John 3:3, commentary and pictures

Except a person is born again, that person cannot see, perceive, discern, enter or share the life of the kingdom of God, with no exception. It was spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus in the nighttime meeting, a prominent ruler, Pharisee, teacher and member of the Sanhedrin who needed this foundational experience. Being born again is receiving a new heart with new purposes, desires and motives, a transformation of heart and mind worked by Christ's power alone through the divine Spirit, not merely outward reform, profession, knowledge, church membership or human effort. It comes wholly as a free gift of grace received by faith in Jesus lifted up, through repentance, humility, surrender and acceptance of truth, and the Spirit's unseen work becomes visible in a changed character. All must be so reborn whatever their position, learning, morality or good works, for none of these can take its place, and those born again live a new life in harmony with God and his law, showing Christ's meekness, love, obedience and holiness.

Night Meeting With Nicodemus

Jesus answered Nicodemus with this declaration in a nighttime meeting that forms part of the conversation recorded in John 3:1-16. The one to whom He spoke was a prominent ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee and teacher in Israel, highly educated, learned, respected, of talents and high trust, a wealthy and cultured member of the Sanhedrin. Despite all this standing he lacked this foundational experience and needed instruction in it. He had been drawn to Jesus after witnessing His compassionate healings and hearing His teaching, wanted to learn more of its truths, and acknowledged Him as a teacher come from God.

He came by night to avoid remark and humiliation for sympathy with the despised Nazarene. The declaration therefore belongs to a private, secret night conversation in which precious instruction was given personally to a receptive hearer. The figure of new birth was familiar as describing converts to Israel's faith, yet Nicodemus assumed that being born an Israelite and having good works secured his place. He had partly understood the need for repentance and baptism from John the Baptist's preaching, including the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The teaching was given as an explanation of the plan of salvation and the work needed in hearts of those who inherit heaven. It remained with the receptive ruler, impressed him with Christ's power, and later helped him recognize Jesus as the world's Redeemer when lifted on the cross. He received the lesson and partly grasped it but resisted its personal application in spiritual ignorance that calls for humility rather than irritation. By submitting to the Spirit and searching Scripture anew for life rather than theory, he was converted, became a true believer and disciple, and began to see the kingdom.

That conversion changed his study and action and made him steadfast, so that he spoke against the Sanhedrin's effort to condemn Jesus without hearing Him, demanded the law give Him a hearing, and supported His followers. The declaration belongs to what Jesus said about the new birth and the way of life, introducing the first principles of divine life. Nicodemus's surprise shows even a religious teacher may fail to understand it until receiving forgiveness through Jesus and being justified by faith makes it clear.

Seeing The Kingdom

Except a person is born again, that person cannot see, perceive, discern, enter, or share the new life of the kingdom of God, with no exception. This new birth is a transformation of heart and mind that only the power of Christ can work by being born of the divine Spirit, and the religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God and enable right service to him. It purifies the heart, renews the mind, brings watchfulness, gives a new capacity for knowing and loving God, and produces willing obedience to all his requirements, which is true worship. It means a new heart with new purposes and new springs of action, with natural, inherited, and cultivated tendencies to wrong changed, and until the heart is changed reasoning, controversy, arguments, and even the strongest evidences cannot bring a person into the right position or make the kingdom discernible. It means cleansing from filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness as God is holy, putting away hereditary tendencies to wrong, petted selfishness, and suspicious imagining, and crucifying self, because indulged they spoil character, ruin the soul, and leave a person unholy. It is being born of water and of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom, since what is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of Spirit is spirit, and the Spirit's work is like the wind blowing where it pleases, heard but unseen in its coming and going, which human reasoning cannot control, trace, or fully explain though its effects can be recognized. It is necessary for salvation as a real change and not merely surface profession, for when truth takes hold in the heart it sanctifies life and character, and the fruits of righteousness show learning from Christ.

God's kingdom is so pure that no one in the present unchanged spiritual condition can share in, perceive, or enter it without this spiritual birth. Religious standing, good works, strict religious life, outward piety, status, pride, and confidence in own righteousness cannot replace this inward change or qualify a person to see it, for the lack is inward spirituality shown in pride, bigotry, and worldly ambition. The figure of new birth was familiar as describing converts to Israel's faith, but assuming that being born an Israelite and having good works secured a place could not replace it, and the promise is not a political kingdom, national deliverance, or a Messiah overthrowing Rome by force. The need for repentance and baptism had been partly understood from John the Baptist's preaching, including the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit, yet the ruler was astonished because he could not share in such a kingdom without this change.

Seeing the kingdom means seeing what Christ is and what God is, with Christ established as the Center. It requires sensing and understanding the working of the Spirit of God, true conversion, falling upon the Rock and being broken, feeling the power of Christ, bringing the mind and thoughts into captivity to the will of Christ and heaven, receiving his superscription and controlling influence, drinking the Holy Spirit of God and his preciousness rather than the wine of Babylon, and by beholding becoming changed from glory to glory and from character to character. It means understanding the character and spiritual nature of the heavenly kingdom and discerning the requirements for having part in God's spiritual kingdom. This requires experiential knowledge of what the new birth means and inward renovation with a new heart that makes all things new, rather than learning, satisfied curiosity, or discussing Christ's authority, work, and mission as one bearing Heaven's credentials, which brings no saving good until the change takes place. Opening the mind to God's word with determination to practice it brings light and understanding and supports this conversion.

The new birth brings the heart into harmony with God by making it subject to his law. The person passes from death to life, sin to holiness, and rebellion to obedience and loyalty, the former life of alienation ends, and a new life of reconciliation, faith, and love begins, so that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk by the Spirit rather than the flesh. Entering the kingdom means being born into it, with meekness and Christlike character giving evidence of that new birth. Perceiving the character of God's kingdom comes through the Holy Spirit's daily work of shaping the heart, and this entire change of heart, soul, mind, and strength enables receiving the imputed character of Christ and discerning between light and darkness. This new birth changes the mind and gives clearer sight of eternal realities, with God's Spirit changing people into Christ's likeness and turning their highest love from self to God and Christ. Holiness is not inherited at birth or received from another person but is God's gift through Christ, those who reject Christ cannot come to the light or have eternal life, while his followers receive the light of life which shines in their hearts and is reflected in their lives.

Seeing requires having the mind and spirit of Christ, shown by copying his example at home, at work, and in the church, and by allowing God to shape the character. Without this new birth the kingdom will not be appreciated either in this life or hereafter. Without it a person has no living connection with God, is not led and taught by God, and does not understand what Christian experience is, even though able to speak good things and make fair speeches. Without it influence is not pure and uncorrupting, the person becomes one with the corrupting atmosphere surrounding them, and will fail of eternal life. The kingdom and its heavenly treasure are discerned and appreciated only with the eye of faith by an enlightened intellect controlled by a heart acknowledging Christ as Redeemer, which conjecture, imagination, and guessing cannot reveal. Christ gave his life to secure that treasure, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins or treasure for a perishing soul, while regeneration through faith in his blood brings remission. Having faith means finding and accepting that treasure with all its obligations, inseparable from repentance and transformation of character, and when the gospel is received by faith into the heart and brought into life it transforms the whole person and cleanses from impurity through Christ's blood, refining the coarse, making the rough gentle and the selfish generous, and cleansing the impure.

Seeing depends on a changed life centered on truth. To see, a person must break away from self-exaltation, take the yoke of Christ, and become meek and lowly of heart, make What is Truth the study, put away sophistries used to influence human minds, and test character by the Word. It requires a humble heart before God, including being cleansed in spirit, language, and judgment, without which understanding can be diverted and deceived. This new birth is necessary even for those whose conduct and spiritual discernment are corrupted, who must recognize their true condition and have their spiritual blindness removed. Being born again makes a person a new person in Christ and a Bible Christian in purpose and character, with transformed mind, judgment, speech, and spirit able to discern spiritual truth and distinguish light from darkness.

