INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW BIRTH II

Introduction To The New Birth

 Religion is a perfect refuge for flesh and attempts to bring the heart into compliance with its desires. And there the flesh feels perfectly at home. Religion has to do with acts and performances associated with an inner nature and its body of belief

             
                   -Religion is external and does not expose the nature within.

            - Religion is ceremonial and does not disturb the inner nature.
             -Religion is superficial and does not indict the spiritual condition.
             -Religion is ritual, thus providing an area in which the flesh can exercise itself and commend itself.

Christ came into a world which had reached the peak of perfection in religion.

                 - He found Himself immediately at cross-purposes with mere religion.
                 -This was the character of the religions of the Middle and far East. (Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Confusionism, Jainism.
                  -Judaism had degenerated over a period of 1500 years. Even in the day of Isaiah this was true (Isa. 1:5-15; 1 Sam. 15:10-23). Luke 18:9-14).
"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:" "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
                  -Almost from the very beginning of Christianity this sort of thing began the characterize its operation. Some want to build a 1st Century Church in the 21st Century. All the seeds were there at the beginning. And these parishioners have 21 centuries of religion bred into their being.

After 2000 years Christianity today is generally like Judaism when Jesus came.

                  -Perhaps 150,000,000 in the U.S. belong to some organized church or system of  religion. Perhaps 8% are faithful to the forms of their system. Of these few indeed really represent the people who have had a change of heart.
                  -A sign on the Highway read "Ye must be born again" - "Go to church". What did that mean? There is a connection. Doubtless the purpose was good. Going to Church does not produce the New birth. Going to church could be the evidence of the New birth.
                 - Many could conclude that this is the method by which one gets the New birth, or perhaps going to church is the New birth.

            Jimmy Carter and the New birth; Carters definition does not follow that of what the Bible teaches and as his political stances clearly unravel. Going to church was his definition of being born again. He derived this from teaching of his sister. Mike Douglas and his question to the sister on the new birth is illuminative. A third dimension. Carter's choice among theologians: Neuber and Tillich. Sad.

 The Confrontation of Jesus and Nicodemus on the subject of the New Birth is as pertinent today as it was then.

            Note:Three movements

                  (1) The reason for the story of Nicodemus at this point in the Gospel.
                  (2) A review of the life and character of the man Nicodemus.
                  (3) The purpose for which Nicodemus came to Jesus on that night.