This is the next part in the ongoing blog series on the New Birth.Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Christ Fellowship Bible Church
No greater need exists in the universe than for sinful man to be born again! Jesus said it this way: “you must be born again” (John 3:7). This is not optional; it’s needed. The greatest need that sinful beings have is for God — by His power, in His love, through His mercy — to impart life. Why?
Man is DEAD. One must be re-birthed. Man is dead in his transgressions (Col 2:13) and desperately needs to be brought to life. Dead men cannot resuscitate themselves. Only divine power, supernatural, life-giving power can accomplish this.
Man is VILE. Before God intervenes, men indulge in abominable idolatries (1 Pet 4:3) and commit abominable deeds (Ps 14:1). Man is unclean because of her corrupt worship (Jer 13:27). Man is vile (Jer 11:15) before God and has sunk deep in depravity (Hosea 5:2; 9:9).
Man is IDOLATROUS. The heart of men exchanges the glory of God for the worship of creation (Rom 1:23). All the gods of the peoples are idols (1 Chron 16:26) and man’s heart longs for, earnestly desires, and pursues after gods that do not satisfy (Ps 106:36-38).
Man is PRIDEFUL. The exaltedness of man has corrupted him and has left him guilty before God who alone is exalted (Isa 57:15). The pride of man says that he needs no god and
Man is UNWILLING. Man does not want to come to God because in his natural state man loves darkness rather than the Light (John 3:19). Man can not come to God nor does man want to come to God (Matt 27:25).
God is ABLE. And yet, man is wholly unable to come to God, but God fully has the power and ability to bring sinners unto Himself. God alone can bring stinking corpses back to life and sovereignly make them precious and adopted children in His kingly family.
God is WILLING. Jesus never turns a sinner away. He promises to receive anyone who comes to Him by faith (John 6:37). He is not wishing that men would perish but that they would come to know Him (Matt 11:28-30). God is more willing to receive sinners than sinners are to receive Him.
God is SAVING. Out of His sovereign love and through His almighty power, God takes the initiative and saves sinners (Titus 3:4-5). He did not have to save rebels but He accomplishes what otherwise would be utterly impossible for a sinner to do -- save his soul from punishment.
God is LIFE-GIVING. The Spirit is He who gives life (2 Cor 3:6). Good news exists for those outside of Christ! Though one may be dead, there is a God who gives life, by His power, through His Son and through the preached Word to save sinners! God overcomes man’s dire need!
