六、重生！
（约翰福音 3）
一、重生的意义
第1节：“有一个法利赛人，名叫尼哥底母，是犹太人的官。” 这是什么人呢？一个法利赛人。法利赛人非常虔诚，他们喜爱祷告，而且祷告时间很长。他们熟知圣经，能背诵经文。他们把经文写在衣服上，经常穿戴。他们虔诚地守安息日，从不缺席教会。他们坐在前排。这个人，作为一个法利赛人，做了所有这些——去教会、研读圣经、经常祷告。但他并没有重生。
1）重生不是祷告或敬拜。你可以做所有这些事，但你未必重生。
2）重生不是努力行善。他的名字叫尼哥底母，意思是“好人”。的确，他是个好人，不是坏人。世人称赞一个人，往往是认为他是个好人。有一次我去一个村庄，村民们对我说：“你是个好人。”我们也常听到人们说：“某某真是个好人。”世人敬重好人，但仅仅善良并不等同于得救。
这个人是犹太人的统治者。只有真正伟大的好人才能成为犹太人的统治者。毫无疑问，他是个好人，但他并没有重生，这一点我们不要误解。好人未必是重生的。
第2节：“那人夜里来见耶稣，说：‘拉比，我们知道你是由神那里来的老师；因为你所行的这些神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。’”
3）重生并非相信神的存在。尼哥底母确实谦卑，夜里来见主。虽然他身为官长，却仍敲开老师的门寻求启迪，这并非易事。他前来拜见耶稣，因为他知道耶稣是上帝差来的使者。尼哥底母虽然信上帝，也认识上帝，但他却不明白重生的意义。
4）重生并非效法耶稣。许多人宣扬耶稣的美德和他为我们树立的榜样，就像尼哥底母那样，他曾说耶稣是“一位从上帝那里来的老师”。
5）重生并非治愈疾病。我曾问一位乡村小女孩：“你重生了吗？”她说：“我以前肚子疼，祷告后就好了。”重生并非治愈疾病。
尼哥底母在各方面都是一位好人。他读圣经，他祷告，他信上帝。他效法基督的榜样。他甚至相信耶稣的神迹。如今教会里有很多像尼哥底母一样的人。他们也会祷告…… ……并且相信是耶稣治愈了他们的疾病。弟兄姐妹们，我希望你们不要犯这样的错误：认为履行宗教仪式就等同于重生。尼哥底母虽然具备上述五项条件，但他并没有重生。
二、重生的必要性
基督徒重生是绝对必要的！
第3节：“耶稣回答说：‘我实实在在地告诉你，人若不重生，就不能见神的国。’”请跟我一起重复这节经文：“我实实在在地告诉你，人若不重生，就不能见神的国。”无论男女老幼，世上每个人若想见神的国，都需要重生。
1）未重生的人是瞎眼的。如果我没有重生，却向你们传道，我就是瞎眼的。一个没有重生的神学生毕业后，岂不成了瞎子领瞎子吗？他们岂不都掉进沟里吗？耶稣说：“未重生的人是瞎眼的！”
第4节：“尼哥底母问他：‘人已经老了，如何能重生呢？’”他能再次进入母腹，重新出生吗？”尼哥底母说：“唉，我已经老了，牙齿都掉光了，头发也白了，我怎能重生呢？这是什么话？是玩笑吗？”他听见了，却不明白。有多少听道的人也像他一样听不懂呢？
2）不重生就如同耳聋。许多听道的人觉得没意思，因为他们听不懂道。所以他们就离开了。为什么？因为他们耳聋了。
3）不重生就如同走到了死胡同。尼哥底母说：“我已经老了！”老毛病，老恶言，老偷窃，老批评，老说谎。这些旧习终生难改。多么可悲！它们无法改变，无法改进，无法焕发新生。但主可以！
第5节。耶稣说：“我实实在在地告诉你，人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。” 未重生的人还有希望进入神的国吗？
4）未重生就如同被拒之门外。有多少人被拒之门外，他们不认识神，也不明白教义。
5）未重生就如同跛子。想象一下这样的人——他头大，五脏六腑都长在肥胖的身体里，却跛着脚。他能好好走路吗？他看起来怎么样？所以，你可能已经去教会很多年了，但你却像个跛子。耶稣说：“你必须重生……重生吧。”
三、如何重生
“人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能得救……”
重生的第一步是“从水生”。这是什么意思呢？假设有一位弟兄来听福音。他心中有许多魔鬼——赌博的魔鬼、鸦片的魔鬼、妾的魔鬼、坏脾气的魔鬼……他哭着说：“主啊，我犯了这么多罪。我该死。主啊，求你怜悯我！”他悔改了。他哭了。他受洗，表明他愿意洗净自己的罪。这是第一步。
第二步是“从圣灵生”。当一个人领受圣灵时，魔鬼就被赶走了。魔鬼离开后，圣灵就进入他的心，与他同在。圣灵成为他心中的主。感谢主！当你重生时，圣灵就住在你心里，如同钟声一般。当你犯罪时，那钟声立刻响起！
第三步，你必须顺服圣灵。你不仅因圣灵而重生，更要顺服圣灵，接受圣灵的引导。
第6节：“从肉身生的就是肉身，从灵生的就是灵。” 未重生的人受肉体控制。例如，这里有一个吸食鸦片的人。没有鸦片，他的肉体就无法控制自己。在鸦片的重压下，他的肉体崩溃了。又比如，这里有一个沉迷赌博的姐妹。她成了恶习的奴隶。酗酒者受酒精的辖制——多么可怕！这些都是受肉体控制的人。还有那些脾气暴躁、沉迷烟草等等的人呢？他们常常来找我说：“先生，宋女士说：“我要戒烟，永远戒烟！” 但没过多久，那些脾气暴躁的人又像以前一样发脾气，烟民们又开始抽烟了——他们成了自己罪恶的奴隶。
然而，当他们重生时，魔鬼就会离开他们，圣灵就会进入他们里面。现在谁掌管一切呢？是圣灵。一旦你陷入罪中，你心中的圣灵就会发出“叮叮叮叮”的警示：“你该死！”
有一次我在北京讲道时，有一位姊妹很不情愿来参加我的聚会，因为她说我的讲道太浅薄，只适合小孩子听。最后，在家人的压力下，她还是来了。她坐在后排。当圣灵在聚会中感动她时，她的心感到不安，直到她悔改自己的罪，并在重生的见证上签名。从那时起，她就从未间断地参加聚会。她买了一本圣经，并请我给她签名。
后来有人带她去看电影。圣灵就像……她心中一阵警醒，不再去看电影。无论别人如何诱惑，她都不敢去。重生之前，她可以肆意发脾气，也可以去看电影。重生之后，如果再发脾气去看电影，她的心就会“痛不欲生”。重生之前，她可以毫不犹豫地不读圣经。重生之后，如果再不读圣经，她的心就会“痛不欲生”！重生之前，魔鬼在她心中称王。重生之后，圣灵成为她的主，掌管她的一切。如今，她不再随从肉体，而是随从圣灵而活。
第7-8节：“我告诉你们，你们必须重生，你们不要以为希奇。风随着意思吹，你听见风的响声，却不知道从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是如此。”耶稣说：“你们必须重生。”每个人都必须如此！这没什么好惊讶的。你见过风吗？它的形状是什么？没有人见过风，但每个人都感受到过风。同样，一个人重生之后，他就能确知圣灵的掌管，而不是随意地感受到。重生的步骤是：1）水；2）圣灵；3）顺服圣灵。每个基督徒都必须明白重生的意义。
四、重生至关重要。
第9节：“尼哥底母回答说：‘怎能有这事呢？’”尼哥底母难以置信，问道：“你是谁？我年纪老迈了，从未听说过这样的事。”尼哥底母心中疑惑不解。重生真的存在吗？
第10节：“耶稣回答说：‘你是以色列的师傅，还不明白这事吗？’”你是以色列的教师、统治者、传道者、领袖，却仍然不明白重生的意义。多么令人悲哀！重生至关重要。1）每个人都必须知道。2）每个人都必须经历。重生不是浅尝辄止就能理解的，而是必须切身经历的。
11. 我实实在在地告诉你们，我们所讲的都是我们所知道的，我们所见证的都是我们所看见的；你们却不接受我们的见证。耶稣说：“我所说的，我都亲眼见过，亲身经历过。”让我们一起说：“重生意味着人人都能理解，都能亲身经历！”重生不仅意味着亲身经历，更是教义的根基。
