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The sermon teaches that no person can enter or enjoy God’s kingdom without being born again. Regeneration is distinguished from baptismal claims, religious profession, moral reform, and other outward changes; it is the renewing work of the Holy Spirit that makes a person fit for heaven. Spurgeon emphasizes that death permanently fixes a person’s condition and warns that delaying repentance is spiritually perilous. He concludes with a direct gospel appeal to repent, trust in Christ, and be converted now.
Theological center: Regeneration is the sovereign work of God’s Spirit by which a sinner is made spiritually new, and it is indispensable for seeing and enjoying God’s kingdom.
Applications: Repent and Turn to Christ · Respond Before Death · Assess Outward Religion · Feel the Urgency of Salvation
Primary texts: John 3:3 · John 3:6 · 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 IN daily life our thoughts are most occupied with things that are most necessary for our existence. No one murmured that the subject of the price of bread was frequently on the lips of men at a time of scarcity, because they felt that the subject was one of vital importance to the mass of the population, and therefore, they murmured not, though they listened to continual declamatory speeches and read perpetual articles in the newspapers concerning it. I must offer the same excuse, then, for bringing before you this morning the subject of regeneration. It is one of absolute and vital importance. It is the hinge of the Gospel. It is the point upon which most Christians are agreed, yea, all who are Christians in sincerity and truth. It is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation. It is the very groundwork of our hopes for heaven, and as we ought to be very careful of the basement of our structure, so should we be very diligent to take heed that we are really born again, and that we have made sure work of it for eternity. There are many who fancy they are born again who are not. It well becomes us, then, to frequently examine ourselves. And it is the minister’s duty to bring forward those subjects which lead to selfexamination, and have a tendency to search the heart and try the reins of the children of men. To proceed at once, I shall first make some remarks upon the new birth. Secondly, I shall note what is meant by not being able to see the kingdom of God if we are not born again. Then, I shall go further on to note why it is that “Except we are born again we cannot see the kingdom of God,” and then expostulate with men as God’s ambassador before I close. I. First, then, THE MATTER OF REGENERATION. In endeavoring to explain it, I must have you notice, first of all, the figure that is employed. It is said a man must be born again. I cannot illustrate this better than by supposing a case. Suppose that in England there should be a law passed that admission to royal courts, preference in office, and any privileges that might belong to the nation, could only be given to persons who were born in England—suppose that birth in this land was made a sine qua non, and it was definitely declared that whatever men might do or be, unless they were native born subjects of England, they could not enter into her Majesty’s presence, and could they enjoy none of the emoluments or offices of the state, nor any of the privileges of citizens. I think if you suppose such a case, I shall be able…