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I. THIS IS NOT EFFECTED BY REVEALED TRUTH. No amount of knowledge of the things of God, either here or hereafter, will be sufficient to renew the heart. Men of most thorough acquaintance with the Scriptures die without reconciliation to God. The apostate angels have full knowledge of the character, law, and government of God; yet their hearts are not renewed.

II. NOR IS IT EFFECTED BY THE HEART ITSELF. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh." "They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh." "To be carnally minded is death." But it may still be said, that our affections may be changed and renewed by our volitions or determinations. But is it not true, that the volitions have no direct control over the affections? that the affections control the volitions? Of what use, then, are determinations and purposes to control and renovate the heart?

III. THE RENOVATION OF THE HEART IS EFFECTED BY THE IMMEDIATE POWER OF GOD. This is manifest from the declarations of the Scriptures. Our regeneration is not of blood, "nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Christ said, "No man can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him." "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me." What, then, is it for God to draw an individual, according to this passage? It must relate to an operation which infallibly brings every subject of it to Christ; and wherein can this drawing differ from the others except by the immediate action of the Holy Spirit in renovating the heart? This meaning will manifestly accord with the passage in the prophet from which it is taken. In speaking of the prosperity of Zion, he says: "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." "In righteousness shalt thou be established." The drawing here mentioned is something entirely beyond the instruction of the Scriptures, or the convincing operation of the Holy Spirit; and brings all its subjects to Christ. What can this be but an immediate exercise of Divine power?

1. Those who undergo this change are said to be born again. As being born constitutes an individual a member of the family of man, by nature; so to be born again is requisite to constitute him a member of the spiritual family of Christ. An effect is produced in him, creating him anew unto good works; but of the manner in which this effect is produced, he knows no more than of the chambers from which the winds issue, or the abodes in which they lodge.

2. Those who undergo this change are described as "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." The child of God is said to be a "new man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness."

3. The renovation of the heart is illustrated by the resurrection of the dead.

(J. Foot, D. D.)

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KJV: 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 an heart of flesh:

WEB: 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;