p. 11 | Ye Must Be Born Again

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 24, 1903

“Ye Must Be Born Again”

If it be true, as some assert, that it is not now common to hear sermons on the new birth, the pulpit is ignoring its high calling, and the power of its message is a diminishing quantity. To preach mere culture, it matters not how enticing; or philosophy, it matters not how profound; or ethics, it matters not how exalted, instead of the gospel of the new birth as proclaimed by Jesus Christ, is to degrade the ancient and holy office of the pulpit, and to cast the imputation of hypocrisy upon the Saviour of men. When the doctrine of the new birth is preached by men who thoroughly believe in it because they thoroughly know it by personal experience, the pulpit rises to its rightful and exalted place; the minds of sinful men are stricken; their hearts are touched, and they give evidence of the need of spiritual regeneration through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, by crying out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

The doctrine of the new birth is not worn out; it can not be discarded; it has vitality and potency in it; the propagation of the faith once delivered to the saints depends upon it; the establishment of the divine kingdom in the hearts of men throughout the world is contingent upon it. The church that desires to hold itself steadfast to the divine ideals, and to prosecute its mission in accordance with God’s purposes for the regeneration of men, will magnify the doctrine, believe it, experience it, sing it, and live in harmony with it; while from its pulpits men of consecration, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and unwearying in a holy purpose to lead their fellows out of darkness into light, out of bondage into freedom, out of sin into righteousness, will point them to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, and declare, “Ye must be born again.”—New York Christian Advocate.