p. 9 | Born Again by H

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 7, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 26.

Born Again

By H

It is said that George Whitfield preached over three hundred sermons from the text, “Ye must be born again.” When asked why he preached so often from the same text, he replied, “Because ye must be born again.”

He recognized the need, and presented a message to meet the need. As he studied the subject, the great need appealed to him more and more strongly, until it became the theme of his discourses. With him it was not striking three times and stopping, as did King Joash of Israel when commanded by the dying prophet to smite the ground with the bundle of arrows. Time after time, with increasing power and clearness, the message of the Saviour to Nicodemus, and to the world, was repeated; a host of reclaimed sinners was the result.

“Ye must be born again.” It was true that night when the ruler of the Jews sought a private interview with the Saviour of the world; it is true to-day. Saul, the persecutor of Christians, was born again—from above—and became the “great apostle.” Of course so misguided and cruel a person must be born again. But any form of disobedience, however slight, is disapproved by God; it is sin, and God’s plan excludes every form of sin. Then the sinner, of whatever degree, must be changed, born again, before he can stand in the presence of God.

Being born again means a positive and evident change of life. When the black Hottentot outlaw of Africa, Africaner, was born again through the faithful ministry of Moffat, he was a changed man. He went with Moffat to the very officials who offered a large reward for his capture, living or dead, thus proving to them the change which had been wrought. The only newly born into the kingdom of God knows of the change; those about him know of it; the world knows it and justly expects it; it is the test of conversion. The fruits of the life give sure evidence of the character of the life within. H.