第12节：“我对你们讲地上的事，你们尚且不信，若讲天上的事，你们怎能信呢？”啊！
3）重生是教义的根基！当我讲地上的事时，你们不明白。如果你们连小学的功课都不懂，我讲大学的知识，你们又怎能明白呢？如果你们不知道什么是重生，你们又怎能明白其他的教义呢？
第12节13.“除了从天降下仍旧在天的人子，没有人升过天。”
（4）重生是通往天堂的通行证。耶稣对你说：“要进入天堂，你必须有通行证。”去东南亚，首先要办护照。最近我去了印度支那，也必须带护照。要进入天堂，我们也必须获得通行证。而且，天堂的门是窄的。如果一位牧师想要进入天堂，他敲响天堂之门，听到一个声音问：“你是谁？”牧师回答：“我是牧师，我，我……”但他没有护照。“没有！”回答传来。突然，一个小孩来敲门，同样的声音问：“你是谁？你重生了吗？”小孩回答：“我会唱歌，我知道耶稣爱我。” “我不知道我是否重生了！”这时，一位传道人敲门，里面的声音问道：“你重生了吗？你有护照吗？”他回答说：“我是个传道人。我会读圣经。但我没有护照！”接着，一位神学生走过来，“我会读圣经。我算是半重生了。”一位教会工作人员不好意思地走过来，“我以前认过罪。”里面的声音问道：“你有护照吗？”“护照？是护照吗？”一位大学生冲过来敲门，“我想进天堂。我是……化学专家！”里面的声音问道：“你是谁？我不认识你！”你有进入天堂的通行证吗？哎呀，这些人都没有通行证，却都想进天堂。结果一个接一个地被扔进了地狱！最后，一个小女孩聪明地来到了天堂的门口。她敲门说：“我在某某天听到了福音，我深受感动，认罪悔改。赞美主，我重生了。他给了我新生。重生之后，妈妈责备我，我也不会生气了。当我生气的时候，我心中的圣灵会用叮叮当当的声音责备我。”她确实重生了。她进入了天堂。重生需要：1）理解；2）经历；3）教义的基础；4）通往天堂的通行证。你重生了吗？如果没有，真是令人难以置信！
五、重生之道
人重生并非出于自身的能力或功德，也非出于任何努力。这是三位一体真神——圣父、圣子和圣灵——的作为和印记。
第14-15节：“摩西在旷野怎样举起铜蛇，人子也必照样被举起来，叫一切信他的人不至灭亡，反得永生。”
1）信靠圣子，信靠祂所流宝血的功德，信靠祂救赎的恩典，祂担当了我们一切的罪。以色列人在旷野犯罪，被火蛇咬伤时，摩西造了一条铜蛇，挂在杆子上。所有被咬伤的人都被告知要仰望那条铜蛇，得医治。我们也因自己的罪而该死，比如毁谤他人、偷窃、说谎、嫉妒、赌博，是的，各种各样的罪。我们罪有应得，理应受死。感谢耶稣，祂为我们而死。因祂的死，我们得救。正如摩西在旷野举起铜蛇，人子也必被举起，为我们而死。我们因自己的手和口所行的恶事，理应受死。基督为我们钉在十字架上，流出祂宝贵的宝血——为了我们，为了我们。因我们脚的悖逆，基督的脚被钉在十字架上。因我们心中邪恶的念头，基督必须戴上荆棘冠冕——使我们能无所畏惧地站在上帝施恩的宝座前。我们因自己的贪婪之心，理应受死，但基督却为我们忧伤，甚至甘愿为我们一切的罪孽受尽鞭打和刺穿的苦难。
从前有一位母亲，为了救她的儿子，勇敢地冲进熊熊烈火。她被烧得面目全非。她献出了自己的生命来拯救她的儿子。即便如此，我们的主耶稣被钉十字架，是为了藉着祂所受的鞭伤，使我们得医治。藉着祂的死，我们得着永生。
第16节：“神爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。”我们的重生不仅是藉着圣子，也是藉着圣父。正是出于圣父的爱，祂才将祂的儿子白白赐给我们。是谁爱我们？是圣父神，祂的爱使祂将祂的独生子赐给我们，为我们死在十字架上，拯救我们。
第16节17至21节：“因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。凡作恶的便恨光，并不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备。但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠神而行。”我们的重生不仅取决于圣子和圣父，也取决于圣灵。圣灵的光照耀我们，显明我们一切的污秽。神不定我们的罪，而是差遣圣灵光照我们，使我们知道自己的罪。我自己也从未想过自己会成为一名传道人。我常常因讲道而受人诟病，但我并不害怕。讲道本身难道有罪吗？圣灵光照我，无论我如何被人诟病、憎恨，我都知道如何分辨是非。世人憎恨光明，因为他们的行为是邪恶的。他们憎恨光明却不自知。所以他们需要圣灵的光照，才能看清自己的黑暗。唯有如此，他们才会承认自己的罪恶。
我小时候，母亲说：“你父亲在神学院读书的时候，他重生了。”于是我问父亲：“人怎样才能重生呢？”父亲说：“首先，你必须认罪。其次，你必须相信耶稣。”于是，我跪下来祷告：“主啊，救救我。赦免我的罪。”我重生了吗？后来我去美国留学。有一次，我听到一位美国牧师讲解重生的教义。他问我：“你重生了吗？”我心想，我是牧师的儿子，我当然重生了。但直到1927年圣灵光照我，我才意识到自己犯下的诸多罪孽。于是我说：“人的工作只完成了一半，而神的工作却做到了极致。”我重生的时候，是因为认识到自己的罪而感到痛苦。我心头沉重，痛哭流涕。我跪下认罪：“我偷了父亲的钱，我背后说人坏话，我骄傲自大。主啊，请饶恕我的罪。”认罪之后，我的心中才有了平安。我站起身来，却感觉还有其他的罪。我跪下祷告：“哦，神啊，哦，耶稣，我罪该当死。请饶恕我的罪。”我站起身来，感到平安。但人的工作只完成了一半，圣灵的工作却做到了极致。当我感到心中充满未忏悔的罪孽时，我再次跪下：“主啊，求你饶恕我，我是个伪君子。敬拜的时候，我却在读别的书。主啊，求你饶恕我！”我站起身来，感到平安。人的工作只是一半，但圣灵的工作却做到极致。还有什么罪吗？当圣灵动工时，我感到忧虑，我的心如同钟声般响起。我立刻跪下说：“主啊，求你赦免我的罪。我信靠你宝血所流的，求你赦免我的罪。”于是，我所有的罪都蒙主赦免了。我站起来，找到了真正的平安。
1934年我在厦门的时候，有一位名叫陈文生的姐妹，她的父亲住在南洋，她在厦门的一所基督教学校读书。她不信神的话语，也不去教会。主日她就待在家里学习。她因为偏见很深，拒绝来参加我的聚会。最后，在她朋友的劝说下，她来了。虽然她听我讲道时很不情愿，但圣灵感动了她的心。她认罪悔改，重生得救了。
1935年，她患上了严重的脑膜炎。医生说无法治愈。她对母亲说：“虽然我病得很重，但我并不忧虑。我所担心的，是远在南洋、没有基督的父。”他回来的时候，请你劝劝他。”母亲说：“好的！”医生见她病情加重，想给她打针止痛，她却拒绝了。校长来看她时，她说：“校长，我很开心，感谢主耶稣，他给了我新生。虽然我即将离开人世，但我拥有永生。”说完，她便离开了人世。
有一次，她的同学在异象中看到了她。同学有些害怕，但她说：“不要害怕！我特意请主耶稣来看你。感谢主耶稣！我已经悔改重生了，现在我拥有永生。但我父亲在南洋，他还没有信主，很快就要从南洋回来了。请你劝劝他相信耶稣。也希望你在世的时候，能为主辛勤劳作。”就这些！
弟兄姐妹们！如果今晚上帝带走你们的灵魂，你们重生了吗？是的！你们这些无知的人，你们重生了吗？你们知道重生的意义吗？重生的步骤是什么？以及如何重生？如果你们没有重生，你们就没有永生。
主题曲
“你们必须重生，
你们必须重生；
我实实在在地告诉你们，
你们必须重生。”
