that you have not this Spirit; that you are \u201cwithout hope and without God in the world.\u201d But when the Comforter is come, \u201cthen your heart shall rejoice;\u201d yea, \u201cyour joy shall be full,\u201d and \u201cthat joy no man taketh from you.\u201d (John 16:22.) \u201cWe joy in God,\u201d will ye say, \u201cthrough our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement;\u201d \u201cby whom we have access into this grace,\u201d this state of grace, of favour, or reconciliation with God, \u201cwherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.\u201d (Rom. 5:2.) \u201cYe,\u201d saith St. Peter, whom God hath \u201cbegotten again unto a lively hope, are kept by the power of God unto salvation: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ: In whom, though now ye see him not, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.\u201d (1 Peter 1:5.) Unspeakable indeed! It is not for the tongue of man to describe this joy in the Holy Ghost. It is \u201cthe hidden manna, which no man knoweth, save he that receiveth it.\u201d But this we know, it not only remains, but overflows, in the depth of affliction. \u201cAre the consolations of God small\u201d with his children, when all earthly comforts fail? Not so. But when sufferings most abound, the consolations of his Spirit do much more abound; insomuch that the sons of God \u201claugh at destruction when it cometh;\u201d at want, pain, hell, and the grave; as knowing Him who \u201chath the keys of death and hell,\u201d and will shortly \u201ccast them into the bottomless pit;\u201d as hearing even now the great voice out of heaven, saying, \u201cBehold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.\u201d (Rev. 21:3, 4.)<\/p>\n
III. 1. A Third scriptural mark of those who are born of God, and the greatest of all, is love; even \u201cthe love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them.\u201d (Rom. 5:5.) \u201cBecause they are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son in their hearts, crying, Abba, Father!\u201d (Gal. 4:6.) By this Spirit, continually looking up to God as their reconciled and loving Father, they cry to him for their daily bread, for all things needful, whether for their souls or bodies. They continually pour out their hearts before him, knowing \u201cthey have the petitions which they ask of him.\u201d (1 John 5:15.) Their delight is in him. He is the joy of their heart; their \u201cshield,\u201d and their \u201cexceeding great reward.\u201d The desire of their soul is toward him; it is their \u201cmeat and drink to do his will;\u201d and they are \u201csatisfied as with marrow and fatness, while their mouth praiseth him with joyful lips.\u201d (Psalm 63:5.)<\/p>\n
2. And, in this sense also, \u201cevery one who loveth him that begat, loveth him that is begotten of him.\u201d (1 John 5:1.) His spirit rejoiceth in God his Saviour. He \u201cloveth the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.\u201d He is so \u201cjoined unto the Lord,\u201d as to be one spirit. His soul hangeth upon Him, and chooseth Him as altogether lovely, \u201cthe chiefest among ten thousand.\u201d He knoweth, he feeleth what that means, \u201cMy Beloved is mine, and I am his.\u201d (Song 2:16.) \u201cThou art fairer than the children of men; full of grace are thy lips, because God hath anointed thee for ever!\u201d (Psalm 45:2.)<\/p>\n
3. The necessary fruit of this love of God is the love of our neighbour; of every soul which God hath made; not excepting our enemies; not excepting those who are now \u201cdespitefully using and persecuting us;\u201d \u2014 a love whereby we love every man as ourselves; as we love our own souls. Nay, our Lord has expressed it still more strongly, teaching us to \u201clove one another even as He hath loved us.\u201d Accordingly, the commandment written in the hearts of all those that love God, is no other than this, \u201cAs I have loved you, so love ye one another.\u201d Now, \u201cherein perceive we the love of God, in that he laid down his life for us.\u201d (1 John 3:16.) \u201cWe ought,\u201d then, as the Apostle justly infers, \u201cto lay down our lives for the brethren.\u201d If we feel ourselves ready to do this, then do we truly love our neighbour. Then \u201cwe know that we have passed from death unto life, because we\u201d thus \u201clove the brethren.\u201d (1 John 3:14.) \u201cHereby know we\u201d that we are born of God, that we \u201cdwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his\u201d loving \u201cSpirit.\u201d (1 John 4:13.) For \u201clove is of God; and every one that\u201d thus \u201cloveth is born of God, and knoweth God.\u201d (1 John 4:7.) <\/p>\n
