There is no new birth but in baptism
How indeed, unless you are born again? For you are now dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). To say, then, that you cannot be born again, that there is no new birth but in baptism, is to seal you all under damnation, to consign you to hell, without help, without hope.
And perhaps some may think this just and right. In their zeal for the Lord of Hosts they may say, "Yes, cut off the sinners, the Amalekites. Let these Gibeonites be utterly destroyed. They deserve no less." No. Nor I. Nor you. Mine and your desert, as well as theirs, is hell. And it is mere mercy, free, undeserved mercy, that we are not now in unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12).
You will say, "But we are washed. We were born again of water and of the Spirit." So were they. This therefore does not hinder at all that you may now be even as they. Do you not know that what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:15)?
Come out, you saints of the world, you who are honored by men, and see who will cast the first stone (John 8:7) at them, at these wretches not fit to live upon the earth, these common harlots, adulterers, and murderers. Only learn first what this means: "He who hates his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15). "He who looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). "You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God (James 4:4)?"
1771 text
4. How indeed, except ye be born again! For ye are now dead in trespasses and sins. To say then, that ye cannot be born again, that there is no new-birth but in baptism, is to seal you all under damnation, to consign you to hell, without help, without hope. And perhaps some may think this just and right. In their zeal for the Lord of Hosts, they may say, “Yea, cut off the sinners, the Amalekites! Let these Gibeonites be utterly destroyed! They deserve no less.”――No; nor I: nor you.――Mine and your desert, as well as theirs, is hell. And it is mere mercy, free undeserved mercy, that we are not now in unquenchable fire. You will say, “But we are washed, we were born again of water and of the Spirit.” So were they. This therefore hinders not at all, but that ye may now be even as they. Know ye not, that what is highly esteemed of men is an abomination in the sight of God? Come forth, ye “saints of the world,” ye that are honoured of men, and see who will cast the first stone at them, at these wretches, not fit to live upon the earth, these common harlots, adulterers, murderers. Only learn ye first what that meaneth, He that hateth his brother is a murderer.――He that looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.――Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not, that the friendship of the world, is enmity with God?
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 18 in the 1771 Works. John 3:8.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.