Now, let me say what Regeneration is not. It is not going to church. Very often I see people, and ask them if they are Christians. “Yes, of course I am; at least, I think I am: I go to church every Sunday.” Ah, but this is not Regeneration. Others say, “I am trying to do what is right—am I not a Christian? Is not that a new birth?” No. What has that to do with being born again? There is yet another class—those who have “turned over a new leaf,” and think they are regenerated. No; forming a new resolution is not being born again.
Nor will being baptized do you any good. Yet you hear people say, “Why, I have been baptized; and I was born again when I was baptized.” They believe that because they were baptized into the church, they were baptized into the Kingdom of God. I tell you that it is utterly impossible. You may be baptized into the church, and yet not be baptized into the Son of God. Baptism is all right in its place. God forbid that I should say anything against it. But if you put that in the place of Regeneration—in the place of the New Birth—it is a terrible mistake. You cannot be baptized into the Kingdom of God. “Except a man be born again , he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” If anyone reading this rests his hopes on anything else—on any other foundation—I pray that God may sweep it away.
Another class say, “I go to the Lord’s Supper; I partake uniformly of the Sacrament.” Blessed ordinance! Jesus hath said that as often as ye do it ye commemorate His death. Yet, that is not being “born again;” that is not passing from death unto life. Jesus says plainly—and so plainly that there need not be any mistake about it—“Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” What has a sacrament to do with that? What has going to church to do with being born again?
Another man comes up and says, “I say my prayers regularly.” Still I say that is not being born of the Spirit. It is a very solemn question, then, that comes up before us; and oh! that every reader would ask himself