40 John Sung Revival Sermons VI. BE BORN AGAIN! (John 3) I. What It Is to be Born Again Vs. 1. “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." What kind of man? A Pharisee. Pharisees were very religious people, who delighted to pray and to make their prayers long. They knew their Bible and could repeat Scripture by heart. 'They had Bible verses written on their garments and wore them. They diligently kept the Sabbath and never missed Church. They 1) To be born again is not praying or worshipping. You may practise all these, but you may not be born again. 2) To be born again is not trying to do good. His name is Nicodemus which means a “good person." Indeed, he is a good person, not a bad one. Often when the world praises a man, it regards him to be a good person. Once when I went to a village they said to me, “You are a good person." Often we hear people say, “So-and-so, he really is a good fellow." The world respects a good person, but merely being good is not to be equated with being saved. This man is a ruler of the Jews. Only a good great man could be a ruler of the Jews. No doubt he is good, but he is not born again, let us not be mistaken. A good man is not necessarily born again. Vs. 2. “The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." 3) To be born again is not believing there is a God. Nicodemus was truly humble, coming at night to see the Lord. Though a ruler, he knocked on the teacher's door to seek enlightenment, not an easy thing to do. He came up to see Jesus, knowing He was one sent from God. Though Nicodemus believed in God and knew of God, yet he did not know what it was to be born again. 4) To be born again is not imitating Jesus. There are many who preach the good character of Jesus and the high example He sets us, like Nicodemus who said of Jesus, “You are a teacher come from God." 5) To be born again is not to recover from illness. Once I asked a little village girl, “Are you born again?" She said, “I had a stomachache once. I prayed and I got well again." To be born again is not to be cured. Nicodemus was a good man on every count. He read the Bible, he prayed, he believed in God. He followed Christ's example. He even believed in Jesus' miracles. Now there are many Nicodemuses in the Church. They can pray . . .. and believe it is Jesus who heals them of their sicknesses. Brothers and sisters, I hope you don't make this mistake that to perform religious actions means to be II. The Need of Being Born Again It is utterly necessary that a Christian be born again! Vs. 3. “Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Will you repeat this verse after me “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Whether you are man, woman, old, young, everyone in the world needs to be born again if he wants to see God's kingdom. 1) An unborn again person is blind. Vs. 4. “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” Nicodemus said, “Alas, I'm old. I'm quite toothless and my hair is white. How can I be born again? What talk is this? A joke?” He heard but he did not understand. How many sermon tasters are also unintelligible like him. 2) Not to be born again is to be deaf. 3) Not to be born again is to come to a dead end. Vs. 5. