From the book: Born of the Spirit

BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT #1, Sermon #488
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Notice the importance Jesus places on His words. There are two conditions which must be met before man can enter the kingdom of God: he must be born of water, and he must be born of the Spirit. They are co-essential because one cannot operate without the other.

Also, notice that Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee," to demand our attention. He wants us to hear and to understand how essential it is to be born again. In V:3 Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Being born of water and the Spirit is what constitutes the new birth.

It is very important to understand what these two elements are and what they represent. Some teach that the water is the symbol of baptism, and unless one is baptized, one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. But this is not the meaning of this verse.

The Lord Jesus said. He said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," JOH 3:5. That is what is needful. It doesn't say what we need to know; it is what we need to own and experience. We must be possessors of the new birth.

FIRST, let's delve into the historical background of the times when Jesus taught the disciples. The chapter before us again reveals the blindness and emptiness of Judaism and the ushering in of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ. Notice the blindness of the Sanhedrin which is the highest ecclesiastical court of Israel.

A man out of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, was a true representative of the unrepentant natural man. In other words, he is a true representative of those who by nature are outside of the new birth. They do not understand the new birth. He is a man of the Jews, and he is one of their leaders, a member of the Sanhedrin—Israel's highest ecclesiastical court, yet he does not understand the most basic and essential element of salvation.

JOH 3:1 says, "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." At first Nicodemus acted timidly, coming to Jesus by night; he didn't dare to come out openly lest the members of the Sanhedrin discover he was inquiring about Jesus.

Later it is obvious he became very defensive of Christ. He wasn't so timid as he grew in grace. JOH 7:44-51 says, "And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?"

Here we have part of the account of those men sent to take Jesus into custody. When they came back without Jesus, the chief priests wanted to know why. In the conversation which follows it is evident that the chief priests were passing judgment upon Jesus; they were saying that anyone who does not follow the law of the scribes and Pharisees was cursed. Nicodemus was becoming more outspoken; he has heard, and the power of the Word has been taking effect.

When all of Jesus' disciples had fled and forsaken Jesus, see how bold and dedicated Nicodemus became to his Saviour. He came to assist Joseph of Arimathaea in giving Jesus an honorable burial. JOH 19:39-40 says, "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." Reading that account we can see the reminder of how timid Nicodemus was at first.

Now we see Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, the "they" referred to in V:40, took Jesus' body and gave it an honorable burial. They used a very generous amount of myrrh and aloes, linen clothes with spices, and buried him among the rich. In a time when Jesus' own disciples had fled and forsook him, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea came forth very boldly to give Him an honorable burial.

JOH 2:11 says, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." This manifestation of His glory is only seen by the revelation of the Holy Spirit through the authority of the Word. Jesus' disciples believed upon Jesus through the manifestation of His glory at the beginning of miracles.

It was at the beginning of miracles that Nicodemus came to Jesus, lured by His teachings. Later we read in JOH 7:46 and 50, that Nicodemus was one of those who had gone to take Jesus, but didn't because he said, "Never man spake like this man." He was one who would not judge a man until they knew what he was doing. Nicodemus was one who had seen the manifestation of Jesus by the Holy Spirit through the authority of the Word. Nicodemus saw and understood the authority with which Jesus spoke.

Nicodemus "...came to Jesus by night," as we see from JOH 3:2 "...and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God [Nicodemus saw the distinction between Jesus' teaching and that of the Sanhedrin]: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him," JOH 3:2.

Nicodemus began to realize that Jesus was performing a miracle, and there was a miracle taking place in his own heart that he did not understand. He could see that something was taking place in his attitude and understanding, but didn't understand what it was. He saw the authority in the Word with which Jesus spoke.

This manifestation of Christ's glory is in the power of His Word. Notice in the beginning of miracles in JOH 2:11, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory." How does the Lord manifest His glory to you and I if it isn't in the power of His Word? The disciples saw the power of His Word.

One example is found in JOH 2:7-9, "Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom."

Jesus gave the servants His instructions, and as they obeyed the miracle was performed; the water was transformed into wine; they saw the manifestation of His glory in the power of His Word.

This is the power Nicodemus saw; he said that no man can do these miracles except God be with him. He saw the manifestation of Christ's glory in the power of His Word. Jesus revealed the need of something more than the letter of the law to Nicodemus, and brought him to Himself seeking to be taught.

In the Sanhedrin the letter of the law was all that they understood, but the power of the Word of God showed Nicodemus the need for the spirit of the law. Nicodemus began to see that repentance begins with the change of mind and attitude; he saw it as an essential element, but he doesn't understand what brings it about. He saw the miracle take place in the preaching of Jesus, but he didn't understand how it was performed. His only explanation was that surely God was with Him.

