born of the race of Adam, by ordinary generation, that unless he be
translated "create" is the same that is used in the first verse in Genesis. And when we read in Scripture of the new creature, the creature that is called new is man; not angel, or beast, or any other sort of creature; and therefore the phrase, "new man," is evidently equipollent with "new creature"; and a putting off the old man, and putting on the new man, is spoken of expressly as brought to pass by a work of creation. (Col. 3:9, 10), "Ye have put off the old man … and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him." (So Eph. 4:22, 23, 24), "That ye put off the old man, which is corrupt etc. and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." These things absolutely fix the meaning of that in 2 Cor. 5:17, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
On the whole, the following reflections may be made:
1. That it is a truth of the utmost certainty, with respect to every man, born of the race of Adam, by ordinary generation, that unless he be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. This is true, not only of the heathen, but of them that are born of the professing people of God, as Nicodemus, and the Jews, and every man born of the flesh. This is most manifest by Christ's discourse, in John 3:3–11. So 'tis plain by 2 Cor. 5:17, "that every man who is in Christ, is a new creature."
2. It appears from this, together with what has been proved above, that it is most certain with respect to every one of the human race, that he can never have any interest in Christ, or see the kingdom of God, unless he be the subject of that change in the temper and disposition of his heart, which is made in repentance, and