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Has an unborn again person any hope of seeing God's kingdom? 4) Not to be born again is to be shut outside the door. 5) Not to be born again is to be lame. III. How To Be Born Again “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit. . .” The first step in the rebirth is “of water.” What does this mean? Suppose here's a brother who comes to listen to the Gospel. In his heart are many devils --- gambling devil, opium devil, concubine devil, bad-temper devil ... He weeps, “O Lord, I have committed all these sins. I deserve to die. O Lord, have mercy on me!” He repents. He weeps. He is baptised, signifying his willingness to wash his sins away. This is the first step. The second step: “and of the Spirit.” When a man receives the Holy Spirit, the devil is cast away. When the devil departs, the Holy Spirit comes into the heart to stay. He becomes the Lord of his heart. Thank the Lord! When you are born again the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart like a bell. And when you sin that bell immediately rings a-ting-ting! In the third step, you must obey the Holy Spirit. You're not only born again by the Holy Spirit. You're to obey and be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Vs. 6. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. A person not born again is under control of the flesh. For example, here is an opium smoker. Without opium, his flesh cannot keep up. It falls apart under the crush of opium. Or, suppose here is a sister under the grip of gambling. She becomes a slave to the evil habit. The drunkard is under the power of alcohol --- how terrible! These are all under control of the flesh. And how about those gripped by a bad temper, by tobacco, etc.? These often come to me and say, “Mr. Sung, I want to get rid of smoking, now and forever!" But in no time those with bad temper lose their temper as before, the smokers return to smoking --- slaves terribly held by their own sins. However, when they become born again, the devil will leave them and the Holy Spirit will come in. Who is now in control? The Holy Spirit. Once you fall into sin the Holy Spirit in your heart will ring “ting-ting, ting-ting, you deserve to die!" Once when I was preaching in Peking there was a sister who despised to come to my meetings because she said my sermons were too shallow, fit only for children. At last she came under the pressure of her family. She sat in the back row. When the Holy Spirit moved at the meeting, her heart became troubled until she repented of her sins and signed her name to the fact of her being born again. From that hour, she came without a break to the meetings. She bought a Bible and requested my autograph. Later some one took her to the cinema. The Holy Spirit like a bell ting-linged in her heart. She stopped cinema going. No matter how they enticed her, Vs. 7 & 8. