y have become Christians. But that is not the new birth; that is
not being born from above and of the Spirit. Do not let Satan deceive
you, my friends, on that point, for it is a very important truth; and
we want to have every one here to understand, and I hope the Spirit of
God will make plain the difference between baptism and regeneration,
or being born of the Spirit.

JOINING THE CHURCH.

There is another class that say, "Oh, yes, I became a Christian when I
joined the church." That is not being born again. What has that to do
with the new birth, being united with the church on earth? There are a
great many united with the church who are on their way to death and
ruin. A great many have no hope of eternal life who are church
members. One of the twelve Christ chose to follow Him turned out a
hypocrite and a traitor; he was not loyal to Christ at heart. My
friends, don't build your hope of heaven upon some profession of your
faith, but bear in mind you must be born of God. Now just let me stop
a minute, and you think, and ask yourselves this question, "Have I
been born again?" It is the most solemn question that will ever come
before you down here, "Have I been born from above? Have I been born
of the Spirit?" It is not making some new resolutions. You have made
enough of them. I never met any one who had not made some good
resolutions in their life. It is not trying to do good. A great many
say, "I try to do the best I can, and I think it will come out all
right." What is that to do with the new birth and the new creation?
God does not promise salvation to him that tries to do the best he
can, but to him that believeth, or that is born of the Spirit; for
"except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

THE NEW BIRTH INSTANTANEOUS.

Now, I believe this new birth is instantaneous. I have met a great
many people who cannot tell the day or the hour of their conversion;
but there must have been a time when they passed from death unto
life--when they were born of the Spirit. There must have been a time
when their names were written in the Book of Life. They may not be
conscious of the day, or the hour, or the week, or the month, or the
year; but, my friends, I beg of you to be sure that you have been born
of the Spirit. Don't be deceived upon this one truth, because Christ
Himself says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God."

THE FLESH CANNOT SERVE GOD.

As I said before, wh