Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Necessity of Regeneration


“Jesus answered him (Nicodemus), “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (John 3:3, NRSV)

These words contain the foundation of all practical religion here, and happiness hereafter. It is the principal doctrine Christ, as a prophet, came to teach, and as a King to work in the heart… You must become a new man, if you would have acquaintance with evangelical mysterious…Man in his natural generation is but mere nature, and cannot apprehend, cannot enjoy that which is only apprehensible and enjoyable by a spiritual nature; but man regenerated by the Spirit is spiritual, and is advanced above mere flesh, for he is made partaker of the divine nature. So that Christ’s argument runs thus: No flesh can enter into the kingdom of God; but every man naturally is flesh, unless born again of the Spirit; therefore no man, unless born again of the Spirit can enter into the kingdom of God. (Stephen Charnock)

The Works of Stephen Charnock,

Volume Three, pages 7, 9, 11)

4 comments:

Persis said...

Thanks for sharing this quote, Gregg.

jean said...

How very true! To God be the glory for His work of salvation!!

Petra said...

Great quote! Thanks, Gregg!

kc bob said...

Good stuff Gregg! I often think that we are only immortal because of an eternal spirit born in us.