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound of it, but canst not tell from where it cometh, and where it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." Jesus says, “Ye must be born again.” Every one must, must! This is not to be marvelled at. Have you seen the wind? What is its shape? No one has seen the wind, but everyone has felt it. Similarly after a person is born-again, he knows of a certainty, not haphazardly, the control of the Holy Spirit. The steps of being born again are 1 ) of water 2) of the Holy Spirit 3) in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Every Christian must know what it is to be born again. IV. To Be Born Again is of Greatest Importance. Vs. 9. “Nicodemus answered, and said unto him, How can these things be?" Nicodemus could not take it in. “Who are you?" he questioned. “I'm an old man. I've Vs. 10. “Jesus answered, and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things." You are a teacher of Israel, a ruler, a preacher, a leader, and you still do not know what it is to be born again. How sad! To be born again is of the greatest importance. Vs. 11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that which we do know, and testify to that which we have seen; and ye receive riot our witness. Jesus said, Vs. 12. “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?" Aya! 3) The new birth is the foundation of doctrine! You don't understand when I tell you earthly things. If you don't know your primary school lessons how can you understand if I lecture you on the university level? If you don't know what it is to be born again what other doctrine can you understand? Vs. 13. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven." (4) The New birth is passport to heaven. Jesus says to you, “To enter heaven, you must have a passport." To go to Southeast Asia, one must first get a passport. Recently I went to Indo-China. I had to have my passport. To enter heaven we must also obtain our passport. Moreover the door of heaven is a narrow one. If a pastor wants to enter heaven and he knocks on heaven's door and there sounds a voice asking, “Who are you?" And the pastor answers, "I am a pastor, I, I . . . and he carries no passport. “No!" comes the reply! Suddenly there comes a little child knocking and the same voice asks, “Who are you? Are you born again?" The little child replies, “I can sing, Jesus loves me this I know. I don't know if I'm born again!" Then an evangelist comes knocking to which the voice questions, “Are you born again? Have you a passport?" He answers, “I'm an evangelist. I can read the Bible. But I have no passport!" Then comes a theological student, “I can read the Bible. I'm half born again.” A church worker comes up sheepishly, “I did confess my sin once before." The voice from inside asks, “Have you a passport?” “Passport? Passport is it?" A university student comes rushing up and knocks, “I want to enter heaven. I am..... a specialist in chemistry!" The voice inside asks, “Who are you? I don't know you! Do you have the passport to enter heaven?" Aya, these all have not got the passport, and yet they want to get into heaven. One by one gets dropped into hell! Finally a little girl comes smartly to heaven's door. She knocks, “I heard the