NEW BIRTH. THE VINE, ETC. NO. 1

NEW BIRTH. THE VINE, ETC. NO. 1

As to your question, new birth is the beginning of God’s work in the soul. The object of preaching is that eyes might be opened. The first work of the evangelist is to “open their eyes” — the light comes from God. New birth is by the word of God. God said, “Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1: 3). I do not mean that every one is able to tell of some special word, but that the new birth is by the word of God and His work. God has done it.

^[p. 120] The thief on the cross was born again when he turned to Jesus. Saul of Tarsus was born again when he saw the light and heard the voice. If the word has been snatched away, or sown on stony ground, and immediately received with joy, or sown among thorns, there is no divine work there. I think the work of God had begun in the jailor’s soul when he cried out, “What must I do to be saved?” The prodigal was born again when he left the far country.

As to John 15 the Lord takes His true place as the vine; Israel had failed as the vine; a vine belongs to earth, the disciples were the branches at that moment. It is entirely connected with fruit-bearing and not salvation. All through John the heavenly thing supersedes the earthly. Be it the pool of Bethesda (chapter 5) or the fold (chapter 10). So here with the vine. Christ was rejected, and yet they — the disciples — should not lose. The figure is retained only to present the superiority of the present grace. As to the figure, of course the vine could not abide in a branch, but you are to abide in Him, and He will abide in you.