John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. itle to it: — As certainly as the unregenerate are excluded from heaven shall the regenerate find admission there. I. WHAT IS THE TITLE? The merit of Christ applied to the soul of the sinner. The first characteristic of a regenerate soul is that he believes. So he who is regenerate, being a believer in Christ, has the one title to everlasting life. II. WHAT IS THE PREPARATION. 1. Love to the Saviour, "Whom having not seen ye love." How can they do otherwise? And they prove their love by the application of every test that is available — zeal, delight in communion with Him, friendship with His people, obedience to His will. 2. As the glorified are also made perfect in holiness, the regenerate are being sanctified, and their hearts are being purified to see God. 3. As in heaven God's "servants serve Him," so the regenerate are prepared to join them by holy, ungrudging, joyful activity. 4. If it be a characteristic of heaven that its inhabitants are lifted above all that is low in the inferior world and are occupied with spiritual pleasures and employments, so the regenerate, led by the Spirit, set their affections on things above. III. THIS IS TRUE OF THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THOSE WHO ARE REGENERATE BY GRACE. The promise is not made to vigorous faith and experienced piety, and unusual attainments, but to faith in its least beginnings, to holiness in its simplest elements, to the very first and feeblest work of Divine grace. In conclusion. The danger of the unregenerate serves to fasten on our minds the importance of this great change, and the blessedness attached to it should animate us to seek it. (B. W. Noel, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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