4. But some may possibly ask, \u201cDoes not the Apostle say, \u2018This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments?\u2019\u201d (1 John 5:3.) Yea, and this is the love of our neighbour also, in the same sense as it is the love of God. But what would you infer from hence? that the keeping the outward commandments is all that is implied in loving God with all your heart, with all your mind, and soul, and strength, and in loving your neighbour as yourself? that the love of God is not an affection of the soul, but merely an outward service<\/i>? and that the love of our neighbour is not a disposition of heart, but barely a course of outward works<\/i>? To mention so wild an interpretation of the Apostle\u2019s words, is sufficiently to confute it. The plain indisputable meaning of that text is, \u2014 this is the sign or proof of the love of God, of our keeping the first and great commandment, to keep the rest of his commandments. For true love, if it be once shed abroad in our heart, will constrain us so to do; since, whosoever loves God with all his heart, cannot but serve him with all his strength.<\/p>\n
5. A Second fruit then of the love of God (so far as it can be distinguished from it) is universal obedience to him we love, and conformity to his will; obedience to all the commands of God, internal and external; obedience of the heart and of the life; in every temper, and in all manner of conversation. And one of the tempers most obviously implied herein, is, the being \u201czealous of good works;\u201d the hungering and thirsting to do good, in every possible kind, unto all men; the rejoicing to \u201cspend and be spent for them,\u201d for every child of man; not looking for any recompence in this world, but only in the resurrection of the just.<\/p>\n
IV. 1. Thus have I plainly laid down those marks of the new birth which I find laid down in Scripture. Thus doth God himself answer that weighty question, What is it to be born of God? Such, if the appeal be made to the oracles of God, is \u201cevery one that is born of the Spirit.\u201d This it is, in the judgment of the Spirit of God, to be a son or a child of God: It is, so to believe<\/i> in God, through Christ, as \u201cnot to commit sin,\u201d and to enjoy at all times, and in all places, that \u201cpeace of God which passeth all understanding.\u201d It is, so to hope<\/i> in God through the Son of his love, as to have not only the \u201ctestimony of a good conscience,\u201d but also the Spirit of God \u201cbearing witness with your spirits, that ye are the children of God;\u201d whence cannot but spring the rejoicing in Him, through whom ye \u201chave received the atonement.\u201d It is, so to love<\/i> God, who hath thus loved you, as you never did love any creature: So that ye are constrained to love all men as yourselves; with a love not only ever burning in your hearts, but flaming out in all your actions and conversations, and making your whole life one \u201clabour of love,\u201d one continued obedience to those commands, \u201cBe ye merciful, as God is merciful;\u201d \u201cBe ye holy, as I the Lord am holy:\u201d \u201cBe ye perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Who then are ye that are thus<\/i> born of God? Ye \u201cknow the things which are given to you of God.\u201d Ye well know that ye are the children of God, and \u201ccan assure your hearts before him.\u201d And every one of you who has observed these words cannot but feel, and know of a truth, whether at this hour, (answer to God, and not to man!) you are thus a child of God or no. The question is not, what you was made in baptism; (do not evade;) but, What are you now? Is the Spirit of adoption now in your heart? To your own heart let the appeal be made. I ask not, whether you was<\/i> born of water and of the Spirit; but are you now<\/i> the temple of the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in you? I allow you was \u201ccircumcised with the circumcision of Christ;\u201d (as St. Paul emphatically terms baptism;) but does the Spirit of Christ and of glory now<\/i> rest upon you? Else \u201cyour circumcision is become uncircumcision.\u201d<\/p>\n