Nature Of New Birth

Being born again means receiving a new heart with new purposes, desires, motives and springs of action leading to a new life, in which natural, inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong are changed and made all new. Until that inward change takes place the want remains in the heart, and arguments, controversy, learning and even the strongest evidence cannot bring a person into the right position or make the kingdom discernible. The Lord looks upon the heart and gives another heart, and the word spoken reaches to the present time and to each person individually whatever calling or status. It is not merely developing goodness already present in human nature, for the natural person cannot receive or understand the things of the Spirit without spiritual discernment.

It is a transformation of heart and mind worked by Christ's power alone through birth of the divine Spirit, and the religion that comes from God is the only religion that leads to God and enables right service to him. Only Christ by the divine Spirit can effect it, purifying the heart, renewing the mind, bringing watchfulness, awakening the capacity for knowing and loving God, and producing willing obedience to all his requirements, which is true worship shown by the fruits of the Spirit. Communion with heaven does not come by seeking a holy mountain or sacred temple, and religion is not confined to external forms and ceremonies. Wherever a soul reaches out after God the Spirit is working there, every sincere prayer is prompted by the Spirit and made acceptable, and such worshipers God seeks to make his sons and daughters.

Being born again means conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit, a real inward change and renewal, not merely surface profession, intellectual knowledge, outward piety, outward reform, formal religion, ceremonial observance, church membership, baptism, profession, emotional religion, increase in knowledge, position, apparent good deeds, or product of willpower and human effort. Without inward divine renewal profession leaves the same habits and selfish spirit and is of no avail, does not make a person renewed or connected with heaven, and cannot meet the condition for seeing the kingdom. It is not a change or improvement of the old life but a transformation of nature with death to sin and self and a wholly new life, acting like leaven that permeates and sanctifies the whole being, changing the heart, transforming the entire being into conformity to the Spirit of Christ, developing all powers and filling with desire to serve in being good and doing good. One with only emotional religion is controlled by another spirit, flighty and sentimental, soaring high in imagination at times and sinking when excitement is removed.

The new birth is the unseen work of the Holy Spirit, like the wind blowing where it pleases, heard but not seen in its coming and going, which human reasoning cannot explain or control by precise methods though its effects in a changed life can be recognized. Regeneration is a mystery too deep for finite minds to explain or fully comprehend, which is no reason to doubt God's word. That unseen work becomes visible in put-away evil thoughts and deeds, love, peace, humility, obedience and changed character, as Christ frees the burdened soul and replaces sadness with joy. The Spirit's inward work purifies the heart, prepares for righteous character, transforms the whole person, awakens faculties to action, so sinners become repentant, faithful, steady, sober, pure, meek and Christlike with anger, envy and strife replaced.

Being born again is being born of water and of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom, since what is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of Spirit is spirit, distinct from physical birth which in dull comprehension was taken to be literal birth. The transformation is of the whole person by God's grace through the Holy Spirit, divesting of self, turning to seek the pure, holy and divine as earnestly as things of opposite character were once sought, and giving undivided worship. Being born again, being born from above by the Holy Spirit, is necessary to see and enter the kingdom of God, an inward renewal not an outward reform or a change producible by willpower, in which God supplies the renewing power and the person must submit, natural inclinations subdued and faculties sanctified into a life shaped by Christ. Guessing or imagining cannot give sight of the kingdom and its heavenly treasure; it is seen by faith.

The new birth renews the heart by divine grace with new life from above, reconciling the person to God and restoring harmony with God and the principles of his law from which sin alienated humanity, giving a new heart and spirit in place of the stony heart and creating the person in righteousness and true holiness to turn from sin and live in obedience. Even a just and honorable person must so be born again, for rigid precision in keeping the law cannot secure entrance. It does not refer to bodily resurrection or a nation born in a day, and the cleansing of the temple illustrates the needed removal of sin's pollution from within each person. When truth takes hold in the heart it sanctifies life and character, ennobling and refining it into God's image, and the fruits of righteousness and changed conduct show learning from Christ; the gospel received by faith into the heart transforms the whole person and cleanses from impurity through Christ's blood.

The new birth is connected with sanctification through truth, which requires not only receiving truth but practicing it and searching Scripture to know what is true. The new moral birth is a cleansing from sin and renewal of heart, knowledge and holiness by God's grace through the Holy Spirit, which outward practice and strict letter-keeping cannot replace. The change begins within and works outward when mind and heart are yielded, subduing the stubborn heart, and is shown in daily life by enlightened conscience, restrained passions, cherished love of truth, and character cleansed from defilement. The new birth is the converting work of the Holy Spirit and the vitalizing, energizing power of the Spirit giving a new heart, received and cherished, requiring an entire change of heart, soul, mind and strength through which the imputed character of Christ may be received and light discerned from darkness. The church is to pray earnestly for souls to experience it, and through the Spirit faith becomes firm and the power of God keeps for salvation.

How The Birth Comes

Salvation is wholly a free gift of grace received by faith in Jesus Christ, which fallen people cannot earn by good works or merit, and Christ himself is the source of the life through which salvation comes. Spiritual life begins only through life imparted by God, and human wisdom and skill cannot produce the spiritual life Christ came to give. This new birth is not merely developing goodness already present in human nature, for the natural person cannot receive or understand the things of the Spirit without spiritual discernment.

What is needed is truth and a new heart, not learning, controversy, arguments, or stronger evidence. Until the heart is changed, reasoning upon points of difference produces no saving results but strengthens resistance, and even the strongest evidences are useless while the want remains in the heart. When transforming grace works and the heart is changed with new purposes and new springs of action, all things appear new and become active for God. Christ did not enter into controversy with the awakened and convicted Nicodemus but presented new light with practical points that brought him in contact with all light instead of leaving him where doubt would be strengthened. This teaches that when men desire controversy the advocate of truth must keep to the affirmative and not be led away into controversy on false theories.

To be born again is to be converted by cooperating with God in looking to Christ every moment and believing. It is looking alone to Jesus lifted up as righteousness and sacrifice, as the dying looked to the brazen serpent and lived, being justified by faith so the serpent's sting is healed, having no more self and having peace with God. It is opening the heart to let Jesus in and receiving life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins by the look of faith to the Lamb of God. It is believing He saves solely by grace rather than by obedience commending sinners, faith being only the hand laying hold on Christ and appropriating His merits, earning nothing, with even repentance coming from Christ by the Spirit, bringing healing and eternal life. The ignorant and unbelieving are not enlightened by controversy and discussion; they must look and live, ceasing from sin and gaining experiential knowledge of believing in Christ as a personal Saviour. Even rulers and counselors may hear the plan of salvation explained and yet having eyes see not and having ears hear not, because they lack that experimental knowledge.

If the Holy Spirit is daily molding the heart, a person gains divine insight to perceive the character of the kingdom, obtained by believing in the Son of man lifted up to give eternal life. Christ gave His life to secure the heavenly treasure, and regeneration through faith in His blood brings remission of sins, for without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness or treasure for a perishing soul. Having faith means finding and accepting that treasure with all its obligations, inseparable from repentance and transformation of character. The gospel received by faith into the heart transforms the whole person and cleanses from impurity through Christ's blood, which conjecture and imagination cannot reveal to the eye of faith.

The transformation comes only through repentance, humility, submission to God, surrender by faith, and practical acceptance of truth, and is the only remedy for sin. Through faith Christ lifts sin's burden bringing deliverance, joy, peace and love, His mission being to bring people to the Father rather than establish a worldly kingdom. The new birth is a new mind brought about by God's Spirit which purifies life and ennobles character to fit a person for heaven, coming through repentance, humility, and submission to God's requirements, with no human remedy able to cure the sinning soul. It means a complete turnabout giving self entirely without reserve for God's will, with the Spirit purifying the entire nature from moral defilement, casting off Satan and accepting Christ or perishing in sins. Christ dwelling by faith works radical change of thought, enjoyment, habits and character until God is all in all, leaving each to choose to be a child of God or of Satan.