Gospel on such and such a day, I was moved and confessed by sins. Praise the Lord, I was born again. He gave me the new birth. After I was born again I would not get angry when Mother chided me. When I got angry the Holy Spirit in my heart rebuked me with a ting-a-ling-ting." She was born again for sure. She entered heaven. The new birth requires 1 ) understanding 2) experience and A person is born again not by his own prowess or merit, nor by any effort he can exert. It is the work and seal of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Vs. 14, 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 1 ) Trusting in the Son, in the merit of His shed blood, in the grace of redemption in His bearing all our sins. When the Israelites sinned in the wilderness and were bitten by fiery serpents, Moses made a brazen serpent and hanged it high on a pole. All who were bitten were told to look upon that brazen serpent for healing. We also deserve to die by our sins of speaking evil of others, of theft, lying, jealousy, gambling, yes, sins of all description. We deserve doubly to die. Thanks be to Jesus. He died in our place. By His death we are saved alive. As Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, to die for us. We deserve to die by what we have done with our hands and mouth. Christ was nailed for us on the cross, shedding His precious blood --- for us, for us. For the waywardness of our feet, Christ's feet were crucified. For the evil and malicious thoughts of our mind, Christ had to wear the crown of thorns --- that we might fearlessly stand before God's throne of grace. We deserve to die by our covetous hearts, but Christ sorrowed in His heart for us even to be beaten and pierced in bitter suffering for all the sins of our bodies. Once there was a mother who braved a blazing fire to save her son. In so doing she was burned beyond recognition. She gave her life to save her son. Even so, our Lord Jesus was crucified that by His stripes we might be healed. By His death, we are saved alive. Vs. 16. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Our new birth is not only by virtue of the Son but also 2) of the Father. It is by the Father's love that His son is freely given us. Who loved us? God the Father whose love made Him to give us His only begotten son to die our death on the cross to save us. Vs. 17 to 21. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Our new birth depends not only on the Son and the Father but When I was a child, Mother said, “When your father was a student at the theological college, he was born again.” So I asked Father, “How can one be born again?" Father said, “First you must confess your sins. Second, you must believe in Jesus." So, I knelt down and prayed, “O Lord, save me. Forgive me of my sins.” Was I born again? Afterwards I went to USA to study. On one occasion I heard an American pastor speak on the doctrine of the New Birth. He asked me, “Are you born again? I thought to myself,” I'm a pastor's son. Surely, I'm born again. But I did not see my many sins until 1927 when the Holy Spirit illumined me. So I said, “Men's work is