 |
|||
| Books | Sermons | Today's Devotion | |
| Devotion Archives | Scripture Reference Index | Sermon Archives | |
| Home | About Us | Contact Us | Links |
Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
ONE NEW BIRTH
In JOH 3:3 "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."
Nicodemus came to Jesus, and Jesus emphasizes the supreme importance of the new birth saying, "...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus is saying this is the only way; without this exact "recipe" that Jesus gives, there is no way that you or I can enter into the kingdom of God. You and I can have all the different "recipes" from 50 different churches, but unless we understand what the Lord Jesus Christ is telling us about the new birth, and we understand what it is, we could be deceiving ourselves as to whether or not we have received the new birth. It is so important. Unless we are born again, we cannot see the kingdom of God.
Many people will say they have been born again because they have changed their whole attitude or changed their whole life. How we are to live was not our Saviour's first teaching, but how men are made spiritually alive. A man cannot live spiritually until he is made alive by the Holy Spirit. The point of the matter is being made alive. How we live was the Pharisee's total religion. They had so many dos and don'ts and amplifications of the law, that they were literally law sick, yet they were totally destitute of spiritual life. Remember, Jesus is speaking to a Pharisee, Nicodemus.
We may think we know how to live, but our hearts may be filled with hypocrisy, malice, bitterness, and hatred. We may think we have the kingdom of God while we're walking in sin. The Pharisees were the chief rulers of the church, and they were void of the new birth. Jesus told a Pharisee, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus did not first point out how men are to live, but how men are made alive. A person cannot live until he is made alive. A man cannot live under the kingship of Christ until he has been born again. A man cannot have a right attitude, a right spirit until he has been quickened by the grace of the Holy Spirit. In EPH 2:1 we read, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
Our Saviour began by saying, "Verily, verily," which means "of a truth, of a truth." Our Saviour emphasizes the importance of this truth of the new birth, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," V:3. We need to understand that though many people think the new birth pertains to only one thing, i.e., to escape hell and go to heaven, it actually means entering into the kingdom or the service of the Lord.
So what is meant by entering into the kingdom of God? Entering the kingdom of God is to enter the service of Christ. Let's look to the Scriptures to explain this truth. Turn to ROM 14:17-18, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness [this is a right attitude, right actions towards our neighbours], and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things [righteousness, and peace] serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."
We need to examine our own heart to see whether or not the kingdom of Christ has entered our souls. Thereby righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit enables us to serve Christ acceptably, acceptable to God and approved by men.
As Jesus said outside of the new birth, the kingdom of God cannot be seen in you. Until you have entered into His service, until Christ can be seen formed in you, the new birth cannot be seen in you. Until the Spirit of holiness can be seen upon you, the kingdom of God cannot be seen in you.
Look at 1CO 2:14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." It is so important that we understand what it is to be born again. It is to enter into the service of Christ; it is foolishness to the carnal or natural man who have not received the Spirit of God. Amen.
Gracious Spirit, dove Divine,
Let thy light within me shine;
All my guilty fears remove,
Fill me full of heaven and love.
Speak thy pard’ning grace to me,
Set the burdened sinner free;
Lead me to the Lamb of God,
Wash me in his precious blood.
Life and peace to me impart;
Seal salvation on my heart;
Breathe thyself into my breast,
Earnest of immortal rest.
Let me never from thee stray,
Keep me in the narrow way,
Fill my soul with joy divine,
Keep me, Lord, for ever thine.
~Author: John Stocker, 1777
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.