Regeneration is an absolute necessity for the sinner; the Spirit brings faith in Christ's mercy and love leading to forgiveness and His righteousness. Regeneration man cannot do for himself, God regenerates the one who obeys God's commandments, and becoming a converted man laying hold on the Almighty arm is a life-and-death question bringing peace, hope and God's love into the soul. Being born again is the Spirit's work in sinners, seen by Zion only when she travails for perishing souls, and the church is to pray earnestly for souls to experience it through the Spirit's vitalizing power. The new birth comes through partaking of the Holy Spirit, whose work brings back the lost and keeps by God's power through faith. It is the Spirit's work in mind, heart and will in one receiving truth in humble submission, beholding Christ's grace and glory transforming character unto trust in Him as salvation and covering with fruits of divine life. It is an inward experience known by faith together with pardon of sins, with Christ dwelling in the heart and His Spirit as a living vitalizing power within.

Real conversion is one in which the word through grace transforms heart and character, revealed in reformation and faith working by love. One claiming belief yet remaining harsh, self-willed and unwilling to be corrected is unconverted, for belief without the soul transformed and words, spirit and character changed is not conversion. Real faith renews the heart and brings the birth, while mere profession cannot save, with Christ taking sins and giving His righteousness. The new birth is a decisive change wrought by God's mercy when the Spirit makes the word effective, draws to the Saviour and begins life in Christ, leaving vanity, pride, self-indulgence and extravagance behind, as in Sister Hanna's surrender. It is a miracle of mercy in which the Spirit makes the word effectual to reach the heart and draw a person to the Saviour, bringing conviction that leads to surrendering all to God and working a decided change so those traits cease.

Being born again is evidence of being a Christian in the truest sense; real spiritual life begins with the new birth, and the call to share in Christ's divine life and work begins this new life. It is the first lesson of conversion and condition of divine life, essential before being a disciple and sincere follower, with receiving Christ's words bringing deeper spiritual knowledge. Baptism and confession of faith mark a person's experience of the new birth, the baptized person declaring the old life dead, the life hidden with Christ, and a commitment to walk in newness of life through faithful obedience. Church membership and baptism alone do not prove union with Christ, for many are buried in water without dying to self and rising to newness of life, and Paul's zeal and strict practice did not make him Christian until Christ revealed Himself and showed him persecuting His people.

Taking Christ as a personal Saviour means being born again, and those born again become sons and daughters of God and members of the royal family by adoption. Receiving Christ brings the new birth and the power to become God's spiritual children, renewed in righteousness and true holiness. Through Christ's perfect character and God's grace and love in giving His Son, people are restored from the fallen condition caused by yielding to the tempter, regain what sin caused them to lose, and receive power to resist Satan and the fallen angels. Through faith in the Father's love in giving His Son to die, the believer becomes a new creature in Christ in whom human nature is subdued, the world is overcome, and Satan is vanquished. The need to be born again is a work connected with the Holy Spirit's power, including receiving a new heart from Christ who reveals the things of God to those who follow Him in meekness and lowliness. It belongs with surrendering mind and will to God and relying on Christ as Redeemer, sanctification and righteousness, since human effort cannot produce holiness.

Being born again is conversion, receiving a new heart and being adopted into God's family, and does not require an irresistible power over feelings or physical strength, a peculiar powerful change in feeling, or years of sadness waiting for special evidence before daring to profess Christ. God accepts a person as His child when that person becomes sick of sin, loses relish for worldly pleasure and resolves to seek God earnestly, and that time is true conversion even if satisfactory evidence is not felt until much later. Not understanding this simplicity perplexes sinners and causes loss of privileges and blessings. To enter religious life one must be born again with renewed heart, the precise manner not mattering so long as the heart is renewed. It is the beginning of new spiritual life and may happen without violent conviction, soul-rending remorse or terror, as one genuinely turns by recognizing need, seeing the Saviour's sufficiency and claims, hearing His call and following Him, with conversions differing outwardly but each looking to Jesus and receiving life, not depending on another's ideas about the new heart or exact position to be reached.

Being born again is a Spirit-given change of heart and character, illustrated when people humbled themselves, confessed wrongs, reconciled, and pledged to work with greater wisdom and forbearance, as if experiencing a new birth. Entering the kingdom requires a new birth that is God's work, not a human change, producing a marked transformation visible in life and countenance, as illustrated by Brother Faulkhead becoming a new man in Christ. It is true conversion by God's power which many have never known but those receiving know they were not really converted before, enter a changed life, and bear testimony of what the Lord has done, with many receiving new conversion together as God's work among them. A person must receive a new heart and spirit, a transformation of character, to see the kingdom; this is God's work promised to one who seeks with deep need and cannot be achieved by own effort, requiring full surrender without reservation. Being born again means being born not of flesh but of God's Spirit, accompanying returning from wandering and accepting Jesus Christ, with the Lord ready to accept and teach such a person and qualify that person for called work.

All Must Be Reborn

The word spoken to Nicodemus reaches to the present time and to each person individually, whatever calling or status, requiring all to be born again with another heart from the Lord, for the Lord looks upon the heart. Spoken to Nicodemus the chief ruler, it is spoken just as verily today to presidents of conferences, elders of churches, managers, directors, teachers, those occupying official positions and handling sacred things and standing in responsible positions, who possess the same spirit. What was told to Nicodemus the teacher in Israel shows that religious standing and teaching ability do not by themselves give spiritual understanding to be Christ's disciple or an approved educator, and those in positions of trust who claim to be Christians need a new conversion to be Christians in every sense, bearing powerful witness, studying the Word deep as a miner, and beginning divine life.

Those carrying sacred responsibilities need this conversion, or they may remain controlled by an unchristian spirit, fail to learn Christ's meekness and lowliness, yield to temptation, and be unable to distinguish between sacred and common. The same requirement is spoken to those handling sacred things in the most responsible positions, managers and directors who shape the work and supply means for new fields, whose regular lines need to be broken as a potter's vessel is broken and reconstructed, needing conversion in heart, soul and body. Without it they remain in unbelief and fear to advance, pervert principles, put a misshapen mold upon the cause, withhold and misappropriate means, and become spiritually blind. The requirement applies to many in responsible places, for without a new heart there is no current of pure spiritual blood, no new life created, and no consecration of the will to service.

Holding sacred responsibilities is not enough without being converted and shaped by Christ with meekness and lowliness, or there is lack of the spiritual discernment the kingdom requires. Without the new birth Christians who have not truly come to know God and Jesus Christ are not fitted to represent Christ or do God's work and must begin learning the foundations of true religion, and one not right with God whose conduct is unchristian must be converted before fitness for sacred service and acceptable service. Even a just and honorable person must be born again through Jesus Christ to be saved and enter God's kingdom, receiving a new heart and spirit with the stony heart removed to turn from sin and live in obedience, since rigid precision in keeping the law cannot secure entrance and the kingdom is too pure to be discerned without it. This condition applies to people in responsible church positions as well as others, for holding authority, religious position or speaking in council does not remove the need for the lesson to shape heart and life, and spiritual truth is not understood by the natural heart.

Even a strict Pharisee priding himself on good works and piety cannot see in his present state, partly grasping the meaning yet resisting personal application. Even one who considers moral character correct must humble the heart before God and enter life the same way as the greatest sinner and chief of sinners, giving up reliance on personal righteousness, renouncing own righteousness, surrendering self, depending wholly on Christ, receiving His righteousness as a gift counted as one's own, and trusting His strength and grace rather than self. Position, authority, knowledge, preaching truth and human learning do not remove the need, and the way of life is the same for the morally respectable and the chief of sinners. Human learning and education cannot replace the new birth, for Nicodemus had great knowledge yet needed new ideas and renewed understanding; the birth makes a person humble, teachable, renewed in understanding, able to understand redemption and become one with Christ in God. Being given moral and religious powers does not remove the need for one who has resisted God's Spirit and followed self-made light rather than shown truth.

