Dear Mr. Editor,
My article, The New Birth, has evidently provoked a good deal of interest, one correspondent commenting on the article says,
“Faith seems to be left out entirely as having no connection with this work of God. I cannot but think that Mr. Pollock would not leave faith out entirely, as not being present, and I suggest that he tells us what connection it has with New Birth.”
The subject of life, whether natural or spiritual is one of mystery. All life comes from God, and the secret of it is with Him.
Our only safe course is to receive the testimony of Scripture on such a subject as this. Where does Scripture say that a man in the flesh can have faith, producing the New Birth? There is a large and influential body of Christians, who teach that in order to be born again, there must be previous faith in the Saviour. Is not this the denial of the utter ruin of man, however little intended? for it teaches that the carnal mind, which is not only at enmity, but is enmity against God can exercise faith. Ephesians 2:8 says, “By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” There faith is not of ourselves, but is God’s gift.
Let us see what Scripture teaches. John 3:5, says, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” Here we find the Holy Spirit is the Divine Agent in the New Birth, and water (the word of God) the instrument used. It is clear that life whether natural or divine can only come from God. The Spirit uses the word. The Word of God in some ways lays hold of the soul, and in that lies the New Birth. It may be the sense that God is—not a mere surface acceptance of a fact, usually believed, but a belief that grips the soul with a sense of responsibility. Or it might be the thought of eternity, that would give a desire to be prepared for it. It might be the conviction of sin, and in many other ways.
1 Peter 1:23 casts light upon this, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.” Here the process of the New Birth is likened to a seed falling into the ground. The seed has life in it. The power of life in the seed lays hold in the soil. The soil does not lay hold on the seed. The word of God in the power of the Spirit lays hold of the man.
James 1:17-18, says. “Every good gift end every perfect gift comes from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth.” Here we get the simile of begetting used.
This idea is elaborated in John 1:12-13, which tells that those who received Christ were those “which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” It is one thing to experience the New Birth, it is another to receive Christ, and John 1:12-13 makes this very clear. If I as an unregenerate man were able to exercise faith to bring about the New Birth, then it would be of “the will of the flesh,” and “the will of man,” which we are distinctly told it is not. It is “of God,” “of His own will,” “by the word of God,” and there we must leave it.
The impartation of natural life to men and animals is a secret that no scientist has ever fathomed, or will ever do so. Only the Creator can give life.
How can a man in the flesh by an act bring about divine life? It must be of God.
It is quite evident, however, that when the Holy Spirit causes the word of God to lay hold of a man, there must be belief in that word, and in the measure of that belief there must be faith. But sometimes we cannot separate things, though they may differ. We cannot separate between the sun and the rays that proceed from it. We cannot put a point of time between the stroke of the sword and the cut resulting therefrom, so who can put a time between the New Birth and faith in the operating word?
There are many things in nature we cannot explain, but we are bound to accept them. For instance the mystery of natural life. Is it any wonder that there are mysteries in the spiritual realm, which we cannot explain, but gladly accept on the testimony of God’s word? Let us not try to bring things down to the level of our apprehension but humbly accept the testimony of Scripture.
Yours affectionately in our Lord.