_John 3:3_—“_Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God_”; _5:21_—“_as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will_”; _Rom. 6:13_—“_present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead_”; _Eph. 2:1_—“_And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins_”; _5:14_—“_Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee._” In _John 3:3_—“_born anew_” = not, “altered,” “influenced,” “reinvigorated,” “reformed”; but a new beginning, a new stamp or character, a new family likeness to God and to his children. “_So is every one that is born of the Spirit_” (_John 3:8_) = 1. secrecy of process; 2. independence of the will of man; 3. evidence given in results of conduct and life. It is a good thing to remove the means of gratifying an evil appetite; but how much better it is to remove the appetite itself! It is a good thing to save men from frequenting dangerous resorts by furnishing safe places of recreation and entertainment; but far better is it to implant within the man such a love for all that is pure and good, that he will instinctively shun the impure and evil. Christianity aims to purify the springs of action. (_c_) It is a change in the heart, or governing disposition. _Mat. 12:33, 35_—“_Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.... The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things_”; _15:19_—“_For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings_”; _Acts 16:14_—“_And a certain woman named Lydia ... heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul_”; _Rom. 6:17_—“_But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered_”; _10:10_—“_with the heart man believeth unto righteousness_”; _cf._ _Ps. 51:10_—“_Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me_”; _Jer. 31:33_—“_I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their hearts will I write it_”; _Ez. 11:19_—“_And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh._”