Every church member as a child of fallen Adam must be born again or will never see God, the new birth being a new heart given to all who repent. Those responsible for institutions must be born again or they cannot see or enter, that Christ's life and character may replace selfishness and make service acceptable. Parents' words and actions should show entrance into divine life, for belief in theory of the third angel's message is not enough without Christ's grace as oil keeping the lamp burning and shining the light of life. Gospel ministers and medical missionary workers must become thoroughly converted and born again, learning meekness and lowliness, sanctified through truth with grace in the soul, testifying by life to a world dead in trespasses, with influence becoming power, hearts willing to receive, imparting received grace. The sinner born again carries himself circumspectly with transformed character, has the gospel as God's power unto salvation, and becomes God's fellow laborer and helping hand; without it a minister is unconverted, does not appreciate sacred trust, places truth in peril, works on the enemy's side, lessens power to do good, casts reproach on the ministry, and robs the message of power to convict conscience. Profession alone is not enough if the heart has lost the true message and the Spirit is absent, for conversion must be deep transformation of the whole nature before one can be accepted to bear the message.

Workers must be born again and not follow own ideas and former defective education and training, for many members and workers have never experienced it, thinking self must come largely into the new life with a little of Christ and much more of self. Bringing inherited and cultivated attributes and unchanged unsanctified disposition into God's service unfits for service and mars God's work, and even very active men and women still need conversion. Leading men who lack consecration and self-denial, grasp high wages, resist God's messages, take benefits while wresting advantage, and deal without tenderness, sympathy, mercy and justice cannot see unless born again through truth's work giving clear eyesight and making them tender-hearted men of opportunity following merciful rules. Those imposing oppressive human rules while resisting Christ are not subject to God's law and must undergo death of the old life and be born again before experience can serve. One not yet born again needs not to rush and drive but to be converted and sound in faith, for only with a new heart right with God and entire conversion does the Spirit work a person.

Objectors who preach without God's message, oppose His workers, and strengthen doubt and unbelief cannot see unless born again through entire surrender, repentance, faith and reception of Christ as a little child, bringing freedom, light, blessing, peace, and ability to know when to speak and lift with those through whom God works. Those who have spread unbelief and prejudice need renewal to enter. Men who calculate religious exercises precisely and methodically in diffusing light have little of the Spirit and greatly need the testimony given to Nicodemus, and with more of the Spirit would meddle less with experiences of those who received the gift abundantly.

Without thorough change and transformation a person will never see the kingdom, and the haughty, self-confident, overbearing, dictatorial, controlling, persecuting spirit will never find access to heaven. The required birth turns eyes from others' supposed failures to see self as God sees, stops magnifying others' faults, cares for the plot before one's own door by weeding the garden of the heart, and learns from Jesus meek and lowly to find rest. Without it a person remains narrow and would even in heaven desire to reform angels. One exalting self in assigned work or tyrannizing over others will not see unless becoming meek, lowly and simple as a little child in thorough conversion, since the heavenly family has no place for selfishness, roughness or unkindness. Unless converted to become as a little child one cannot see, holding to Jesus and keeping reserve force when the enemy works instead of taking combative spirit of self, resorting to strange fire, throwing the sword and betraying the cause at possible victory, a wrong move taking months or years to counteract, a lesson needed by speakers and in schools as principle more needed than science.

People cherishing an evil spirit must repent, humble themselves and be born again or continue in that spirit and cannot enter, and without repentance none can see. Those first yet untrue must speedily repent, fall upon the Rock and be broken, and be born again, or they will soon be last, otherwise envy, jealousy and evil surmising continue, mercy's voice unrecognized, and Bible religion remains past. This warns the North Fitzroy church, described as diseased with leprosy, that unless it changes thoroughly it will not see. A person whose character remains selfish and covetous will not see unless decisively changed, and those entering the city must be cleansed of fraud and injustice and show righteousness in keeping with heaven's principles. One persisting in selfishness, dishonesty, falsehood and corrupt conduct must repent or will not see. A harsh, dictatorial, faultfinding spirit in marriage leaves a man unconverted and must be entirely overcome or he cannot see, with both husband and wife at fault and both needing change, the husband ceasing to worry and provoke with criticism and respecting individual mind and will, requiring a spiritualized humaneness that never blames the erring but pities them, producing heavenly fellowship, compassion and love.

Unless a man is a converted man he will never see the King of heaven, requiring Christ's transforming grace, applying to one entrenched in self-righteousness, filled with self-conceit and self-love, magnifying good deeds and covering failures with excuses, bringing self to the front and keeping Jesus in the background. One far gone in a course contrary to the Bible needs reconversion, without which inward renewal one cannot see. Church members whose experience declined into slumber, who depend on a minister, or who retain harmful old habits need to awaken and be converted and renewed anew by the Spirit's power as children of God, abandoning old habits, taking self in hand, conquering wicked feelings, humbling the heart and confessing sin. Only the converted can enter heaven, with character changed so Christ's presence brings tenderness and sympathy, while selfishness, harshness and lack of love show a person unconverted and unready for Christ's return. Those cold, unsympathetic, self-centered, selfish, harsh in words, coarse in spirit and destitute of love are not converted, have lost first love, dishonor Christ and represent disobedience, needing to repent, be converted, put on Christ and understand what is due to God, or when Christ comes their candlestick will be removed and they will be unready.

Seeing requires thorough conversion of the whole person with no half-hearted or divided heart accepted, and an entire transformation through yielding self to Christ with selfishness overcome by perfect self-surrender, without which one cannot enter the holy city or live a life that measures with God's life. Salvation depends on an entire and lasting, not spasmodic, change, without which one cannot be God's child, making serious thought and study of the Word welcome now since without that love heaven would be distasteful. No one will see without God's converting power through drawing near in penitence and humiliation or eternal life will be lost, with self-conceit, stubbornness, selfishness, self-deception and inability to withstand temptation marking the unconverted like a barren fig tree destitute of fruit. Conversion is necessary to enter God's royal family and become children of the heavenly King, applying to those trusting own judgment, rejecting instruction, and supposing themselves qualified to lead without guidance. Those entrusted with responsibilities need a changed experience and must return to first love, rely on grace rather than own strength, and receive faith, joy and hope through the Spirit to walk in obedience, undergoing repentance and conversion to see, for one who does not repent of and confess serious wrongdoing will not enter.

A person must be transformed to see and receive salvation, with conversion not only past but renewed daily, strength renewed to lay hold of overcoming power. A complete transformation is required, needing Christ's cleansing presence continually so no guile remains. Selfish self-sufficiency and harsh treatment must be overcome or a person cannot enter, and one unchanged by humility and truth will not see, for nominal profession without changed life is not enough. No one can gain eternal life without genuine conversion, coming under the Spirit's control and holding communion with God as clay in the potter's hands to be fashioned after Christ's likeness, for as root is to tree so heart is to Christian, both invisible yet revealing work by fruit. If Christ is not enthroned another power working no good is there, with the heart not under God's Spirit under satanic agencies loving dissension, while only under the Spirit is life pure, sweet, peaceful and happy. A person must be born again to enter, requiring Christ's transforming grace to renew affections and sanctify the whole person, without which harsh, loveless criticism is incompatible with true religion, and hereditary tendencies must be changed with purity and sanctification transforming life or the soul is lost.

A person must be born again to enter God's kingdom, with those born into it adopted by Christ into the household of faith and conversion changing the whole direction and tenor of life, bringing conviction by God's Word and acceptance of unpopular truth. The sinner must be born again, in which Christ renews the person in the divine nature, writing the holy, just and good principles of God's law in heart and mind, as the repentant breaks free from Satan's yoke, takes Christ's yoke and learns His meekness and lowliness. Christ renews through truth spreading His life through the whole being rather than weakening the mind with sophistry, living in loving service with a new character necessary for heaven. A person must receive life from above to see, with the spiritually dead needing the Spirit to awaken them and show need. Seeing requires formation of a spiritual character within, with repentance from judging others and walking humbly before God as part of the change. Being born again means beginning a new life marked by forbearance and unselfishness in words and actions, with Jesus' loving spirit guiding the heart and kindness shaping speech.

