The New Birth by W. S. CHAPMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 12, 1914

The New Birth

By W. S. CHAPMAN

W. S. CHAPMAN

The seeker after spiritual knowledge is ever being strongly impressed with a great truth connected with the plan of salvation, that every requirement from man, made a necessity under the plan, is always easy of comprehension and simple in compliance.

This very simplicity acts as a stumblingblock to many learned men who try to reason out salvation through Christ, instead of accepting it as a fact, and so recognizing it as coming from God as an unmerited favor. They fail to grasp the thought that because it is of grace it is, of necessity, wanting in any basis for reasoning, other than that God so loved the world that he could not allow it to perish. As the impelling motive lies upon too high a spiritual plane for human reason to comprehend, even the angels being unable to fathom it, man can only accept what God says about it: it is a subject that cannot be analyzed.

The new birth is, practically, as great an enigma to many writers as it was to Nicodemus. Properly accepted, it becomes one of the most simple of the gospel requirements, because the one most essential, and is therefore within the comprehension even of children. Were it otherwise, no illiterate or heathen person could be saved.

Many precious souls are so troubled and confused over this question, through the discordant theories presented, that discouragement has taken the place of the joy there should be in believing. “Am I converted?” “Am I born again?” “How can I know?” are the queries heard on every hand.

Before one can become an effective collaborer with Christ,—and that is the main object in the call of God to service,—it is absolutely necessary that he die to sin. Rom. 6:4; Col. 2: 12, 13. Baptism is a covenant with God to this end. In answer to faith, the Spirit of God enters the heart and begins the work of transforming the character by a renewal of the mind. Rom. 12: 2; Eph. 4: 20-32.

In answer to the question of Nicodemus, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Jesus said, “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.” As a

comment on the foregoing, we read in “Spirit of Prophecy” these statements:—

“The words of Jesus could no longer be misunderstood. His listener well knew that he referred to water baptism and the grace of God. The power of the Holy Spirit transforms the entire man. This change constitutes the new birth.”—Vol. II, pages 127, 128.

Have you been baptized? Did you go down into the watery grave intelligently; that is, after confessing your sins, and in full belief that you were being buried with your dear Saviour, and that, dying to sin (Rom. 6: 6), you were to rise to walk in newness of life? Well, then, when you came forth from that grave, you rose a new creature, a new creation, with new aims, objects, and purposes in life: you had been born again. Why not believe it, and have the joy in believing? Don’t let Satan rob you of this precious truth.

Going forward in baptism was an act of faith, and now, having risen a new creature (yet but a babe, remember), your faith must be made perfect in service, you must go on from faith to faith, growing in grace, perfecting holiness. 2 Cor. 7: 1.

“Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ.” “The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, and tendencies.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald, April 12, 1892.

Has there been any change in you since you were baptized? Do you not hate the things you once loved, and love the things that you once hated? Well, then, are you not a new creation in Christ Jesus?

Sin is a spiritual condition. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2: 14. Paul did not know that he was a sinner until the Lord made him understand it. Neither can you comprehend the fact that you are sinning only as the Spirit of God enlightens you.

Satan troubles us because of our sins, but it is not he who convicts us of sin. Only the Spirit of God can do that. God reveals our sins to us, not to condemn, but to save, by helping us put away sin. When a knowledge of sin comes to us, Satan tries to make us believe that it is he who presents the picture to our mind, and taunts us with it, hoping to bring discouragement to our souls. When sin is revealed to you, recognize it as a call from God to confession. Go to him and confess it, asking him for wisdom and strength to grow in grace. 1 Peter 2: 1-5; 2 Peter 3: 17, 18. If you fall, acknowledge your fault and begin again. 1 John 1: 9. Never give up nor despair.

The growth of the new creature God likens to a seed planted in the ground. Mark 4: 26-29. Beginning in feebleness and darkness, and by a death to self, the new creature enters upon life as a newborn babe, struggles into the light of the Sun of Righteousness, as the seed stalk reaches up after the light of the sun, and, just as the blade matures, the blossom appears, the ear forms and fills in the plant, so the newborn life, that holy thing created by God, grows into his image. 1 Peter 2: 2.

“The children of God are to grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. They are to be faithful in their service to God. They are to learn the trade of being worshipers of God.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald. “The scheme of salvation is a wonderful science, and it is an inestimable privilege and honor to be permitted to be partners with Christ in the wonderful plan of saving the souls of men.”—Home Missionary, December, 1894. Learning even the rudiments of a science is often a life work. Let no one despair, but rejoice in the progress that he makes, praising God and pressing on, believing that what Jesus has begun in him he is able to finish. The exercise of faith gives the Spirit of God the opportunity to work.

St. Petersburg, Fla.