15 Sermon Illustrations on New Birth

A preacher was asked, "Where were you born?" "I was born in Dublin and Liverpool," he replied. The man with whom he was conversing thought there was some misunderstanding. "How can a man be born in two places at once?" he asked. But the preacher meant that he had been born in the flesh in Dublin and born again in the spirit in Liverpool. The second birth is just as definite an experience as the first. With the first birth man becomes a creature of God; with the second he becomes a child of God.

“Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth.” James 1:18

The folly of supposing that anyone can be saved by the power of a great example comes out clearly in an incident related on one occasion by Dr. Joseph Parker, then pastor of the City Temple, London, England.

Paderewski, the great Polish pianist, had given a concert that day in the city, and at night, addressing a large congregation, Dr. Parker spoke somewhat as follows: “I have had today most forcibly presented to me the folly of trusting in the power of a great example. Many of you know that I have always been a lover of music and some of my friends have been kind enough to try to make me believe that I had some talent as a pianist. It has often been my delight, when weary of other things, to sit down at my piano and play some of the classical selections, or improvise, according to my mood.

“But today a friend took me to hear that great master of the piano — Paderewski. For two hours I sat enthralled, listening to music such as I had never heard in all my life before. When the last lovely note was struck and the applause had died away, I felt I wanted to slip out quietly, speaking to no one, with the thrill of it still stirring my soul.

“An hour or so later, I was standing before my piano, when I was summoned for dinner. At first I did not hear the summons and when my wife came to me, I turned to her and said, almost savagely, I am afraid, ‘Bring me an ax.’

“She looked at me anxiously and asked, ‘My dear, what do you mean?’

“I said, ‘You know I have always thought I was something of a pianist, but I have heard real music today for the first time and I realize now that what I thought was musical talent amounts to nothing. I feel like chopping my piano all to pieces. I never want to touch it again.’

“That was the effect of a great example upon my mind. I know that I shall overcome this and I shall soon enjoy my piano as I did in the past, but I realized then, and I realize now, that no example, such as that of Paderewski, could ever make a great musician of me. In order to play as he played, one must have the soul of a Paderewski. To try to imitate him would be folly. And so it is in regard to the matter of our salvation. It is true that Christ has left us an example that we should follow His steps, but before we can do that, we need to receive the Spirit of Christ — we must be born again. There must be the very life of Christ communicated to us.”

Dr. Parker was right. No one can ever be saved by attempting to follow Christ’s example. It is absolutely fundamental that we first be born again.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately (incurably) wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9

Many object to the doctrine of total depravity on the ground that all men are capable of some good even if unsaved. All of us recognize the value of decency in behavior, of a kindly spirit, of generosity in caring for the needy, and similar virtues, which are frequently seen in unconverted and even positively godless men and women. How, then, it is asked, can they be said to be totally depraved? Dr. Joseph Cook, the great Boston lecturer of the latter half of the nineteenth century, answers this question with the following illustration: He said he had in his home a very beautiful and valuable clock. It had an exceedingly handsome case, a very fine set of works, a nice appearing dial and elegantly finished hands. It was altogether a good clock to look upon but it had one fault. It simply would not, or could not, keep time. It had been gone over by many different clock-makers, but no one had been able to correct this fault. As a timepiece it was totally depraved!

Is not this like man, even at his best, if he has not been born again? There may be much about him that others can admire, but he is positively unable to do the will of the Lord, because his heart is utterly estranged from God, and therefore so far as holiness is concerned, he is totally depraved. Only the new birth — regeneration by the Word and Spirit of God — can enable him to keep in line with the divine will as laid down in the Holy Scriptures. However righteous he may appear in the eyes of his fellows, because of this fatal defect all his righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God.

"It would be monstrous for the eggs of one creature to bring forth a brood of another kind, for a crow or a kite to come from the egg of a hen. It is as unnatural a production for a new creature to sin." Each creature brings forth after its own kind: the old nature being radically evil continues to produce and to send forth swarms of sins; it is not reconciled to God, neither indeed can be, and therefore its thoughts and acts are those of rebellion and hatred towards God. On the other hand the new nature "cannot sin because it is born of God"; it must have its fruit unto holiness, for it is holiness itself. Out of a dove's nest we expect only doves to fly. The heavenly life breeds birds of paradise, such as holy thoughts, desires, and acts; and it cannot bring forth such unclean birds as lust, and envy, and malice. The life of God infused in regeneration is as pure as the Lord by whom it was begotten, and can never be otherwise. Blessed is the man who has this heavenly principle within, for it must appear in his life, and cause him to abound in holiness, to the glory of God. Reader, have you this divine seed within you, or do you remain under the dominion of corrupt nature? This question deserves a present and thoughtful reply.

During a revival in a town in Ohio, a man who had been very worldly-minded was awakened, but for some time concealed his feelings even from his wife, who was a praying woman. She left him, one evening, in charge of his little girl of three years of age. After her departure, his anxiety of mind became so great, that he walked the room in his agony. The little girl noticed his agitation, and inquired, "What ails you, pa?" He replied, "Nothing," and endeavored to quiet his feelings, but all in vain. The child looked up sympathizingly in his face, and inquired, with all the artlessness and simplicity of childhood, "Pa, if you were dry, wouldn't you go and get a drink of water?" The father started as if a voice from heaven had fallen on his ear. He thought of his thirsty soul famishing for the waters of life; he thought of that living fountain opened in the gospel; he believed, and straightway fell at the Saviour's feet. From that hour, he dates the dawning of a new light and the beginning of a new life.

Unregenerated. "Would you like to go to heaven and see sister Lily?" asked a father one day, speaking to his little Netta. "No, papa," said Netta honestly. "I don't want to go to heaven: I want to go to Pittsburg to see Aunt Hattie." Netta evidently loved Aunt Hattie more than she loved the departed Lily or heaven. Netta needed a new heart. J. H. Vincent.

As it would be impossible for the insect in its chrysalis state to observe the laws which are made for its transformed state; for the worm to know the laws which make the summer fly seek the sunshine, and live upon the flower; as it must be "born again," and enter upon a new existence, before it can keep the laws of that new existence: so only the new creature can keep the new commandment, — love.

— C. Stanford

A sculptor may take a piece of rough marble, and work from it the figure of a Madonna; but it is still nothing but marble, and lifeless. A carver may take a piece of wood, and work out of it a scene of conviviality; but it is still wood, and insensible. A watch-cleaner may take a watch, the main-spring of which is broken; he may clean every wheel, cog, pin, hand, the face, and the cases; but, the main-spring not rectified, it will be as useless for going and time-telling as before. A painter may decorate the outside of a pest-house with the most beautiful colors; but, if he produce no change within, it is still a pest-house. A poor man may clothe himself in the garb of a monarch; but he is still a poor man. A leper may cover all his spots with his garment; but he is still a leper. So the sinner may reform in all the externals of his life, so that he shall attain to the moral finery of Saul of Tarsus, or Nicodemus, a master in Israel, but, except he be born again FROM ABOVE, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Bote.