In creation man had no part whatsoever in his existence. He was created by the will and word of God, and placed there in the midst of the prepared garden purely by the sovereign will and act of God. All he had to do was just to look around and wonder and enjoy. He had no exercise whatever in relation to it.

In new creation it is the same God working in the same sovereign will and power and plan of His own, but with a responsible creature now, so there must be exercise in that creature to fall into the plans of God. It is not therefore only of the Spirit that men must be born anew to belong to the New Creation, but of water as well, John 3:5. The "water" is the symbol of the word of God, as the " wind" is the symbol of the Spirit of God. The word is for faith; it is heard by the ear of faith; and the Spirit in sovereign power quickens the soul that hears-that believes the word. So, further on, John writes again, "and many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name (chap. 20:30. 31). To this i Peter 1:22-25 adds further testimony:"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit . . . being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever . . . and this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

Men are ever prone to depart from the truth as a clock from correct time, and ever need therefore to be regulated by the word of God. One reasons that because the new birth is a sovereign act of God it is accomplished therefore apart from the responsibility of man. Not so, says the word of God, he must be born both of water and of the Spirit. He must receive what God offers him in the gospel whatever be the need of God's sovereign act with it.

Another reasons that because man is responsible to receive God's offer therefore he needs no power outside of himself. Not so, says the word of God, he must be born of the Spirit as well as of water.

Believing is not choosing, not deciding, not doing, not the activity of the will of man; it is the soul surrendering to the testimony of God; the heart responding Amen to the blessed announcement of what a God of love has done for us by His Son Jesus Christ-the conscience ceasing to accuse, because the God of truth says to faith, I forgive all, I forget all, for all is hid from mine eyes by the precious blood of My beloved Son-it is confessing that truth is truth.