Natural honesty, moral virtue, prudence, loyalty, liberality, temperance, these are not the new birth. These make a splendid show in the eye of the world, but they differ as much from the new birth, as a stick differs from a star!
Morality indeed is commendable, and it would be well if there were more of it. Yet morality is but human nature at its best; it does not amount to saving grace. There is nothing of the Gospel, in mere morality. That fruit is sour which does not grow on the root of Jesus!
Heat water to the highest degree and you still cannot make wine out of it; it is water still. Just so, let morality be raised to the highest it is human nature still. It is but old Adam, put in a better dress.
Moral virtue may exist with the hatred of godliness.
A moral man hates holiness as much as he does vice!
[Thomas Watson]
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John 3:3 ... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:7 ... Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ❤
