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Since the fall, men have been dead in trespasses and sins. The Scriptures show, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) before the fall the testimony was, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Gen 1:31) In the fallen condition there is no fear of God, no understanding the things of God, and men do not seek God, even as shown by Adam and Eve thinking to hide from God. Spiritual death came upon men, and with that no working, no remedy in men's hands could resurrect that life. Further, "For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. (Psalms 10:3-7) Yet Psalms also tell us, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." (Psalms 65:4) I think you will find this very similar to New Testament language. Consider the following verses:

Romans 3:10-18
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

John 6:44-45
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:1-7
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Even when we were dead in sins, our Lord quickens us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) (Eph 2:5). We are born of God, born again, when dead in sins, that by grace, and not according to our works. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" (Titus 3:5)

When we come to Christ, it is with our having been quickened, born anew. The Old Testament saints looked forward to Christ, but not understanding all the things revealed to us now, and hoped with that for the promised redeemer. Now, we look back to the cross, while they looked forward. As sinners, they were drawn to the hope that is in Christ. With them, as with us, our being made to remember our own evil ways, and our doings that were not good, and as we lothe ourselves in our own sight for our iniquities and for our abominations (Ezekiel 36:11; Romans 7:24). But there as a sinner is where we come to Christ, our redeemer, as they came to Christ, being drawn (Psalms 65:4; John 6:44, 65). Christ died for us, those that come to Him on His terms. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Marvel not" for Nicodemus should have known, his being a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, that one must be drawn, made anew to come to Christ. The words, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7) should have been no surprise to him, but our Lord had to explain it, and with gentleness and longsuffering did explain.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:25)

You Must Be Born Again

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Bob Krajcik
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