The Lord's new covenant of grace is a covenant of the Spirit: "[God] also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant…of the Spirit." Any approach to God other than by the Spirit results in spiritual deadness.
People need life, initially and continually. We need it initially because we were spiritually dead due to sin and guilt. "And you…were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh…and were by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:1-3). The only remedy for such spiritual death is spiritual life. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5).
The new life that allows us to start out with God comes through a spiritual birth provided by the Holy Spirit. "Unless one is born of…the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Just as man must be physically born into the human family, so man must be spiritually born into God's family. There is no other option. That is why Jesus said, "You must be born again."
The reason spiritual new birth is a necessity is that "that which is born of the flesh is flesh." Natural human birth can only produce a natural life. Becoming a child of God involves a supernatural life that God alone can provide.
You can talk about the religious experience all you want but without doctrinal roots, it will wither and die. - JC Ryle
"If we perish, we will perish at the foot of the cross." - Charles Spurgeon
You become who you spend time with.
Before you speak - Listen Before you pray - Believe Before you spend - Earn Before you react - Think Before you sign - Read Before you take - Give Before you quit - Try
"Behold he prayeth,” does not refer to a long prayer; but is quite as clear and sure a proof of spiritual life within if it only refers to a sigh or to a tear, as if it referred to an oration of an hour’s length." - Charles Spurgeon
God's people, whenever they are scorched by afflictions as by hot sunbeams, may resort to him, who is as a shadow of a great rock, and be effectually sheltered, and sweetly refreshed. - Charles Spurgeon
"What man cannot see, Christ can see." - Charles Spurgeon
Being serious about my faith does not make me a Pastor, it makes me a child of God.
He who is Being himself will assuredly give being and subsistence to his promises. —
John Owen, Works 6:349
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” - C.S. Lewis
Many professors take little notice of their worldliness, their pride, their passion, and their lavish tongues; but the world does, and the gospel is disadvantaged by it. —
John Owen, An Exposition Upon Psalm CXX, Works 6:347
“What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” John Wesley
"Sometimes 'struggling' is a nice word for 'postponed obedience'." ~ Elisabeth Elliot
"The House rose and turned towards Wilberforce in a burst of Parliamentary cheers. Suddenly above the roar of 'hear, hears' three hurrahs echoed and echoed while he sat, head bowed, tears streaming down his face." - Abolition of Slave Trade: 283 votes to 16. 23 February 1807
“The rifle itself has no moral stature since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil…” - Jeff Cooper
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