Being born again must be evident in spiritual renewal, with churches needing a spiritual revolution and conviction producing fruits of righteousness in daily life. Many professing godliness have never been truly converted, for being born again means leaving the old life behind, with clinging to the old citizen's dress incompatible with undivided allegiance, the new life wholly consecrated with no part withheld and obedience required even in smallest matters. A person must be born again through God's converting power, and reproaches cannot bring health until conversion takes hold. To be born again is to give up the old life of sin, disobedience and transgression and become a converted man with a pure fountain within, making the heart pure, lowly, loving and obedient, cleansed and sanctified with God's image shining in peace and glory, abhorring evil and practicing good from love for right. Without it a professed commandment-keeper remains in natural depravity, sold under sin, unhappy, fretful, dissatisfied and carnal in countenance and speech, unfit for use until self is mortified, the carnal mind crucified, self forgotten in caring for others and doing good, aided by plain temperate eating and wearying physical labor.

Being born again gives a high and exalted birthright as sons and daughters of God and citizens of heaven, with those born again living, speaking and acting as such, refusing conformity to evil practices and exerting saving influence as salt. This forbids stooping to anything low, cheap or questionable, being found in suspicious places, or letting good be evil spoken of, as witnesses exposing transgression, calling Christians to live above low conduct and remain distinct from the world. Without the new birth and entire transformation a person cannot see God or be counted complete in Christ, for genuine religious life requires this change and it is not a fable. Being born of God is the mark of a true follower, seen in selfless devotion to Christ's service and desire to win others to Him. Being born again means being born into Christ's kingdom, evidenced by manifest Christlikeness in revealing His meekness, requiring putting away boasting and self-exaltation and heeding His invitation to copy His character and learn meekness and lowliness. It means being delivered from sin and receiving Christ's character as the new person, living for God and representing His holiness in all doing and saying, continually receiving power so no part of former sin remains, with Christ bringing sanctified activity into every part and developing unselfish service.

A person must experience the new birth to see and enter, as taught to Nicodemus, as part of true conversion involving conviction of sin, sorrow for wrongdoing, death to self, and daily overcoming of defects, in which old things pass away and all becomes new, while merely accepting truth intellectually while keeping the same character is not the new birth. Seeing requires being born again, in which through the Spirit's power believers are regenerated, changed from rebels against God's law into obedient subjects of His kingdom, and restored to God's image. The truly converted have this birth, with God giving them a new heart and cooperating with each soul turning to Him, the Holy Spirit becoming their efficiency and faith in Christ their only hope, abiding in Christ as lights winning souls from darkness to light. A person must be born again to see, becoming a new being in Christ and beginning cooperation with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who work for the believer and sanctify those joined to God in holy fellowship in fulfillment of the covenant, revealing righteousness to the world.

Seeing requires being born again, which is not inherited or given by another but is God's gift through Christ, with those receiving the Saviour born again as spiritual children renewed in righteousness and holiness, with changed minds and clearer sight of eternal realities, adopted into God's family and transformed to become like God, growing from supreme love of self to supreme love of God and Christ. A person must be born again to see, requiring a character made fit for it, with this life testing whether people will be safe members of God's royal family, and all entering heaven without guile and perfect before God. Seeing requires a decisive transformation of character and spiritual vision, without which one cannot perceive it, for God's kingdom is not merely words but works in realities of daily trials, sympathies and duties. A person must be born again before becoming subject to God's law, and this follows a death struggle; without it people may rely on worldly wisdom and regard work as meritorious, while selfishness corrupts conduct and hearts remain closed to Christ, and they must repent and welcome Christ or face His rejection at judgment.

Being born again is necessary to see, and when people receive the Holy Spirit they are born again, bringing firm faith and unity among believers. People need this new life connected with cherishing Christ's love for one another, with faith working through love and sanctifying the soul. Seeing requires a thorough change, warning that without it a person will not enter, and a changed Christian life with self-centeredness incompatible, while using every means of grace develops pure Christlike love, discernment of what is excellent, and fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ to God's glory. Being born again is conversion, a deep change wrought by God's Spirit, evident in love for God and fellow believers, a heart made light and happy, and a new sense of the sacredness of God's work. A person cannot see without repentance and contrite turning, and must have Christ's grace in home life as well as outward practice, without which faith and prayers are vain. Being born again is made evident in a new life in which words and actions reflect Christ's spirit and selfishness gives way to sacred, consecrated living. Being born anew requires thorough cleansing from self through faith that works by love and purifies the soul, making a person willing to be led like a little child. A person must be born again to enter, requiring change shown in just business dealings and in representing Christ in spirit, words and actions under God's control.

False Substitutes Rejected

No one can enter heaven by benevolence, many good deeds, strict obedience to the law alone, exalted religious position, or self-righteousness, and self-righteousness must be torn away with whole wrong conceptions corrected. Even one just and honorable, with good works, strict religious life and status, cannot be saved or discern and enter God's kingdom without being born again through Jesus Christ, for the kingdom is too pure to enter in the present spiritual condition. That birth is not literal birth but a spiritual and moral transformation and new mind worked by the divine Spirit in all who would have part in Christ's kingdom, divesting of self, turning to seek the pure, holy and divine, giving Jesus undivided worship, purifying life, ennobling character, fitting for heaven, and addressing inward lack shown in pride, bigotry, worldly ambition, pride and confidence in own righteousness. It comes through repentance, humility and submission to God's requirements, since no human remedy can cure the sinning soul, and it is a spiritual need rather than promise of political kingdom, national deliverance, or a Messiah overthrowing Rome by force.

Mere assent to truth, increase in knowledge, position, profession, having a name on the church book, emotional religion, or apparent good deeds cannot meet its condition or make a person renewed, connected with heaven, or a strength to the church. Profession alone does not make those on church books a strength to the church, for the new birth is connected with sanctification through truth requiring not only receiving truth but practicing it and searching Scripture to know what is true. True conversion acts like leaven permeating every part of the being, changing the heart, transforming the entire being into conformity with Christ's Spirit, developing all powers and filling with desire to serve Christ in being good and doing good. One with only emotional religion is controlled by another spirit, not Christ's Spirit, flighty and sentimental, a burden to the church, soaring high in imagination at times and sinking when excitement is removed. Merely professing to abide in Christ or having a name on the book does not meet the condition, and persisting in clinging to imperfections proves one is not born again, so such must come to the foot of the cross, learn meekness and lowliness from Jesus, put away everything wrong and every imperfection of character, and in this life prepare character for promotion to the higher school above.

Belief in religious doctrines or hope of heaven is not enough without knowing the truth in Jesus and the power of His grace. People must be convicted of sin, turn from evil, and seek the Lord until the heart is cleansed from sin so natural tempers no longer control the life, which no human effort or preaching alone can bring about. Merely formal religion has no saving power or power to reform. The new birth is seen in a transformed life that reflects truth and gives light to others, with meekness, faith, humility and love replacing a combative spirit and worldliness, and Sabbath worship alone without this change gives no light to others. Accepting and preaching the truth do not suffice when the heart remains morally defiled; what is needed is a divine impression on the character and the Spirit of Christ rather than harshness and self-centeredness.

A superficial change in habits and practices does not make a Christian or show the new birth has taken place, for lasting conversion changes the character. Resentment, bitterness, malice, and an untrustworthy, unthankful, unholy spirit with downward tendencies show the person has not been born again, and those remaining untransformed can foster dissension and strife in the church. Being born again is shown by a transformed character and submissive spirit toward God, not merely by habits changed superficially or by being received into church fellowship. Merely pretending to be changed is like building on sand and cannot save or bring entrance to the celestial city, which requires genuine change of heart and right relation to God.

