YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 4, 1903

“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”

MAN, through Satanic instigation, has devised many schemes for salvation without conversion through faith in Jesus Christ; he has invented many devices for gaining an entrance to the kingdom of heaven without a change of heart. But they are all in vain. None of them can annul the divine fiat, “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” John 3:3, 5.

There are two reasons for this decree: (1) The individual saved on any other terms would be just such an one as he is here, and therefore would not be benefited. He would not have eternal life; for he would still be a sinner, and “the wages of sin is death.” Sin “bringeth forth death.” (2) The salvation of unrepentant men would make the kingdom of God just such a place as the kingdom of men now is. There would be a repetition of the same sinful, violent conditions as are experienced here now. The situation would be as expressed by the prophet Isaiah: “Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.” Ch. 26:10.

This principle has been demonstrated in heaven, where sin originated in the jealousy and defalcation of Lucifer, right in presence of the throne of God. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” Ch. 14:12. Of the same one, under the symbol of the King of Tyrus, Ezekiel says: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ch. 28:14, 15.

Thus is shown the fact that the highest moral surroundings in the universe will not make one righteous who harbors iniquity in his heart. Sometimes people imagine that if they could just have a residence or a position amid such and such surroundings or influences, they would be immune from temptation, and would thus be enabled to avoid contamination with sin. But it has been demonstrated over and over that “the carnal mind is enmity against God;” therefore “it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” in any situation. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:14. Surroundings do not convert people, nor fit them for the kingdom of heaven. Moreover the opportunity of good surroundings, if not improved, only adds force to the condemnation which already rests on every unconverted individual. There is but one way open to peace with God, and a righteous life, and a home in the everlasting kingdom, and that way is through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:1, 2.

No matter where or how situated, except ye be born of the Spirit, ye can not enter the kingdom of heaven. And no matter where or how situated, the Spirit of God is available, and the grace of God is sufficient to keep you from falling, if the mind be stayed on God. Isa. 26:3; 2 Cor. 12:9; Jude 24, 25.