Nicodemus was drawn by the Holy Spirit unto Jesus to be taught; he saw the need of something more than obeying the mere letter of the law.

This is one of the best evidences that the Spirit of God has begun the work of grace in our hearts; then there is a desire to understand the will of God. EPH 4:22-24 teaches how the new birth is a renewing of the heart, and of the attitude toward God's will, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

The new birth creates a new desire to know what the Lord is saying to us. Have you seen the rebellion in today's religions? They are putting aside the authority of God's Word; it is found in most mainline churches.

In the Washington Times there was an article about worshiping Sophia as a female God was causing this terrible stir among the churches. Why? Many of the Protestant churches are beginning to worship Sophia, calling her their creator. This is not taking place in the past dark ages, it is now. Twenty-five hundred female preachers came together to have a festival for Sophia—worshiping a female God. It is further evidence of rebellion against the authority of God’s Word.

Nicodemus began to have a desire to know the truth, a desire to understand the spirit of the law, that his heart might be drawn to the Lord. This heart religion is the fruit of the Spirit. It is not a letter of the law religion, not a legalistic religion, but a desire to know and do the will of God. He went to Jesus to be taught.

We read in JOH 3:3 how Jesus began to teach him, "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."

The Lord Jesus is now opening Nicodemus' understanding; Nicodemus now begins to understand what is happening within him. That new understanding is being enlightened. Jesus told Nicodemus squarely where the center of the matter lies. It is the need of a new birth, a new attitude, and true gospel repentance. It is the work of regeneration; it is the need of the power of the Word being applied to the heart.

The word see, in JOH 3:3, comes from the Greek word eidon which means to know or become acquainted with. When Jesus says "ye cannot see the kingdom of God," it means you cannot know it or become acquainted with it unless you are born again. You cannot understand or know what the kingdom of God is or what it is to serve the Lord under the Kingship of Christ unless you have the new birth. You cannot become acquainted with, or be a part of the kingdom of God unless you are born again.

In JOH 3:4 Nicodemus asks, "...How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was telling him. Throughout the book of John Jesus spoke in parables for the purpose that "...seeing [they] see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand," MAT 13:13.

Jesus is speaking in symbolical language; His message did not come through to Nicodemus because Nicodemus was thinking literally. Was he to be literally born again? No, I cannot enter into my mother's womb and be born again. Then Jesus goes on to qualify His statement. JOH 3:5 says, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit [except he be born from above], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

It was obvious that Nicodemus, though he was a ruler in Israel had not become acquainted with the need for the kingdom of Christ to be established in his heart. Jesus is telling Nicodemus he cannot enter the kingdom or see the kingdom or become acquainted with it unless he is born again; unless he has a new attitude, a new spirit, and repentance, he will never understand what it is to have the kingdom of Christ established on the throne of his heart. You will never understand what it is to serve under the kingship of Christ until you are born again.

Our Saviour's blessed ministry began by preaching the gospel. Do you know what the word gospel means? It means good news! So what is that good news? The good news is that Christ has opened a way whereby fallen man can again enter the kingdom of God; that Christ's kingdom should be established on the throne of your heart. This is where the ministry of our Saviour began.

Now let's consider MAR 1:14-15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Jesus began His ministry by preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven; such preaching requires a change of attitude and heart and mind. We are to believe the gospel. The word believe means come into subjection to. We are to come under the authority of the kingdom of Christ.

Now that Nicodemus had heard the good news of the kingdom of Christ, and had seen the authority in His Word, he came by night to inquire of its meaning. This is when Jesus said in JOH 3:5, "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." Notice, there are two elements that are co-essential: "be born of water and of the Spirit."

The central truth about the Spirit's work of grace is found in our Saviour's teaching about the principles of the new birth. We must understand what this really is; there are so many recipes for the constitution of the new birth, but we need to concern ourselves only with what Jesus says constitutes the new birth.

FIRST, Jesus reveals the supreme importance of the new birth in V:3.

SECOND, the instrument used to effect the new birth--"water" V:5.

THIRD, who produces the new birth--"the Spirit" V:5.

FOURTH, the new character found in the new birth--a new nature or "spirit" or a new mental disposition. V:6.

FIFTH, the process of the new birth.

Now, the Lord willing, we will look at Points 1-4, and in the next chapter we will consider Point 5.

FIRST, 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," V:3. 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.

SECOND, water is the instrument needed to effect the new birth. What does that mean? It is very important to understand it. Look at JOH 3:5 where, "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."

