Read also the doom of those that would not know Christ. It springs from the enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in some form. There is also a condemnation grounded on their former guilt they are open to the law for all their sins because they are not by faith interested in the gospel pardon. The wrath of God now fastens upon them and their own hearts condemn them. How great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to save us, that was dearest to himself and shall he not be dearest to us? How great is the misery of unbelievers! they are condemned already which speaks a certain condemnation a present condemnation. Though he has been a great sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers he that believeth in Christ is not condemned. It could not be saved, but through him there is no salvation in any other. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. And here is the great gospel benefit, that whoever believes in Christ, shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. God having given him to be our Prophet, Priest, and King, we must give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. Behold and wonder, that the great God should love such a worthless world! Here, also, is the great gospel duty, to believe in Jesus Christ. ![]() God so loved the world so really, so richly. Here is God's love in giving his Son for the world. Jesus Christ came to save us by pardoning us, that we might not die by the sentence of the law. And until we have grace to do this, we shall not be cured, but still are wounded with the stings of Satan, and in a dying state. He has said, Look and be saved, look and live lift up the eyes of your faith to Christ crucified. If any so far slight either their disease by sin, or the method of cure by Christ, as not to receive Christ upon his own terms, their ruin is upon their own heads. He whom we offended is our Peace, and the way of applying for a cure is by believing. Christ is plainly set forth to us in the gospel. See the powerful remedy against this fatal malady. Ask awakened consciences, ask damned sinners, they will tell you, that how charming soever the allurements of sin may be, at the last it bites like a serpent. In this observe the deadly and destructive nature of sin. This new birth is from heaven, Numbers 21:6-9. We must be entirely different from what we were before, as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and cannot be the same with that which was before. No stronger expression could have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state and character. By our first birth we were corrupt, shapen in sin therefore we must be made new creatures. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. Birth is the beginning of life to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as those who have lived much amiss, or to little purpose. ![]() Our Saviour spoke of the necessity and nature of regeneration or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to the source of holiness of the heart. He did not talk with Christ about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once to them. And though now he came by night, yet afterward he owned Christ publicly. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welcome, and hereby taught us to encourage good beginnings, although weak. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites. ![]() Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. Commentary on Today's Verse Commentary on John 3:1-21
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