3 . Say not then in your heart, \u201cI was once<\/i> baptized, therefore I am now<\/i> a child of God.\u201d Alas, that consequence will by no means hold. How many are the baptized gluttons and drunkards, the baptized liars and common swearers, the baptized railers and evil-speakers, the baptized whoremongers, thieves, extortioners? What think you? Are these now the children of God? Verily, I say unto you, whosoever you are, unto whom any one of the preceding characters belongs, \u201cYe are of your father the devil, and the works of your father ye do.\u201d Unto you I call, in the name of Him whom you crucify afresh, and in his words to your circumcised predecessors, \u201cYe serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?\u201d<\/p>\n
4. How, indeed, except ye be born again! For ye are now dead in trespasses and sins. To say, then, that ye cannot be born again, that there is no new birth but in baptism, is to seal you all under damnation, to consign you to hell, without help, without hope. And perhaps some may think this just and right. In their zeal for the Lord of hosts, they may say, \u201cYea, cut off the sinners, the Amalekites! Let these Gibeonites be utterly destroyed! They deserve no less.\u201d No; nor I, nor you. Mine and your desert, as well as theirs, is hell; and it is mere mercy, free, undeserved mercy, that we<\/i> are not now in unquenchable fire. You will say, \u201cBut we are washed;\u201d we were born again \u201cof water and of the Spirit.\u201d So were<\/i> they: This, therefore, hinders not at all, but that ye may now<\/i> be even as they. Know ye not, that \u201cwhat is highly esteemed of men is an abomination in the sight of God?\u201d Come forth, ye \u201csaints of the world,\u201d ye that are honoured of men, and see who will cast the first stone at them, at these wretches not fit to live upon the earth, these common harlots, adulterers, murderers. Only learn ye first what that meaneth, \u201cHe that hateth his brother is a murderer.\u201d (1 John 3:15.) \u201cHe that looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.\u201d (Matt. 5:28.) \u201cYe adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?\u201d (James 4:4.)<\/p>\n
5. \u201cVerily, verily, I say unto you, ye\u201d also \u201cmust be born again.\u201d \u201cExcept ye\u201d also \u201cbe born again, ye cannot see the kingdom of God.\u201d Lean no more on the staff of that broken reed, that ye were<\/i> born again in baptism. Who denies that ye were then made children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven? But, notwithstanding this, ye are now children of the devil. Therefore ye must be born again. And let not Satan put it into your heart to cavil at a word, when the thing is clear. Ye have heard what are the marks of the children of God: All ye who have them not on your souls, baptized or unbaptized, must needs receive them, or without doubt ye will perish everlastingly. And if ye have been baptized, your only hope is this, \u2014 that those who were made the children of God by baptism, but are now the children of the devil, may yet again receive \u201cpower to become the sons of God;\u201d that they may receive again what they have lost, even the \u201cSpirit of adoption, crying in their hearts, Abba, Father!\u201d<\/p>\n
Amen, Lord Jesus! May every one who prepareth his heart yet again to seek thy face, receive again that Spirit of adoption, and cry out, \u201cAbba, Father!\u201d Let him now again have power so to believe in thy name as to become a child of God; as to know and feel he hath \u201credemption in thy blood, even the forgiveness of sins;\u201d and that he \u201ccannot commit sin, because he is born of God.\u201d Let him be now \u201cbegotten again unto a living hope,\u201d so as to \u201cpurify himself as thou art pure;\u201d and \u201cbecause he is a son,\u201d let the Spirit of love and of glory rest upon him, cleansing him \u201cfrom all filthiness of flesh and spirit,\u201d and teaching him to \u201cperfect holiness in the fear of God!\u201d <\/p>\n
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\u201cSo is every one that is born of the Spirit.\u201d John 3:8. 1. How is every one that is \u201cborn of the Spirit,\u201d \u2014 that is, born again, \u2014 born of God? What is meant by the being born again, the being born of God, or being born of the Spirit? What is implied in … Continue reading “THE
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