The Necessity of the New Birth

The longer I go on in ministry the more I realize the importance of Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3. In that crucial passage, Jesus speaks to this teacher among the Pharisees about the need to be "born again" or "born from above". The language of the new birth has suffered at the hands of both friends and foes of the gospel over the past 25 years and yet it still remains true that we understand, experience and teach the new birth as we continue to move forward into the 21st century.

This has been impressed upon me in a variety of ways over the past few weeks. I believe there is a general sense in the Christian community that things are not what they should be or even what they have been in the past. Although I know the danger of looking for the "good old days", I think we have to admit, if we are honest, that the Christian church is weak in this part of the world. No matter what the denominational alignment there seems to be less and less interest in gathering for worship and the preaching of the Word of God. Prayer meetings are very poorly attended even by those who like to think of themselves as leaders in the Christian community. Zeal for the conversion of the lost and a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones to reach those who are perishing around us is almost non-existent. There seems to be a lost of vision. Too many are taken up with the pursuit of things and pleasures that betray the true focus of their hearts.

Given this state of affairs there is no shortage of proposals as to how to address the situation. Pastors and other church leaders tend to call for more commitment. We wonder how we can make things more interesting so people will come and get involved. We look at better organization, more contemporary worship, more practical sermons and Bible studies, more groups to cater to the increasing diversity of the families and the society around us. But for all the changes that have taken place, for all the Powerpoint talks, for all the snappy new music... the spiritual condition of the people around us has changed very little.

I cannot help but wonder whether our problem is more basic. Could it be that many who frequent our worship services do not know the Lord? Are many testimonies weak because too many prospective church members have never really experienced for themselves the power of God's grace and mercy in Jesus Christ?

These are hard questions. But they need to be asked. When the Lord saves someone--anyone--from their sins there is a change of life. There are new loves, desires, and ambitions that inevitably emerge in the life. The Lord can do what no amount of well intentioned human creativity and effort can accomplish. Where God does his work he produces worshipers whose delight it is to worship him in spirit and truth.

Is this not what we need on a massive scale? Surely we need men in the pulpit and in leadership positions in the church who are genuinely born again as well as people in the pew who have known the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Nothing less will do! It is the sheep of Jesus who hear his voice and follow him, not spiritual goats masquerading as the flock of the Good Shepherd.

We need to listen again to Jesus when he speaks to Nicodemus. These are not peripheral matters. We are dealing with the heart of the gospel and Christian experience. What a transformation would take place if everyone who "does church" truly knew the renewing power of God.

"'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' 'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" John 3:3-7

Fifth Annual Sovereign Grace Fellowship Assembly

The 5th Annual Sovereign Grace Fellowship Assembly will take place November 18-19, 2005 at Grace Bible Church in Cambridge Ontario. This year the theme of the assembly is "The Glory of the Church" and three of our own pastors will be bringing messages on this great theme. There are will also be workshops, times of worship, food and fellowship so mark this date down on your calendars and plan to attend.

Feel free to contact me if you would like any more information.

New Blog to Check Out

Here's a great new blog to check out: http://mghhistor.blogspot.com/

Announcement: 3rd Annual Autumn Lecture

On Saturday, October 1st, 2005, the Jonathan Edwards Centre for Reformed Spirituality is presenting its 3rd Annual Autumn Lecture at Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto at 10 AM.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Thomas K. Ascol, who is the Executive Director of the Founders Ministries and the Editor of the Founders Journal. He is also the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida and editor of the book Dear Timothy--Letters on Pastoral Ministry.

Dr. Ascol will be speaking on "C.H.Spurgeon and Family Piety."

For more information call Jarvis Street Baptist Church (416.925.3263).

Dr. Ascol will also be speaking at the Convocation of Toronto Baptist Seminary on October 1st.

Present Trends in Canada and the United States

Here is a link to Dr. Al Mohler's weblog and a piece he recently wrote on the growing differences between Canada and the United States when it comes to population growth.

Christians should know and understand that "ideas have consequences" in all areas of life. The research he discusses provides a good example of how this truth works itself out in real life.


http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/?cal=go&adate=8%2F31%2F2005


"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." Psalm 33:12

Piper on Hurricane Katrina

Here is a recent comment from John Piper, Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, on Hurricane Katrina that is worth reading and thinking about. We need to pray for the people affected by this disaster and do whatever we can to help them. We also need to ponder the sovereign God who rules over all and encourage everyone to find ultimate refuge in him.

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Was Katrina Intelligent Design?

September 2, 2005 — Sermons Edition

By John Piper

Editor's Note: For resources on responding to Hurricane Katrina, see the "Today at DG" section on the Desiring God homepage.

On his 89th birthday (August 31) NPR Senior News Analyst, Daniel Schorr, observed that President Bush had “staked out a non-position” on the debate between evolution and intelligent design. Bush had said that “both sides ought to be properly taught in the schools of America.” Then, with manifest scorn, Schorr linked the devastation of Hurricane Katrina with the concept of intelligent design: “[Bush] might well have reflected that, if this was the result of intelligent design, then the designer has something to answer for.”

No, Mr. Schorr, you have something to answer for, not God. God answers to no man. Come, Daniel Schorr, take your place with Job and answer your Maker: “The Lord answered Job [and Daniel Schorr] out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for actionlike a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. . . . Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed”?’” (Job 38:1-3, 8-11).

Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Shall the pot say to the Potter, “This is an unintelligent way to show your justice and your power? Come, Maker of heaven and earth, sit at my feet—I have lived 89 years and have gotten much wisdom—and I will teach you—the eternal God—how to govern the universe”?
No. Rather let us put our hands on our mouths and weep both for the perishing and for ourselves who will soon follow. Whatever judgment has fallen, it is we who deserve it—all of us. And whatever mercy is mingled with judgment in New Orleans neither we nor they deserve.

God sent Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners. He did not suffer massive shame and pain because Americans are pretty good people. The magnitude of Christ’s suffering is owing to how deeply we deserve Katrina—all of us.

Our guilt in the face of Katrina is not that we can’t see the intelligence in God’s design, but that we can’t see arrogance in our own heart. God will always be guilty of high crimes for those who think they’ve never committed any.

But God commits no crimes when he brings famine, flood, and pestilence on the earth. “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?” (Amos 3:6). The answer of the prophet is no. God’s own testimony is the same: “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:7). And if we ask, is there intelligent design in it all, the Bible answers: “You meant evil . . . but God meant it [designed it] for good” (Genesis 50:20).

This will always be ludicrous to those who put the life of man above the glory of God. Until our hearts are broken, not just for the life-destroying misery of human pain, but for the God-insulting rebellion of human sin, we will not see intelligent design in the way God mingles mercy and judgment in this world. But for those who bow before God’s sovereign grace and say, “From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever,” they are able to affirm, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:36, 33). And wisdom is another name for intelligent design.

No, Daniel Schorr, God does not answer to us. We answer to him. And we have only one answer: “Guilty as charged.” Every mouth is stopped and the whole world is accountable before God. There is only one hope to escape the flood of God’s wrath. It is not the levee of human virtue but the high ground called Calvary. All brokenhearted looters and news analysts and pastors are welcome there.