Belief in the theory of the third angel's message is not enough but needs Christ's grace as oil keeping the lamp burning and making the light of life shine, with parents' words and actions showing they have entered the divine life. Merely agreeing with religious truths, gaining knowledge, or having emotional excitement without true heart conversion bringing into conformity with Christ's Spirit and awakening desire to serve Christ is not salvation or Christ's Spirit. Profession of Christianity alone is not enough before seeing heaven, for the birth is shown in a life departing from every action unfit for heaven and developing Christ's character. This life is a school in which Christ's grace works in the disobedient until Christ is formed within, those entering heaven must already have the character making them fit to live there, while the natural person ruled by pride and self-exaltation is blind to spiritual things and cannot enjoy the change from earth to heaven. Worldly position and wealth have no value for entering that kingdom, as shown in what was spoken to Nicodemus the member of the Sanhedrin that he must be born again or never see the kingdom of heaven.

Transformed Life Evidenced

Those born again gain spiritual strength and knowledge that develop God's qualities in character, live a new life shaped by God's will, and bring Christ's mind and spirit into business dealings as a saving influence rather than yielding to misleading talk about principle. This new birth means cleansing from filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness as God is holy, putting away hereditary tendencies to wrong, petted selfishness, and suspicious imagining, and crucifying self, because indulged they spoil character and ruin the soul. Being born again begins a new life in which the old life of selfishness dies and Christ's life is revealed in a changed character, which is the first preparation for working with God in medical missionary service. The new birth brings spiritual revival and reformation with new desires and tastes, awakening dormant spiritual faculties to persevering overcoming through Christ's power and casting away unprofitable selfishness that waits for others to help. People need the new birth to have hope of happiness in this life and the life to come, for without the Spirit's transforming influence they remain far from God and their selfish tempers harm one another.

Being born again builds a wall of separation dividing the heavenly from the earthly, marking off those chosen out of the world as elect and precious with a peculiar calling, character, and prospects at variance with the world, and the difference between children of light and children of darkness becomes more decided as the close of time nears. The new birth frees a person from willing subjection to Christ's enemy and the power of sin, turning that person from subjection to sin and Satan into a child of God by adoption and an heir through faith. The new birth is the only hope for people who remain bound to self and sin and need their lives remade; the new birth must come home with power with the death of self before serving God acceptably, rather than clinging to selfishness and cherished faults. This change involves daily conversion and overcoming inherited and learned tendencies to do wrong, making those converted vessels fit for honor. The new birth is shown in Christ formed within and a character changed by the Lord, expressing patient, generous, tender love especially toward the struggling and erring, with no place for selfish, unkind, impatient dispositions; without Christ formed within changing the character, selfish unloving dispositions make the person miserable and would make heaven miserable.

To be born again is to become thoroughly converted and a daily learner in Christ's school, putting away childish feelings and manners and putting on meekness, gentleness, kindness, forbearance, and long-suffering, beginning with the heart made right by the new creating power of the Holy Spirit. Seeing requires being born again by humbling the heart and being renewed in the spirit of the mind, which is the only hope for one whose character is unacceptable to God, without which full knowledge, understanding of mysteries, and evidence of ability will not make an overcomer. Being born again means turning from leaning on finite erring human beings, learning from God as little children, humbling the heart in submission and contrition, speaking kind, tender, compassionate, polite words with the best of manners to glorify him, and living in unity and love in preparation for living with the redeemed through endless ages. Being born again means putting away everything wrong and every imperfection of character, learning meekness and lowliness from Jesus at the foot of the cross, and preparing character in this life for promotion to the higher school above. Seeing requires gaining an entire change in course of action after God gives a view of self, accepting his warnings and counsel and being instructed by his word instead of setting testimony aside, putting own construction upon it, making it of none effect by traditions, or treating it as an idle tale.

The new birth is linked with a life that rejects dishonesty, falsehood, and sin, and those who profess Christianity while following plans opposed to God's need conversion, for sin is like moral leprosy needing cleansing and healing; it is shown in daily life by revealing Christ through upright dealings and rejecting dishonest, cunning, sly and underhand conduct, with good fruit testifying to the heart's condition. Those not born again are to consider the teaching and humble themselves under God, for human beings become sons and daughters of God through Christ who gave himself for humanity and serves as Mediator between God and man. The new birth replaces self-importance and pride with Christlike meekness and lowliness through the effective work of the Holy Spirit with divine light and heavenly cooperation, enabling discernment of the kingdom's spiritual character and recognition of duties toward others; pride and self-love resist the Spirit who must mold the heart daily, while receiving divine light enables that perception, evil must be put away since what harms and destroys will not enter heaven, and mere acknowledgment of the law with self-satisfaction leaves failure and condemnation. The new birth means giving up the old character and self-righteousness entirely and receiving from Christ the new life and his righteousness, with the whole heart surrendered and the entire character transformed.

This change requires being changed in heart, thought, spirit, and character, bringing nature into subjection to Jesus Christ and receiving the Spirit of Christ, without which entry into God's city is impossible; the new birth is necessary for one who professes Christ but remains bound by selfishness and sin, for a claim to serve God without faith in Christ's power to overcome sin is not enough; the new birth calls for obedience to God's word, a demand the unrenewed heart resists. The new birth changes desires and affections, putting away anger, envy, strife, crooked self-directed ways and love of self, and giving delight in the Lord, love, peace, humility, and the mind that was in Jesus to humble self for others without seeking the highest place or display. The new birth by God's Spirit, not human nature, subdues passions and brings the will under Christ's will, making pure in heart and forming Christ's character through his grace and righteousness as necessary preparation for Christ's coming and for entrance into the holy city as perfect in righteousness. Conversion from faulty lives to gospel faith through the gift of the Son imbues the inward life with heaven's principles by constantly beholding Christ's life into his image, requiring no attempt to shine and shown unfailingly in honesty, uprightness, fidelity and steadfast principle; it is an inward change of mind and heart from constantly beholding his life, with appropriation producing the birth and the greatest manifestation when the natural person partakes of divine nature and overcomes worldly lust by imparted grace, preparing in continual advancement for the holy city.

Even one who deems his moral character correct must humble himself and enter life the same way as the greatest and chief of sinners, giving up reliance on personal righteousness and depending wholly on Christ whose righteousness is counted as his own; when Christ's light shines it reveals impurity, selfish motive and enmity defiling every act, showing human righteousness is as filthy rags and cannot save, while Christ's blood alone cleanses defilement and renews the heart in his likeness. Being born from above is proved by a life honoring God with pure holy speech and conduct, living as pilgrims and strangers whose home is not this world but a better country, in gratitude and worship. The new birth means falling on the Rock and being broken, seeing how one's course hindered God's work, breaking the heart before God in entire reformation, confessing errors instead of justifying self, since no lie or self-shielding misstatement cleanses wrong; without it words and actions cannot be depended on, mercy is unrecognized, peril unseen, and judgment and condemnation follow despite position, deeds or schemes. The new birth leads to doing everything for God's glory with humility and self-distrust, and when the heart is sanctified valuable traits make a useful Christian with mercy and love as controlling powers; genuine conversion brings a new spirit and life within, reveals Christ in the character as a living part of the Vine, with faith growing into knowledge and understanding of God's word.

Christ renews the repentant sinner by giving his life, making a new character into his image through receiving, beholding and learning his meekness; he breaks Satan's hold and writes God's law in heart and mind unto loving service fit for heaven. The new birth brings newness of life shown in a purified life that obeys the truth and follows Christ's instruction; it is a decisive separation in which God's people are dead to the world and alive to God, created anew distinct in spirit and practice with no room for idolatry or friendship with the world. A life transformed by the Holy Spirit following personal humility and confession before God makes the new birth evident. Through the complete change the character of Christ may be imputed to the person; the new birth is received through faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, whatever hereditary peculiarity was received can be overcome, old things pass away and all becomes new, those connecting with God have his moral image restored, deficiencies can be overcome, and life need not be shaped after human counsels from head-reading by phrenology.

