Heavenly Birth and Its Earthly Counterfeits

In this 1843 sermon based on John 1:11-13, J. C. Philpot examines why some reject Christ and others receive Him. He further describes those who become sons of God and those who only profess to be sons of God. Explaining that the primary cause underlying all of this is found in the sovereign will of God, Philpot points out that there are also a number of secondary causes. For example, those who reject Christ do so because of blindness of heart, self-righteousness, worldliness of mind, or unbelief. In addition, he explores the motives of those who falsely profess a heavenly birth under three headings taken from John 1:13—born of blood, born of the will of the flesh, and born of the will of man. Philpot concludes with a description of those who are truly born of God.