Water is a scriptural symbol of the Word of God when it is used for cleansing. The Word of God is the instrument used of the Spirit for purifying to perform the new birth. The new birth is worked by the Holy Spirit unto sanctification. It is the Word of God that is used as the instrument for purifying unto sanctification.

Let's look at Scripture to understand how purifying becomes the work of the new birth. 1PE 1:22-23 says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls [How?] in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." How are we being born again? It is by purifying of our souls.

The Word of God is the actual instrument that the Holy Spirit uses in working the new birth. Why? It is for the purifying of our souls, the purging out of all things that are unclean: wrong attitudes, wrong desires, all iniquity. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace in the Holy Ghost.

Righteousness is a right attitude toward our brother. It is purifying our souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit. Read the verses above again and consider their meaning.

David attributed the quickening of the Spirit to the Word of God in PSA 119:49-50, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me."

Do you understand now where the new birth lies? It is when the power of the Word of God becomes our authority. The soul is purified by obeying the Word of truth. It is by the act of obeying, i.e., through the obedience of faith, that we become filled with the Word, and as we become filled with the Word, it becomes our greatest joy to do the Lord's will.

The Apostle Paul was referring to this new birth when he said in 1CO 4:15, "For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you [your spiritual birth took place] through the gospel." In other words Paul is saying your new birth took place through the gospel.

This same word begotten or begat refers to the new birth by the Word in JAM 1:18, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." It is by the Word of God that the new birth is affected in our souls. It happens when the Word of God comes in with authority—when we come to reverence His will.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. What is the fear of the Lord? PRO 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." That is the work of the Holy Spirit working the new birth in the soul.

The Word is likened unto water because it has cleansing properties. 1PE 1:22-23 says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

PSA 119:9 says, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." That is why the symbol of water is used by our Saviour when He says we must be born of the Spirit and of water. It is the washing of the water of the Word; the working of regeneration is a process of cleansing our old heart. It is cleansing our souls, cleansing our minds, and cleansing our attitudes.

This makes us meet or fit in character to be inheritors with the saints in light, cf., COL 1:12. That is the work of the new birth. Being born of water means being sanctified by the cleansing power of the Word.

JOH 15:3 tells us, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." When are we clean through the Word? It happens when we have experienced the work of regeneration, the new birth. It is a cleansing, and that is why the Word is referred to as water.

Look at EPH 5:26-27 to see what Christ came to do. He came to prepare His bride for the great wedding day, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

How does Christ wash and cleanse? It is by the Word becoming our highest authority and His will our greatest delight. PSA 112:1 says, "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments." When the Holy Word of God has authority in our hearts, we begin living by the Word of God. That is how He cleanses that He might present us to Himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.

The Lord is not going to take a bride unto Himself who is defiled. The process of the new birth is to redeem us from all iniquity (TIT 2:14), wrong attitudes, and bring us to the point where we love our brothers. It brings us to righteousness and peace in the Holy Ghost.

THIRD, the Holy Spirit produces the new birth by the Word of Truth. Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit." The Word alone is not enough. Until the Word is brought home by the Holy Spirit, the new birth will not occur.

Many, many people have the Word, but they do not have the new birth. It only happens when the Holy Spirit comes and accompanies the Word in the heart and changes our attitudes and our hearts to give us a new desire.

JOH 6:63 says, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." We could study the Word extensively and claim to understand it, but still be just as hypocritical and have wrong attitudes towards others.

The Word alone is not enough. When the Holy Spirit accompanies the Word, our heart and mental disposition are changed. The word Spirit in the original means a breath, a wind, a mental disposition. In other words, when we begin to understand, it is the Spirit that quickens; our mental attitude changes. Gospel repentance is a change of attitude and mind.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word as water for cleansing, but also as a lamp to enlighten our understanding of the way of truth. When the Holy Spirit comes and shines the Word of God into our souls, the Word also enlightens our understanding to see the sinfulness of sin.

It convinces us how grievously God is displeased with sin. What is sin? It is a transgression of the law, cf., 1JO 3:4. It is disobedience to God's holy will. So the Holy Spirit also uses the Word to enlighten our understanding as well as to cleanse.

PSA 119:104-105 says, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." As the Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding, we learn to understand the sinfulness of sin. That brings us to hate every false way. The Word enlightens, but it only enlightens by the quickening of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word as a hammer to break up a hard and stony heart. The Holy Spirit also uses the Word as a fire as we see in JER 23:29, "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" You see, the Holy Spirit uses the Word to break rebellion in hard hearts as well as to melt our hearts before the Lord.