Truly converted through fully accepting Jesus Christ, the new birth begins with conviction of sin and growing desire for his righteousness, purifies the heart and sanctifies affections, and is shown daily in holy speech, good conscience, good fruit and Christlike conduct rather than mere outward profession or smooth talk; genuine conversion requires receiving Christ as Saviour by genuine faith through divine power, and until born again no one is soundly converted. Human character must be made over and utterly changed or the world will perish in corruption amid daily revelations of human nature; the mystery is not the requirement but unwillingness to accept the help Jesus left heaven to give, resting content without him, while pride, ambition and violence leave no rest, peace, happiness or true elevation outside Christ. Without the new birth in which self dies and one rises to newness of life in Christ, one may bear Christ's name in membership and baptism yet remain unsanctified and unholy; the new birth is true change of heart transforming the whole person unto desire to serve Christ, not mere agreement with truth or an emotional experience; true conversion as new birth means a new spirit takes possession, a new life begins, and Christ is revealed in character, while religious profession alone does not make a Christian. Conversion to God changing heart and character replaces fretting and scolding with Christlike love, considerate words, prayer, praise, singing and trust guarding against evil; the converted help lift others' burdens rather than tempting them, with faith working through love purifying the soul.

The new birth is being converted in soul, body and spirit by coming to the light in Christ and understanding his sacrifice bringing life's light; without it understanding remains darkened in darkness. Real conversion by the Spirit brings humility before God, love for fellow believers, joy, and clearer sense of the sacredness of God's work. The new birth by God's grace making a new person in Christ is the only hope for a deeply flawed character; God purifies and tests the newborn so the life offered to him is righteous. Those who lack experience of God, justification by faith, and the Spirit's witness that Christ accepts them need this new birth, which is a deep work within the soul, unseen by the world, in which the Spirit quickens the inner person; the divine work changes the heart without destroying or weakening human abilities, purifies every attribute suited to fellowship with the divine nature, brings heavenly peace, and makes people subjects returned to allegiance to Christ.

The old nature cannot enter: hereditary tendencies and former habits, including inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong, must be given up, the heart must yield to God's loving rule by talking, walking and working with Jesus everywhere in heart religion and humility at his feet, and God alone gives victory since it is not won by human power; fallen humanity needs a radical change of the entire person creating new motives, because Satan seeks to work through natural inclinations. The new birth is a chosen transformation that breaks Satan's control and hold through repentance, surrender to Christ, and reliance on his power rather than one's own; being born again means dying to self so Christ lives in the person as a living, active power keeping the person holy. Without it a person remains under the wily foe's spiritualistic influence, seeing in perverted light, speaking false deceptive words without control of mind or spirit, used to voice Satan's words as the serpent in Eden, as fully under evil agencies as the converted are under the Spirit, not resisting the enemy so he will flee, continuing in abominations without true knowledge of them. Without a chosen transformation a man remains open to the foe working upon the mind, coming under influence so the enemy speaks through him in strange untrue words spoken for effect and afterward denied, with no control and led to abominable things whose nature he has no real knowledge of until truly converted, while the converted are as fully under the Holy Spirit as the unconverted are under evil agencies, resisting instead of being led.

This new life sets aside national identity, personal preferences and selfishness to unite in heart and work with fellow believers, giving the world evidence they are God's children; it means beginning a new life in Christ with repentance and confession preparing the way for forgiveness, so the born again can live differently and speak words honoring Christ. It is soul cleansing and change of character constituting conversion, not of corruptible but incorruptible seed, received by receiving Christ as personal Saviour and obtaining power to become a son of God. It requires cutting away defective traits such as covetousness and supreme selfishness, yielding will and way to Christ, falling upon the Rock Christ broken with self dying, ceasing to study self and earnestly looking at the Lamb's unselfish life in study and obedience until entire transformation to a different course, believing in transforming grace and obeying his lessons to possess the kingdom character he outlined, without which, like Judas despite opportunity to hear his principles, a person remains unconverted, unclean and not chosen. Unless Christ is woven into the character human nature cannot be trusted and there is no hope, requiring a regenerated and transformed nature; it means forsaking egotism as a disease of the mind giving a feeble representation of godliness, discerning it as evil and thoroughly forsaking it to gain heart holiness and wholeness with godliness and depth of virtue, gaining insight into character, discrimination of values and self-measurement, and good material to refresh others rather than wearying them with only one's experience and feelings.

It means taking self in hand and seeking God's grace every day and hour with God as a shield or the soul will be lost, giving up strife for recognition, praise and adulation, self-deception about standing, enjoying human praise and mind acting on mind in supposed spirituality, and breaking links with human agents binding the soul from God, seeking help and counsel in trials from God alone rather than erring finite humans. It requires an entire change of heart, soul, mind and strength transforming natural traits, temperament and disposition into Christ's likeness as an unchangeable fact required of every man, woman and child to be welcomed, transforming the whole person to become like the Father and Jesus through discipline of associating in harmony with others and producing faith working by love that purifies the soul. It is a real inward conversion, not merely outward conformity, with decisive break from old life and self, deep conviction, continuing struggle against selfish desires and sin, daily self-denial and reliance on grace seeking power to overcome and grow in holiness; it enters a genuinely new state with the whole life transformed, old self and sinful passions put away and renewed after God's image, requiring present evident character and conduct rather than past profession, while the renewed still face temptation and must continually depend on grace, watch and pray, remain united to Christ, and resist sin through faith and works. At conversion self dies and a new heavenly life is imparted as truth is received, with death to the old sinful self-indulgent character leaving not one thread of selfishness, changed life purposes, new principles in daily experience, and each seeking his place in the Lord's work.

To be born again of the Spirit is to have the heart filled with God's love leaving no place for self-exaltation or dishonesty, being made complete in Christ through his Spirit, in contrast to professing faith without God's love, not made pure by truth, remaining transgressors of the law and opposed to Christ's work. It is revealed in transformed heart and Christlike conduct with sanctified speech, not spending time faultfinding, speaking against others, or spreading discouragement and unbelief, but serving as God's witness and child under Christ's training and advancing in service rather than fighting fellow believers, marked by forbearance and unselfishness in words and actions. It brings a renewed conscience and living connection with God through thorough conversion and dying to self; the new life from above is preserved through daily watchfulness and prayer, with the humble and childlike seeing Jesus by faith and revealing him through Christlike character, while selfishness, self-seeking and self-exaltation separate the soul from God. It requires true religion in the church shown by working out heaven-born principles of truth in life, and only those living so gain eternal life in glory; it cannot be seen without a changed heart possessed by Christ's transforming grace, changing heart and character to be no longer unlike Christ; it must transform character to be applied to those remaining stiff and unyielding, or they will perish with the wicked.

The new birth is a new heart given by the Lord to all who repent, and to be converted is to be born again not of flesh but of Spirit by turning to the Lord and repenting, with all who do so saved; this requires searching for truth with humble contrite heart and heeding fulfilling signs showing the end near, for those careless of salvation will soon lament being unsaved. Those born again are converted and enlightened with renewal of life. Holiness is not inherited at birth or received from another but is God's gift through Christ, with those rejecting Christ unable to come to light or have eternal life while followers receive the light of life shining in hearts and reflected in lives. Thorough conversion requires coming helpless to God depending on Jesus and leaving childish and un-Christlike traits, changing character and speech to form Christlike ministers showing practical godliness rather than mere religious form or theology; seeing is not assured to a child raised with habits shaped by indulgence, and parents can hinder salvation through example and discipline.

