We come now to the consideration of the Holy Spirit's action in regard to the individual. Who takes the first step in blessing? Who seeks first, God or the sinner? Assuredly it is God that takes the first step. It was God who designed the gospel of His grace from first to last. It was God who sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the Savior.
That God takes the first step is well illustrated in the case of Nicodemus. He was a ruler of the synagogue, a man of high religious position, an expounder of the law of Moses. He came to our• Lord by night to ask questions, when he was met with the startling statement of our Lord:
No natural sight could see this spiritual kingdom. For that a new nature, with power to take cognizance of it, was necessary.
Nicodemus thought only of the material side, and was puzzled, and no wonder. Our Lord spoke of a realm of things clean outside merely human knowledge and experience. Nicodemus asked in astonishment,
Our Lord thus told Nicodemus that the entrance into the kingdom of God was effected by the instrumentality of the water and of the Spirit.
Many teach that " water " here refers to the rite of baptism. But this is not so. There was no Christian baptism known at the time our Lord spoke, but that which was administered by John the Baptist, " the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins " (Luke 3:33And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; (Luke 3:3)), in view of the coming Messiah. Also our Lord's disciples baptized on the same lines. Christian baptism was not yet known. That was dependent on the death and resurrection of our Lord, and believers are " buried with Him by baptism unto death " (Rom. 6:44Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)). Nothing of this was known when our Lord spoke to Nicodemus.
To teach that this " water " refers to baptism may suit the ritualist, and a priesthood, who would thereby attribute to themselves a power which if true, would make baptism a necessary rite for entrance into the kingdom of God, thereby putting great power into their hands. If this were " water " baptism, then the dying thief could not go to Paradise for he was never baptized. Nor could Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, or any of the men of faith in the Old Testament times.
However, we are not left to wonder what this refers to. Scripture itself makes it plain. We read, "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water BY THE WORD " (Eph. 5:25,2625Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:25‑26)). So we find the simile of " water " is used to designate the Word of God. The Apostle Peter confirms this, though his simile is that of " incorruptible seed." " Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever " (1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)).
Thus Scripture itself settles for us what is meant by " water and the Spirit," even the Holy Spirit of God using the Word of God for the impartation of divine life. It comes about by no human hands but is the sovereign action of the Spirit of God.
Our Lord went still further in unfolding the truth of this new birth to Nicodemus. " The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit " (John 3:88The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)).
Here is emphasized the sovereignty of God in this matter. The new birth is like the blowing of the wind. Where it comes from, and whither it goes is beyond human control. So with the new birth. We are begotten of God's will. God takes the initiative. We are thankful that it is so.
Our natural birth into this world comes about, not by the individual's effort or will. Neither is it thus with the new birth. No person knows the date of his natural birth by personal knowledge. He knows the date because his parents told him, or he read it on his birth certificate, or the date was recorded in the family Bible.
So with the new birth. We know it has taken place for we have been drawn to trust the Savior. We may know the day and the hour when we first trusted the Savior, but we do not know the exact day and hour we were born again. That is another Matter. We have Scriptures telling us that as a consequence of putting our faith in Christ, we have forgiveness of sins, salvation, justification eternal life, but nowhere are we told to believe, and that as a consequence we should be born again. That is a statement easily proved by any Christian having a working knowledge of the New Testament. Such a passage cannot be found.
It is true that God uses the Word of God in the matter of the new birth. We read, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you " (1 Peter 1:23-2523Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:23‑25)).
It is GOD who uses it in sovereignty, and it is the same Word that in the preaching of the Gospel brings the glad news of forgiveness, and salvation.
The case of Cornelius is helpful. He was a centurion of the Italian band, devout, fearing God with all his house, so his influence must have been greatly blessed, giving much alms to the people, and praying to God always. Surely here was a man born again by the sovereign action of the Spirit of God through the Word. We know his prayers were accepted by God. They could not have been the product of the carnal or fleshly mind, for that mind is enmity with God. " So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God " (Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)). Up to now Cornelius had not heard the gospel of the grace of God. Se he was instructed to send to Joppa for the Apostle Peter. " Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved " (Acts 2:1414But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: (Acts 2:14)).
So it is clear that all his devoutness and prayerfulness did not save him, but hearing and receiving the gospel of the grace of God into his heart brought about this happy result.