The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-12
THE NEEE OF REGENERATION.

When Christ said to Nicodemus, Except
q man be born again he cannot see the
kingdom of heaven" he assumed three
facts as the basis Of that assertion: First,
that the kingdom of God and Of heaven is
state of holiness. This is plainly taught
throughout the Bible and also finds con-
tirmation in the longlngs and intuitions Of
men.
The second fact assumed was that men
are sinners. 1t needs no argument to con-
vince men Of this fact, for btsides their
association of suffering with sin, "a
manifestation of the Spirit Is given to every
man to profit withal," and one of the
functions of the Spirit is TO convince men
Of sin.
These two generally conceded facts-that
heaven is state Of holiness and that men
are unholy-are sufficient evidence that
there must be a change in the moral charac-
ter of men before they can enter the king
dom of heaven. On these points there is
little difference of opinion, and probably
there was none between Christ and Nicode-
mus. But the third fact assumed by the
Saviour as q reason for regeneration, that
sinners cannot make themselves holy, is not
so generally conceded. This Nicodemus, as
"a man of the Pharisees," was not ready to
admit.
The Pharisees ftly represent large class
of modern moralists in that both admit the
necessity of righteousness, but expect to
achieve it without supernatural regenera-
ton obtained by faith in Jesus Christ.
Their system is radically defective, because
the cure it proposes for sin does not reach
the seat of the disease. For sin docs not
consist in acts merely, but in wrong dispo-
sitions and purposes of the heart, Morality
NAV improve mans outward conduct,
but it cannot make that wholly good, be-
cause it cannot change the heart from which
the acts flow. It cannot make the fruit
good because it has no power to make the
tree good. 1t has no power to cleanse the
bitter fountain, that the waters flowing
from it may be sweet. Morality cannot
give deliverance from sin, can never work
any radical change in mans moral nature.
Only the Spirit of God can do that. When,
by the exei else of obedient faith in Christ,
there is q most radical changein his nature.
He is new creature in Christ Jeshs is, as
Mr.. Bushnell says, "new-charactered in
Cod" and by continued obedience is able
through grace given unto him to live a
righteous life
This change is not identical with the
reformation of conduct the moral improve
ment that comes from self.culture. When
a drunkard reforms, or a blasphemer quits
swearing, there is truly notable and noble
step taken toward virtue. But observe care
fully that, though the vicious habit has been
changed, the man himself is not changed.
Down deep in his being is something which
gives him his character and rules his life,
and that something, call it what you will
the self, the will, the hearts, just the same
as before All such changes as this are but
waves that play upon the surface; they never
reach down to the depths Of the soul, the
living springs of human life. But this is
precisely what the Spirit of God does in the
regeneration of the soul. 1t goes to the
foundations of character and works the
most thorough change possible. Nothing
can be under it, or back Of it, for it begins
on that side Of cur nature where our spirit
touches the Father of spirits.
Thus the inward man himselfis changed,
not merely his outward conduct; and he
comes into new life not fresh growth OF
the old life. This is the new birth without
which no man can enter into the kingdom
of God and, since the best morality that i3
the result of mere will works" can never
effect this change, it follows that it can
never fit the soul for heaven. Therefore the
Saviour said "Ye must be born again, and
Except man he born Of water and of the
Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom Of
God ."-Rtv. {. H. Zimmej1"an IN the Inter-