Reply to "once saved" A New Birth

Posted : 22 Oct, 2008 12:35 PM

Hi brothers and sisters, it's me again, here's another view to the Once saved" post.



"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."



Our soul has love one way in its carnal condition, another way when it is born again. A child before being birthed into the world, is in the dark warmth of its mother's womb; Compared to a child in his mother's womb, a child of God before he is born again, is in the dark womb of sin. To be raised from the grave of sin, is to be begotten and born, therefore it is called a new birth. There is a comparison of Christ: He is "the first-begotten from the dead" (Rev. 1:5), he is "the first-born from the dead," unto which our regeneration alludeth, that is, if we be born again we were restored out of this dark world, and translated out of the kingdom of this dark world into the kingdom of his dear Son. Thus, this makes us live a new life; this is to be born again. As he that is delivered from the mother's womb, it is by the help of the mother; so he that is born of God, it is by the Spirit of God.



As such, at a new birth, a child is prone to cry as soon as it comes into the world; for if there be no noise, they say it is dead. We, that are called born of God, and Christians, if we be not criers, there is no spiritual life in us; if we be born of God, we are crying ones; as soon as he has raised us out of the dark dungeon of sin, we cannot but cry to God, "What must I do to be saved?" As soon as God had touched the jailer he cried out, "Men and brethren what must I do to be saved?" It is not only natural for a child to cry, but it must crave the b..... of its mother, it cannot live without the b...... Therefore Peter makes it the true trial of a new-born babe. The new-born babe desires the sincere milk of the word, that he may grow thereby; if we be born of God, make it manifest by desiring the b..... of God. Do you long for the milk of the promises? A man finds one way when he is in the world, another way when he is brought unto Jesus Christ. So Isaiah says: "They shall s.... and be satisfied, with the b..... of consolation." If we be born again, there is no satisfaction until we get the milk of God's word into our souls (Isa. 66: 11). What a promise of God to a carnal man! A harlot's song, may be more sweet to him. But if we be born again we cannot live without the milk of God's word. What is a woman's b..... to a mule?



And what is it to a child? It is a comfort night and day, but how are they should it be taken from them! Minding heavenly things, a carnal man says it's vanity, but to a child of God, it is their comfort.



Thus, a child that is newly born, if it have no other comforts to keep it warm, than it had in its mother's womb, dies; it must have something for its covering. Just as Christ had swaddling clothes prepared for him, so do we that are born again, must have some promise of God to keep them alive. Those that are in a carnal state, warm them selves with other things; but those that are born again, cannot live without some promise of God to keep them alive, as he did the poor infant in Ezekiel 16. "I have covered thee with embroidered gold." When women are with a child, what fine things will they prepare for their child! Women will dress their children, that every one may see them, how fine they are. But what fine things has God prepared to wrap his children in that are born again! So he says "I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thine hands, and a chain on thy neck, and I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head"; and he adds in the 13th verse, "Thou didst prosper to a kingdom." By this, it is not to compare nothing in the world; but the righteousness of Christ and the grace of the Spirit, without which a new born babe cannot live. We shall perish unless we have the golden righteousness of Christ.



Thus, a child when it is born, is nursed in its mother's lap. The mother takes great delight to have that which will be for its comfort. So it is with God's children; they shall be kept on his knee (Isa. 66: 11), they shall "s.... and be satisfied with the b.... of consolations." "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." There is another comparison in these things that nobody knows of, but those that are born again. Just as between the father and the child; it may be the child looks like its father. So those that are born again have the image of Jesus Christ (Gal. 4). Every one that is born of God, has something of the features of heaven upon him. Men love those children that are like them, most usually; so does God with his children, therefore they are called the children of God: but others do not look like him; therefore they are called Illegitimate. Christ describes children of the devil by their features; the children of the devil, his works they will do. All works of unrighteousness, are the devil's works. If you are earthly, you have borne the image of the earthly, if heavenly, you have borne the image of the heavenly.



When we have a child, we train them up to our own liking; "they have learned the custom of their father's house." So those that are born of God, have learned the custom of the true church of God; there they learn to cry, "My Father and my God." They are brought up in God's house; they learn the method and form of God's house, for regulating their lives in this world. As children, it is natural for us to depend upon our father for what we want. If we want a pair of shoes, we go and tell him; if we want bread, we go and tell him. So should the children of God do likewise. Do you want spiritual bread? go tell God of it. Do you want strength of grace? ask it of God. Do you want strength against temptations? go and tell God of it. When you are tempted, run home and tell your heavenly Father; go pour out your complaints to God. This also is natural to children; if anyone wrong them, they go and tell their father; so do those that are born of God, when they meet with temptations, go and tell God of them.



Whether you are born of God or not, examine yourself by comparison of a child of nature, and a child of grace. Are you brought out of the dark of this world into the light of Christ? Have you learned to cry "My Father"? "And I said, thou shalt call me thy Father" (Jer. 3:19). All God's children are criers, we cannot be quiet without a fill of the milk of God's word? We cannot be satisfied without peace with God? I pray we consider it, and be serious with ourselves, if we are children of God, we live together lovingly; if the world quarrel with us, it is no matter; but it is sad if we quarrel together. Do you see a soul that has the image of God in them? love them, love them, love them I say; Serve one another, do good for one another, and if any wrong you, pray to God to right you; and love the brotherhood.



Stay blessed in the Lord

Will

:peace:

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