BORN OF GOD! Hallelujah

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." —1 John 5:1 [KJV]

It is too common for many of God's dear children to perplex and distress their minds, in seeking after marks and evidences of the new birth; while they too often expect to find them outwardly in the flesh, instead of looking inwardly to the spirit. For the satisfaction and comfort of God's children, the Holy Ghost hath laid down this inward evidence, FAITH, as an incontestable mark of a new-born soul.

When Peter made that glorious confession, "Thou art Christ the Son of the living God," Jesus replies, "Blessed art thou, Simon; flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father who is in heaven." All the powers and abilities of human nature and reason (so far from teaching) are at enmity against this soul-saving truth. No man can teach it his brother, so as to cause his heart to receive and believe it. It is a knowledge only revealed by the Spirit; received and believed by heaven-born souls, that the man Jesus is the only Saviour—that He is the anointed of God, to the work of salvation of lost sinners. The very devils know and confess this, but without any hope of salvation hereby. But when any poor sinner is enabled to believe this in his heart, it is a blessed evidence of the love of the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then "he hath the witness in himself, that he is born of God." He hath the mark and evidence of a child of God within him. As the gift of Jesus is the fruit of God's everlasting love, so faith in Jesus is the fruit of His having "died for our sins, and rose again for our justification," ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Ghost to testify of Him. This belief, honors the God of truth: glorifies the God of grace, by receiving the testimony He hath given of His beloved son, JESUS. It is a holy faith; it dwells in holy hearts, and produceth holy fruits. Happy the heart, that hath received this power and privilege to become a son of God. The love of the Holy Trinity is upon such a soul. It is his privilege, like the happy eunuch, "to go on his way rejoicing." It is his happiness ever to be, "looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith"—relying on Jesus who is our righteousness, 1 Corinthians 1:30—trusting in Jesus, who is our HOPE, 1 Timothy 1:1— rejoicing in Jesus, who is our PEACE, Ephesians 2:14—glorying in Jesus, who is our atonement, Romans 5:11—and thus looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.— Jude, vs. 21.

"The sov'reign will of God alone 

Creates us heirs of grace; 

Born in the image of His Son, 

A new peculiar race.

The Spirit, like some heav'nly wind, 

Blows on the sons of flesh, 

New models all the carnal mind, 

And forms the man afresh.

Our quickened souls by faith arise 

From the long sleep of death; 

On heav'nly things we fix our eyes, 

And praise employs our breath."

 

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)