The truth as to “new birth,” and the need of it ever since the fall of man, is set forth in the Scriptures. Sin came in when man, in the garden of Eden, set aside the Creator’s claims by doing his own will. Everyone since then is born a sinner, and by doing his own will, sins against God continually. Left to himself before the flood, he filled the world with corruption and violence, till the flood came and swept them all away, except Noah and his family. God started the world again on the ground of sacrifice—that which pointed on to Christ’s sacrifice. God said in His heart as He smelled the sweet savor of Christ’s sacrifice: “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”
He made a covenant with every living thing, and set Noah up as the governor over it. This is the beginning of the “powers that be.” But the whole history of man is shown in Scripture to be utter failure, and his nature remains unchanged, so that the Lord declared to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). “The flesh profiteth nothing.” (John 6:63). “In me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” (Rom. 7:18). And as to our actions, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23).
If we look at man in this world, he is living in sin, doing his own will, and must give an account of Himself to God. If you look at him in regard to pleasing God, he cannot please Him, for he is dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1).
What then is to be done? What can he do? Nothing, but God brings the truth to bear upon him, and by His Word and Spirit, speaks to the man’s conscience, and like Jesus at Lazarus’ grave, the quickening power of the Word reaches the dead sinner’s heart. Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth,” and out of his grave Lazarus came. Life and faith were begotten in him by the word of Jesus.
So it is in the new birth, which no one can otherwise explain. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8).
The Lord in John 3:14, turns to another subject, referring to Numbers 21, where Israel had sinned against God, and were dying from the bites of the serpents, and says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So the Lord sets His own death on the cross, before the mind and heart of the sinner, first to show him what a dreadful thing sin is; and then to show him the love of God that gave His Son to make atonement for sinners, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Dear reader, do you believe an Him? If so, then you are born again—you have everlasting life. You could not be a true believer, and not have everlasting life. In believing on Christ we see that He died for us, and made propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9, 10). He also was made sin for us. We are made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21), and we are now become the children of God. “I write unto you, little (or dear) children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” (1 John 2:12). So that the believer has life, and peace (Rom. 5:1), and is a forgiven child of God. We are brought to God in the liberty of grace.
The story of Lazarus again teaches us. “Loose him and let him go,” so the Scriptures give us full assurance, through the work of Christ, that we are perfected forever by that one sacrifice.
There is yet another important blessing given us—the Holy Spirit now dwells in us, and sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts (Rom. 5:5), and enables us to say, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). He is our teacher as we read the Word, and, He delights to bring Christ before our souls, telling us more and more of the wonders of His grace and love, Who loved us and gave Himself for us, making us to say from our gladdened hearts, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” (John 16:1345; 1 John 4:19).