only half, but God's work is to the uttermost.” When I was being born again, it was a process of bitterness in the knowledge of my sins. My heart was heavy, I wept. I knelt and confessed my sins, “I have stolen father's money. I have talked evil of others. I have been full of pride. Lord, forgive me of my sins." It was after confessing these many sins that peace came to my heart. I got up, and yet I felt there were other sins. I knelt, “O God, O Jesus, I deserve to die. Please forgive me of my sins.” I got up and felt peace. But human work is half-work. The Holy Spirit's work is to the uttermost. As I felt troubled with more sins unconfessed, I knelt again, “O Lord, forgive, I'm a hypocrite. At worship time I read other literature. Lord, forgive!" I got up, I felt peace. Man's work is half-work, but the Holy Spirit works to the uttermost. Any more sins? When the Holy Spirit worked, I felt troubled and my heart rang like a bell. I knelt down at once, "O Lord, forgive my sins. I trust in your precious shed blood to forgive my sins. Then all my sins were taken out and forgiven of the Lord. Now I got up and found real peace. When I was in Amoy 1934 there was a sister named Tan Boon Seng whose father lived in Nanyang and she was studying in a Christian school in Amoy. She did not believe the Word nor did she attend Church. She stayed at home to study on the Lord's Day. She refused to come to my meetings, being highly prejudiced. Finally she came under her friend's coercion. Though she writhed under my preaching, the Holy Spirit moved in her heart. She confessed her In 1935 she was seriously struck down with meningitis. The doctor said there was no cure. She said to her mother, “Though my illness is serious, my heart is not troubled. What I worry about is Father in faraway Nanyang, without Christ. When he returns please exhort him.” Mother said, “All right!” Seeing that her illness had got worse, the doctor wanted to give her an injection to allay her pains. She refused. When the principal came to see her, she said, “Principal, I'm happy and I thank the Lord Jesus. He has given me the new birth. Though I'm leaving the world soon, I have everlasting life.” So saying, she departed this earth. Once she was seen in a vision by her classmate. Her classmate was rather affrighted. But she said, “Don't be afraid! I have specially asked the Lord Jesus to come and see you. Thank the Lord Jesus! I repented and was born again. Now I have everlasting life. But my father is in Nanyang, unbelieving. He is soon returning from Nanyang. I beg of you to exhort him to believe in Jesus. And I hope while you are on earth you'll labour for the Lord. That's all!" Brothers and sisters! Should God take your soul tonight, are you born again? Aye! You who are ignorant, are you born again? Do you know what it is to be born again? The Steps of being born again? And how to be born again? If you are not born again, then you do not have the everlasting life. THEME SONG "Ye must be born again, Ye must be born again; I verily, verily say unto thee, Ye must be born again." |
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