“Born to give them Second Birth” (Greatest Christmas Song II)

John and Charles Wesley. Two brothers, two Bible preachers. In fact, they went as missionaries to the New World. But they were not saved.

They were not saved! Can you believe it?

Their friend George Whitefield was preaching about salvation – the “new birth”. Charles was impressed – but Whitefield’s preaching did not seem to stir any sense of need in his heart.

John and Charles became very interested in the Moravians, a missions-oriented Christian group that was currently going through a time of renewal. In England they connected with Peter Boehler, a Moravian then in his 20s, and began an ongoing conversation about the faith, being in communication almost every day.

Once, when Charles became sick, he convinced Peter to pray for him. After praying, Peter asked him,”Do you hope to be saved?” Charles said yes.

“For what reason do you hope to be saved?”

“Because I have used my best endeavours to serve God.”

Peter shook his head and didn’t say anything else. Charles wasn’t happy – what, will he take away all my best efforts?

That’s exactly what Peter was taking away. The efforts of sinful man are never enough!

May 21st, 1738. The celebration of Pentecost. Charles spoke with a Mrs. Turner, who had been recently saved, and Mr. Thomas Bray (a Moravian), who read him this passage:

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 32:1-2 (AV)

It is not a matter of endeavours – the man who is blessed is the one whose sins are not imputed – or credited to his account! Charles says, “I found myself convinced, I know not how, or when … I now found myself at peace with God … !”

It was only a short while later that Charles wrote these words, in Hark the Herald Angels Sing:

Hail the Heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and Life to All he brings,
Ris’n with Healing in his Wings.
Mild he lays his Glory by,
Born ”that Man no more may die,
Born to raise the Sons of Earth,
Born to give them Second Birth.

Jesus did not come so that we would try harder to please God. He didn’t come to give us a second chance to be better people. He came to bring life! Light, healing – to raise the Sons of Earth to a new birth! Without it, we are lost.

Again we see the paradox – in His birth He rises in our vision like the rising sun. And yet, in his incarnation, He “laid his glory by” – He set it aside, to take on flesh. He laid aside His glory – that we may have new life!

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews … came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:1-3