Nothing could be plainer than the fact that no sinner is quickened apart from the Word. When the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God, He melts our stony hearts. The Holy Spirit enlightens us with the Word of truth.

We must understand His will; it is by the Word of God that our hearts are melted; the Holy Spirit uses the Word as a hammer to break our rebellion. Nothing apart from His Word can quicken, regardless of traditions or beliefs of men.

ROM 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The word faith means to become persuaded. It was the authority of the Word that brought Nicodemus to Christ. He saw such an authority in the preaching of Jesus, and it brought him to seek the way of salvation.

The new or re-creation is performed by the Holy Spirit in the same manner as the first creation. How? In GEN 1:2 we read, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. [This is also a description of the heart of the natural man.] And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." That is what takes place in the re-creation—the Holy Spirit moves upon our dark and hard hearts.

This term moved upon is also rendered brooded over in the Hebrew. In the new creation the Spirit broods over the heart and conscience of the one whom He is about to quicken. He opens the eyes of our understanding to realize our deadness and darkness by nature. He gives the beginnings of a tender conscience and a heart's desire to know the will of God.

Notice that Nicodemus did not come to Jesus by night to be critical or throw stones; he came there to learn.

The Word enters the heart with power shedding light upon our darkened minds, giving a new desire, i.e., to know the truth. As the Word enters, it is as the Spirit says in GEN 1:3, "Let there be light: and there was light." The Holy Spirit produces that light by the authority of the Word. When there is light we see our lost condition and our need of the Saviour.

The Holy Spirit produces the new birth by the authority of the Word as we see in JOH 3:5-6, "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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." See, it is by the Spirit of God that the Word has its authority in the heart.

FOURTH, the new character is found in the new birth--a new nature or "spirit" or mental disposition, V:6. But what is the new birth? What is the great difference between one who is dead in trespasses and sins and one who is passed from death unto life?

JOH 5:24 explains, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." He who hears the Word with a spiritual ear and understanding that comes with power and authority experiences the new birth.

When the average person is told he must be born again, he thinks you mean he must reform his manner of life, but the trouble is within the heart. The Pharisees had reformed their lives to the point they could go no further. Yet their hearts were still corrupt and defiled. See what Jesus told them in MAT 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

The new birth affects that which is within the heart. It changes the mental disposition or attitude. You could be forced to sit in a church and listen, but that does not mean you rested on the Sabbath.

Why? Your heart was not in it. The Lord has no pleasure in compulsory service; He is pleased in us when our heart's desire to serve Him is motivated by love.

EZE 36:24-27 says to the children of Israel who had been cast into captivity for their rebellion, "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. [This verse describes the first work of regeneration.] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit [a new attitude] will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

Do you see the effect of the new birth? Do you see where our evidence that we have the new birth lies? We begin to reverence the authority of God's Word which changes our walk of life.

Those who have received a new heart have a new attitude, new desires and new affections, i.e., the new man of the heart, but that old man of sin is still all too well and alive and needs to be crucified daily. Now there are two forces at work, and that is one of the most positive ways to identify the work of grace in one's heart.

Do you know that spiritual warfare? Do you see that old man of sin, the ugly monster of self, still raising his ugly head? Is there a new desire to put him down? If there is such a new desire to crucify the old man of sin and walk according to God's statues and do His will in a right attitude striving against the ugly monster of sin, there is a spiritual warfare going on. The new man of the heart has been created within, but the old man of sin must be crucified daily.

Therefore, Jesus says in LUK 9:23, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." What does that mean? That means that seven days a week the ugly monster, "self," is still alive and well, and needs to be cut down day after day after day. Constant warfare is essential to continuously crucify that old man of sin.

Our highest command is found in JOH 15:12, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." Now suppose one of those brethren steps on your toes, especially if you have a corn, and see if you don't immediately have to conquer the old bitterness that rises in your heart. That is spiritual warfare. That reference to a corn refers to an old sore, something that has been festering for years that has caused bitterness and hatred.

Now by the work of regeneration you have such a prayer and desire to have the Lord restore peace and love, but let the person in question step on that, and see if the old man of sin doesn't jump up in your heart.

So what is our best evidence that we have experienced the new birth? Look at 1JO 3:14-16, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Read that again; we know because we love our brethren. We may claim to have passed from death unto life, maybe even claim rich experiences as evidence of having been born again, but if we retain a heart filled with bitterness and hatred for our brother, we might well re-examine our credentials. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."

The new birth is the new nature imparted by the Holy Spirit as we see in 2PE 1:3-4, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 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."

Being made partakers of that Divine nature reveals itself by its fruit which is set forth in 2PE 1:5-9, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."  Amen.