Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation by John Bovee Dods
page 71 of 189 (37%)
page 71 of 189 (37%)
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mean some great change we are to experience in the womb--we must be
born some number of days before we enter the natural world, as a preparation, otherwise we can never see it. We now ask the reader, whether it would not be folly to give to the word _birth_ such an explanation? The Conclusion is unavoidable. We then ask, whether it does not involve the same folly to contend, in view of our text, ("except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God") that it means, he must be born again in this world, as a preparation for another? It certainly does. We once more repeat it--that as natural birth was the _very thing_ that introduced us all into this world of imperfection, sorrow and pain; so the spiritual birth will be the _very thing_, that shall introduce us all into another, where, imperfection, sorrow and pain shall be no more. The poor heathen, and infants, and all, will therefore be born again into the kingdom of God, and "be equal unto the angels, die no more, and be the children of God, _being the children of the resurrection_." The only advantage we enjoy above them is, that we have heard the good news, believed it, are "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever," and "have entered into rest." We are rejoicing in hope of the glory of God to be revealed in us, while they are groping in darkness, inasmuch, as they cannot believe in him of whom they have not heard. In our next, we shall close this subject by urging the importance of the new birth through faith in the truth. |
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