On the Judgment Day no one will be able to say, “God, you did not choose me; and therefore I am doomed to hell.” This will especially be acutely true of any and all who have been presented with a clear gospel message. Let us never be fooled: the will is the problem.

I am fully-aware that the title of this treatise will immediately cause some people to have no interest in it–because they think they have heard enough about this subject already. Since you have chosen to read it, I will do my best to make it worth your while; and we will, Lord-willing, have some intriguing discussion regarding the will (especially of man).

Most of us are probably very familiar with the words of our blessed and beloved Messiah, to Nicodemus, as they are recorded for us in Jn. 3:3. Here is that verse: “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,’ ” (ESV).

Not “seeing” the Kingdom of God is analogous to not knowing the King of that Kingdom, Jesus Christ our Lord. And not knowing Jesus in a salvific way, through faith in His blood atonement, is to be remaining in spiritual death.

But the “problem” with religion, especially the Christian religion, is that it is possible to do just about anything in an outward way that imitates and somewhat harmonizes with the truth of the Christian religion–and yet be utterly lost, and dead in trespasses and sins. But this truth notwithstanding, the chasm between those who are truly born again in Jesus Christ, and those who are not is as vast and infinite as the east is from the west.

So, if the new birth is absolutely vitally important, then how is it missed, skipped, and/or overlooked? There are undoubtedly a lot of reasons for this, but probably none more than ignorance. Sinners simply do not know what the new birth is, and they have no conception of what it means to actually experience it.

Part of the problem is in preaching; and part of the problem is in hearing. If the gospel is not preached clearly, then sinners will not understand that a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit is necessary, if anyone is to be saved (in Jesus’ blood). If the gospel is faithfully preached, but the hearers automatic response is, “Oh, enough of this ‘Jesus talk’ already, get on with telling me what to do”–then, unregeneracy remains, even as a false security may, as well.

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