"For Without Holiness No Man Shall See The LORD"

The imperativeness of the new birth

(Arthur Pink, 1952)

"You must be born again!" John 3:7

The imperativeness of the new birth

is evident from the fact that man is a fallen

creature. Originally he was made in the image

and likeness of GOD (Genesis 1:26), fitted

to enjoy fellowship with HIM.

But upon his apostasy, he . . .

  was alienated from his MAKER,

  became unsuited unto the Holy ONE,

  and fled from HIM.

The natural man is . . .

  totally depraved,

  a slave of satan,

  dead in sin,

and, therefore, it is no marvel 

that he needs to be born again.

He is devoid of . . .

  any love to GOD,

  any delight in HIM,

  any relish for heavenly things,

  any ability to perform spiritual acts.

A miracle of grace, then, must be wrought 

upon him before he is qualified to enter 

the FATHER'S house. Heaven is a 

prepared place for a prepared people--

for those who have been made 

"fit to be partakers of the inheritance 

of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:12), 

"for without holiness no man shall see 

the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14b).

An unregenerated person would be entirely
out of harmony with the ineffable purity
of the celestial courts, and could no more
enjoy their company and activities, than
could a deaf man enjoy an oratorio, or
a blind man enjoy the beauties of an
exquisite sunset.

A spiritual kingdom requires a spiritual
nature, and in order to the acquisition of that,
the natural man must be regenerated--
divinely regenerated, for the creature can
no more quicken himself than he could
give himself a natural being.

Regeneration is no . . .

  mere outward reformation,

  process of education, or

  even religious cultivation.

No, it consists of a radical change of 
heart and transformation of character--
the communication of a gracious and holy 
principle, producing new desires, new
capacities, and a new life.

Then, do not marvel that in order thereto,
a man must be born from above.

  
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GraceGems has published Johnson Grant's short short and edifying book,
"Last Things".