Being born again is conversion that changes life, testified to through pure thoughts, words and actions and by showing Christ's love, kindness and self-control; the new birth is experienced as entering a new life with God with the old life counted dead, life hidden with Christ, and walking in newness of life, including confessing God as Ruler, yielding to his commandments, and seeking things above where Christ is. Being born again is not mere theoretical knowledge of truth but receiving and practicing God's Word so its most sublime truths are expressed in life and character, revealed in speech and action expressing truth's principles and letting light shine in good works that glorify the Father, bringing light from under human conjecture to make known the gospel of life, with invisible supernatural heavenly agencies working through the visible natural earthly to reveal unknown things through the known, and the grace revealed teaches that man was made in God's likeness. Being born again is a real change of heart and life: when a person comes to faith and Christ is revealed, they become like a different person, loving what they once hated and hating what they once loved, while seeing sin as dreadful, and sinful people including the young are to come to Jesus as they are, give themselves to him, and let him take away sins. A person must be converted and born again before he can cooperate with the Lord Jesus.

People dead in trespasses and sins must be quickened by Christ through the vivifying influence of his Holy Spirit, and without this new life they will never see the kingdom, while when converted they see Christ as their sin-pardoning Saviour. The new birth is the mark of genuine conversion, with those born again heavenly-minded, and their faithful service, unselfishness, unity with fellow believers and works of righteousness revealing the change. God's work needs men who are born again, with the born-again man humble and willing to be taught, enlightened with wisdom from on high, knowing what is truth, affirming what is written with It is written as his weapon instead of entering controversy, holding the standard higher and still higher, magnifying the Lord's name, standing fast without giving up, and refusing to let specious errors and finely spun false theories tear down the pillars of truth. A person needs a new birth of soul received by a living, earnest, working faith in Jesus that promotes God's glory, keeping words and impulses from denying him, purifying the soul as faith works by love, coming by grace because God values poor defective human beings so much that he gave Jesus to poverty, sorrow and death, offering his Spirit day by day as sufficiency so the believer shines to lead others to glorify God, until the Spirit produces a character revealed in heaven's books as complete in him.

Seeing requires being born again, which is a real change through which a person can be freed from enslaving appetite and become a different person living a reformed life. Being born again means receiving a new life in Christ with his love abiding in the heart, necessary for God's people to stand securely and serve faithfully. Seeing requires a new birth illustrated by Paul's change from persecuting followers to living wholly for Christ, through which he saw himself as a great sinner and his whole life was changed, with receiving Christ making it possible to become God's sons and daughters and giving power to live devotedly in his service. Being born again is shown when a person's life testifies to a world dead in sin that the person has been changed. Seeing requires being a Bible Christian, with choosing one's own way rather than God's way incompatible with that condition.

A person must receive life from above to see only through awakening by the Spirit; being born again makes a person a pure and holy child of faith who partakes of the divine nature, loves Jesus and manifests his meekness and humility, known by fruits distinguishing true disciples from opposers who like the scribes, Pharisees, priests, lawyers and rulers watched to entrap Christ because they did not love his doctrines and were displeased to see people turn to him, arraying themselves against God's message, hedging up the way, destroying his messenger's influence, and deceiving themselves that they serve God while serving another master and being rewarded according to work. The verse shows that one who lives the gospel has been born again, meaning that by the divine Spirit the person is lifted out of self, dies to selfish aims, and obeys God's Word, so words and actions testify to the new birth. The new birth means waking from spiritual slumber and making a real change in life, turning away from wrong practices by ministers and lay members that dishonor God and stir alienation, strife, and faultfinding. The call to be born again is needed because of lamentable decay in religious experience, in which a truly godly life is rarely seen. Until a person is born again his sin remains upon him, and the new birth clears the soul from impurity and falsehood and makes straight paths for the feet.

For a man hardened in corrupt and defiling sins, the only possible chance is to be born again, which means to be transformed and thoroughly converted, proven afterward by a reformed life that shows forth the fruits of righteousness and makes him able to be trusted. Without entire change of heart, soul, mind, strength, speech and spirit enabling discernment between light and darkness, there can be no Christian unity, harmony with fellow workers, or safe continuance in sacred work, including blending medical missionary work with gospel ministry. Being born again is the beginning of a changed experience in which those who received heaven's light remember the joy and gladness with which they welcomed it, feel eager to tell others of their happiness, and see God's love reflected in the world around them.

Service For The Kingdom

In some instances John 3:3 stands simply as the requirement that a person must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God, connected with responding to a call and deciding to be baptized, without further unfolding of what the new birth or the seeing means.
Communion with heaven does not come by seeking a holy mountain or a sacred temple, and religion is not confined to external forms and ceremonies, for a religion of ceremonies cannot take the place of holiness of heart and life.
Only the religion that comes from God leads to God, and to serve Him aright a person must be born of the divine Spirit, which purifies the heart, renews the mind, gives new capacity for knowing and loving God, and brings willing obedience to all His requirements as true worship and fruit of the Holy Spirit's working.
Wherever a soul reaches out after God the Spirit is working there and God will reveal Himself to that soul, every sincere prayer is prompted by the Spirit and made acceptable to God, and such worshipers God is seeking, waiting to receive them and to make them His sons and daughters.

The lesson has momentous bearing on human destiny, and Sabbath-school teachers must understand it in its full weight and teach it, since without inward renovation and a new heart that makes all things new, discussing Christ's authority, work, and mission as One bearing Heaven's credentials brings no saving good.
Together with John 1 it plainly defines higher education, the only education of saving value, whose full import concerning true education cannot be understood until a person is born again because it can only be received through sanctification of God's Spirit.
The lesson lays out the terms of salvation clearly as a sufficient guide to the soul, especially important for counselors and others dealing with minds, and it is the first principles, the very alphabet of conversion and divine life essential to discipleship and to fitness as teachers, physicians, and ministers.
Even a learned teacher in honorable position had no true conception of what such a teacher should be until this was laid before him, and neglect of this most essential part of education leaves those in responsible positions unfit despite learning and position, while receiving Christ's words gives higher intelligence and deeper spiritual knowledge.

The needed cure for human evil is inward renewal of the heart, not merely outward or civil reform, for lasting change must reach and regenerate each person, which is why oppressive governments were not corrected by human measures.
Seeing requires conversion testified by life before a world dead in sin, and when ministers and medical missionary workers are converted they become a power for good, welcoming counsel and help because sanctified through the truth and daily receiving heaven's grace to share.
The verse belongs to deliberate work for the rich as well as the poor, as taught directly to the wealthy and cultured Pharisee to gain access to his heart and reveal imperishable riches, by seeking such ones out, accepting their invitations, attending their feasts, and becoming familiar with their interests and occupations, as with the Jewish nobleman and the Roman ruler.
Its testimony is almost the counterpart of John the Baptist's testimony that He who comes from above is above all, testifies what He has seen and heard, speaks God's words with the Spirit given without measure, and that believing in the Son gives everlasting life while not believing leaves a person without life under God's wrath.

Those born again are willing to be guided by the Holy Spirit and do what they can in Christ's way, depending on divine help rather than worldly advantages, and are accompanied and instructed by holy angels who prepare the way for their work among people.
Being born again fits a person for service, and fitness comes by constant obedience that puts the entire being under God's molding hand so physical, mental, and spiritual perfection may be attained, the soul renovated by truth and the body renewed by the Spirit, lifting life to a higher atmosphere with increased vitality to do appointed work well and grow to full stature in Christ.
Those born again testify by their lives to a world dead in trespasses and sins, their influence becomes a power, their hearts become willing to receive, they impart the grace received, and they leave prepared to tell others of Christ's power and the temperate way, and teaching souls to seek the new birth is a precious work.
Those who have received the new birth have a sacred ministry to perform, while those who have not should open their hearts to the Spirit and be converted, with daily conversion and cleansing from hindering habits.

Christ's words to Nicodemus are among those people who teach Scripture need to take personally, and understanding His teaching requires practicing God's Word in daily life, with practical godliness making its meaning clear even to a child, while learned teachers may miss it.
People need the new birth in Christ Jesus, and women who teach souls to seek this new birth do a precious work and are truly laborers for God.
Being born again brings a work for Jesus, so that everyone who has experienced this new birth is to serve as an active representative of the Saviour.