You Must Be Born Of Water And Spirit

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). What does it mean to be “born of water and of the Spirit”? Some see this text as support for the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Accordingly, they claim that the sacrament of baptism is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. However, such a reading is tenuous and unbiblical. We will first demonstrate that “water” here refers to the inward cleansing of the Holy Spirit. And secondly, we will give five reasons why “water and the Spirit” does not refer to the sacrament of baptism.… Read More You Must Be Born Of Water And Spirit

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An Exhortation To True Piety

Content not yourself with that formal religion which unregenerate men have framed to themselves, instead of sincere devotion; for in the multitude of opinions, most men have almost lost the practice of true religion. Think not that you are good enough, because you do as the most, and are not so bad as the worst. No man is so wicked that he is addicted to all kind of vices, for there is an antipathy between some vices; but remember that Christ says, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat. 5:20). Consider with yourself how far you come short of the Pharisees, in fasting, praying, frequenting the church, and giving of alms: think with yourself how many pagans who never knew baptism, yet in moral virtues and honesty of life, do go far beyond you—where is then the life of Christ your master? And how far are you from being a true Christian?… Read More An Exhortation To True Piety

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The Hope of Long Life: A Hindrance to Piety

The hope of long life is an hindrance to piety. For, were it possible that a wicked man thought this year to be his last year, this month his last month, this week his last week—he would change and amend his wicked life. He would use the best means to repent, and to become a new man. But as the rich man in the gospel promised himself many years to live in ease, mirth, and fullness (Luke 12:19-20), when he had not one night to live longer: so many wicked epicures falsely promise themselves the age of many years, when the thread of their life is already almost drawn out to an end. So Jeremiah ascribes the cause of the Jews’ sins and calamities to this, that she remembered not her last end (Lam. 1:9).… Read More The Hope of Long Life: A Hindrance to Piety

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Five Ways the New Covenant Surpasses The Old

William Perkins,Commentary on Hebrews 11:40,Works III, pp. 394-397 “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:40). “For us”—that is, for the church in the New Testament, where note that God’s church and the state thereof in the New Testament is better than it was… Read More Five Ways the New Covenant Surpasses The Old

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A Meditation To Prepare For The Lord’s Supper

I was entered into covenant with God by baptism, and was then brought under strong engagements to be the Lord’s. But O! I have broken my covenant and backslidden from Christ. If I were under the law or a covenant of works, I would be utterly undone. But, blessed be God, I am under the tenders of a covenant of grace that admits of repentance and a surety for the guilty criminal, and graciously promises pardon to the penitent believer—nay, it promises repentance to the hard-hearted and faith to the unbelieving, and pressingly invites backsliding children to return to God through a Mediator.… Read More A Meditation To Prepare For The Lord’s Supper

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