The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-05-03
REV. Pow1cK's SERMON.


The Discourse In the NJ Il, Church
Sunday Evening.
The sermon in the NJ. E. church on Sunday
evening was from the words Of Christ to
Nicodemus, John 3.3 Verify, verify l say
unto thee, except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom Of God' The New
Testament doctrine of the new birth marks
decided advance upon the teachings of the
Old Testament. Even Nicodemus, that
master in Israel was surprised at it. He had
learned to look no farther than outward rites
for deliverance from sin. But the Saviour
directed his thought to an inward change Of
so radical a nature that he called it another
birth for the secret of dejiverance from sin
and participation in the kingdom of God.
To be born again is to receive spiritual life.
By nature man is dead in trespasses and sins.
Hs chiefest need is life. The process by
which he obtains it is called a birth, ," a
birth from above. Speaking of believers
john says "they were born, no not of blood,
nor Of the will of the Gesh nor of the will of
man, but of God" Hence they are partakers
of the divine nature, children of God be
/ gotten again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ They were
dead, but they heard the voice Of the Son of
God and they now live. Such expressions are
surely more than empty figures Of speech.
The adoption into Gods family of which we
read in the bible, is more than piece OF
| legal legerdemain by which the alien sinner
| is invested with the rights and privileges Of
sonship. 1t is an act which carries with it,
ia addition, communication Of nature-a
transmission of life--even the life of God by
which we "are made partakers of the divine
nature as the Apostle plainly declares In
the account of the unutterabe mystery Of
the incarnation of the Son Of God the angel
said to Mary THE Holy Ghost shall come
upon thet, and the power Of the Highest
shall overshadow thee and that which is to be
bora shall be called the Son of God" This
may help rs TO understand what Jesus meant
when he said to Nicodemus: Except a man
be born Of water and of the spirit he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God"
One therefore who is born again may be
expected to have new afections-uew plans
and purposes in life-new powers of andur
ance and achievement. The things he once
loved he will now hate and the things he
once hated he will now love. Old things will
have passed away and all things become new
He will no longer regard religion as offering
a convenient provision for the flesh by
which he can fulfill the lusts thereof and yet
escape the penalty Jesus proposes to save us
f-.,., ,,,, r;,, NOT I,r f1a gppltraiuf gf ont
ward law but that of an inward principle
not by the law of carnal commandment but
the power of an endless life. In response to
the prayer Of peniteuce and faith He offers
to forgive our sins and renew our souls in His
own image
Jesus makes the new birth the test OF
spirituality and the supreme condition Of
entrance into the kingdom Of God Men
and churches may draw the line somewhere
else but Jesus draws it at the new birth
We may observe the forms of worship, bow
as pentents at the altar Of prayer confess
our sins and receive priestly absoution, re
ceive the sacraments of the church and be
inscribed as members Of the same, but Jesus
saws Except a man be born again he cannot
see the kingdom of God" He may be a
good citizen, and have enough religion tC
pass current among men but if he is without
the life of God in his soul, whatever his
position in church or state, he cannot enter
the kingdom of God. Such truth may be
humiliating and displeasing, but it is not my
word but that of the Son of God. 1 am moi
responsible for the truth but for declaring it
If this truth is not to be relied upon the
Bible is worthless if it is, then much thai
passes for religion is worthless.
USE DANA'S SARSAPARILLA, ITS
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