It only remains now to outline the fruits of regeneration.
habitual sinner is morally impotent. Though he has natural power, or the power of a reasonable creature, he has not a spiritual power till he has the divine life or a renewed nature.
It was principally understood of the Gentile world that they were '"'dead in the uncircumcision of their flesh"', being "aliens to the covenant of promise, and without God in the world" (Eph. ii. 11, 12). By reason of their uncircumcision they were dead in their sins. It may be understood of the spiritual uncumcision or corruption of nature; and so it shows that we are dead in law and dead in state. Dead in law, as a condemned malefactor is called a dead man, because he is under the sentence of death; so sinners, by the guilt of sin, are under the sentence of the law and '"'condemned already" (John ii. 18), and dead in state by reason of the "'uncircumcision of our flesh". An unsanctified heart is called an 'uncircumcised heart". This is our state.
Now through Christ we, who were dead in sins, are quickened. That is, effectual provision is made for taking away the guilt of sin and breaking the dominion and power of it. Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the quickening of our souls.
This also brings before us the relation between baptism and regeneration (Gal. i. 27). This faith in Christ, whereby we became the children of God, was what we professed in baptism. "As many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ." The Galatians, to whom Paul was speaking, who in baptism professed their faith in Christ, were thereby devoted to Him and had, as it were, put on His livery, and declared themselves to be His servants and disciples. Baptism, as this passage indicates, had now become the work of regeneration and the rite of admission into the Christian Church.
7. THE FRUITS OF THE NEW BIRTH
It only remains now to outline the fruits of regeneration. These are enumerated by reference to 1 Fohn v. 18.
(a) The sound Christian believers are secured against sin, against the fullness of its dominion or the fullness of its guilt. "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not.'
(5) They are fortified against the devil's destructive attempts. "He that is born of God keepeth himself." The devil touches not their souls to infuse that venom there that he does to others;
Born Again
or to expel that regenerative principle that is an antidote to his poison; or to induce them to that sin that by gospel constitution conveys an indissoluble obligation to eternal death.
(c) They are on God's side and interest, in opposition to the state of the world. '"'And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness" (verse 19). Mankind is divided into two great parties or dominions; that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to wickedness or the wicked one. The Christian believers belong to God. They are of God, and from Him, and to Him, and for Him. They succeed into the right and room of the ancient Israel of God, of whom it is said, 'The
Lord's people is his portion'', His estate in this world; "Jacob is the lot of his inheritance'', the dividend that has fallen to Him by the lot of His own determination (Deut. xxxii. 9).
While, on the contrary, "the whole world"', the rest being by far the major part, "lieth in wickedness", in the jaws, in the bowels of the wicked one. There are indeed, were we to consider the individuals, many wicked ones; many wicked spirits in the heavenly, or the ethereal, places; but they are united in wicked nature, policy and principle, and they are united also in one head. There is the prince of the devils and of the diabolical kingdom. There is a head of the malignity and of the malignant world; and he has such sway there that he is called the god of this world. Strange that such a knowing spirit should be so implacably incensed against the Almighty and all His interests, when he cannot but know that it must end in his own overthrow and everlasting damnation! How tremendous is the judgment of God upon that wicked one.
(d) They are enlightened in the knowledge of the true, eternal God: '"'and we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true''. The Son of God is come into our world; and we have seen Him, and know Him by all the evidence that has already been asserted; and He hath revealed unto us the true God, as John i. 18; internal light in our understandings, whereby we may discern the glories of the true God; and we are assured that it is the true God that He hath discovered to us.
(e) They have happy union with God and His Son: "and we are in Him that is true, even," or and, ''in His Son Jesus Christ''. The Son leads us to the Father, and we are in both; in the love and favour of both; in covenant and federal alliance with both; in spiritual conjunction with both, by the inhabitation and operation of their Spirit. And that they may know how great a dignity and felicity this is, you must remember that this true One is the true God and eternal life; or rather, as it should seem a more natural construction, this same Son of God is Himself also the true God and eternal life (John i. 1 and 1 John i. 2). So that by union with either, much more with both, we are united to the true God and eternal life.
SERMON OUTLINE
BORN AGAIN
THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH (a) In Order that We may Share the Heavenly Nature (6) In Order that We may Enter Christ's Kingdom (c) In Order that We may be Happy Here and Hereafter THE PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW BirTH (a) It is the Work of the Holy Spirit (6) It is a Spiritual and Inward Change (c) It is Essential because of Man's Sinful Nature (d) It is Wrought by the Gospel or Word of God (i) The Word is quick (ii) 'The Word is powerful (iii) The Word is sharp (e) It is a Putting on the New Man in Christ (f) It is not of Man's Doing (g) It is Typified by Christian Baptism THE FRUITS OF THE NEW BIRTH
Ill.
(a) Those Who are Born Again are Secure against Sin and Evil (b) Those Who are Born Again are on the Side of God (c) Those Who are Born Again are Spiritually enlightened (d) Those Who are Born Again have Fellowship with
God