Dead or Alive?
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
– John 3:3
HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN?
Most people understand that human life begins at conception. A child does not create himself, choose to be conceived, or give himself life. Life is given by God. The Bible presents spiritual life in much the same way. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The question is not merely whether you are religious, whether you have attended church, whether you have prayed a prayer, or whether you have tried to become a better person. The question is: Have you been born again? The Bible does not describe the natural sinner as merely spiritually sick, weak, or confused. It says that we are dead. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). A dead man cannot give himself life. That is why salvation must begin with God.
SPIRITUAL LIFE BEGINS WITH GOD
Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). To quicken means to make alive. Spiritual life begins when the Holy Spirit gives life to one who was dead in sin. When speaking about those who become the children of God, John wrote, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). Notice what spiritual birth is not. It is not “of blood.” You are not saved because your parents were Christians. It is not “of the will of the flesh.” The natural desires of sinful man cannot produce spiritual life. It is not “of the will of man.” No person can create the new birth by his own determination. We are born “of God.” James says the same thing: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” (James 1:18). The new birth is the work of God.
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus explained the work of the Holy Spirit to Nicodemus by using the wind: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). You cannot see the wind itself, but you can see what it does. The trees move. The leaves shake. You hear its sound. The tree does not summon the wind; the wind comes upon the tree. So, it is with the work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot see Him giving spiritual life, but we can see the effects of His work. A sinner who once had no concern for God begins to see his sin. He begins to hear the Word of God differently. He becomes troubled over his condition. He sees his need of Christ.
DRAWN TO CHRIST
Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). He then said, “Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45). God opens the ears of the sinner to hear and the heart to understand.
BORN AGAIN BY THE WORD OF GOD
The new birth does not happen apart from the truth of the Gospel. Peter wrote, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). God sends His Word. The Holy Spirit gives life allowing the sinner to hear and to see their lost condition, repent from their sins, and believe upon Jesus Christ.
SALVATION IS THE WORK OF GOD
Salvation is not produced by repeating the right words. It is not produced by baptism. It is not produced by church membership. It is not produced by human works. The Bible says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). Salvation is the operation of God. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Notice both truths. Those whom the Father gives to Christ will come, and everyone who comes to Christ will be received. The sinner who truly sees his sin does not remain indifferent. He comes to Christ. He repents. He believes. He calls upon the Lord. God does not believe for the sinner, nor does He repent for the sinner. But the sinner would never repent or believe unless God first worked in him. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). That is why all the glory for salvation belongs to God.
LOOK TO CHRIST
When the Holy Spirit gives life, the sinner begins to see what he could not see before. He sees that he has sinned against a holy God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). He sees that his sin deserves judgment. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). He sees that he cannot provide the righteousness God requires. Then he sees Christ. Jesus Christ lived the righteous life that you have failed to live. He died upon the cross and suffered for your sin. He was buried, and He rose again from the dead. You must be brought to the end of yourself and look entirely to Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
THE EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
Physical life produces evidence that life exists. So does spiritual life. John wrote, “Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him” (1 John 2:29). This does not mean that a saved person becomes sinless. The Christian still struggles with sin, but something has changed. He cannot be comfortable living continually in rebellion against the God who saved him. There is now a desire to please his Father. There is conviction over sin. There is love for Christ. There is a desire for the Word of God. There is a desire to confess Christ openly and follow Him. These things do not cause the new birth. They are evidence that life is present.
YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN
Jesus did not tell Nicodemus that he needed more religion. Nicodemus already had religion. He did not tell him that he needed more education. Nicodemus was already a teacher in Israel. Jesus told him, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). That is still the great necessity. You cannot give yourself spiritual life. You cannot wash away your own sins. You cannot make yourself righteous before God. But Christ is a perfect Savior.
COME TO CHRIST
If God has shown you that you are a sinner, do not run from that conviction. Come to Christ. Repent of your sin. Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
The Spirit and the bride still say, “Come.”
“And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
