The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-05
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER. 8.
Lesson Text: @Jesus and Nicode'
mus" John ill.,, 1-16-Golden
Text: John ILL.,, 16-
Commentary.

Having 80 many verses assigned for this
lesson, we will not quote them, put Trust
you to study with the open Bible.
1. This chapter illustrates the last words
of chapter H., and we. might read this way:
He knew what was in man. NOW, tnere was
man. See r. V. So this ruler Nicodemus ls IN
troduced as a specimen, and Jesus proceeds
to read to him his thoughts and deal with him.
In the next chapter He takes the woman OF
Samaria as q specimen, and from the rlcn
religious ruler and the poor ungodly woman
He shows us the best and the worst IN man
and that each must and may be born anew.
2. Better to come to Jesus by night than
not at all. The great thing Is to come, and
the great assurance is "him that cometn
unto Me will in no wise cast out" (John
VI, SO.
s. ALI the verilies in John are double
ones. and there are 25 CT them, this being
the second one. The first is chapter l., 5l,
and the third and fourth are in verses 5 and
II of our lesson. It Is just the word amen.
and might be read amen, amen. Jesus calls
Himself "The Amen" IN Rev. ILL, IA.
4. Nicodemus, though so religious, was
spiritual things. therefore asked 30 foolish
question. The preaching Of the cross Is to
them that perish foolishness, and the things
of the Spirit OF God are foolishness to the
natural man I Cor. j., 18 H., 14).
5. Jesus enlarged upon His first statement
as to the necessity OF the birth from above,
and now emphasizes that necessity and says
that 1t is accomplished by water and the
Spirit. Both James and Peter testify that we
are born again by the word Of God (James l.,
1S; Pet l., 23). Paul says that the water
signifies the word (Eph. ", 26, with which
Compare John xv, 8, and Ps. cxix., 81.
6. The flesh or natural man can only pro-
duce the flesh or natural man. It may be
cultivated and educated and become very
talented and refined, but 1t Is only flesh and
cannot please God (Rom. will, 81. When we
are born anew or from above by receiving q
life we never had before, even Jesus Himself,
then we are said to Do Id the spirit, MOI Id tue
flesh (Rom. will, 81.
Z. When Jesus says ''Must," that settles
everything for the mind that Is meek and
submissive. There is another In verse "A,
and as truly as the Son Of Man had to be
crucified 80 surely must every refined, tal-
ented, educated, religious man or woman be
born from above by receiving Jesus, or he
shall never see or enter the Kingdom OF God.
One may be very near the kingdom and not
enter in, like the scribe OF Mark Kill. 81, OF
whom Jesus said, Thou art not far 1romtne
kingdom Of God"
8. The work OF the Spirit In the heart of
should cast seed into the ground, and should
sleep. and rise night and day, and the seed
should spring and grow up, he knoweth not
how mark w.. 26, 27).
9. The natural man continues to ask,
"Howy The man In whom the Spirit works
simply believes and receives with meekness
the engrafted word (Jas. l., 2D. "The en-
trance of Thy words giveth light. It giveth
understanding unto the simple" Cps. cxi1.,
1907, but as long as we are asking
how or why we are not simply re-
ieve." or like Mary, "Be 1t unto me accord
ing to Thy word
TO- A teacher in Israel might have known
that at the word of the Lord, In the vision
OF Ezekiel, the dry bones came together,
bone TO his bone and were covered with
flesh, and by the Spirit Of the Lord they
stood up an exceeding great army Geek.
xxxvii., l-10). The testimony Of every
spirit filled man in the Old Testament his
tory, confessing his sin and helplessness and
giving God the glory, as Joseph, Isaiah.
8: Dan. K, s, 10: Mic. ill.,, 81, taught the
helplessness OF the flesh and the necessity OF
the Spirit and word of God.
. II. Notice that II say unto YOU OF Christ
in the gospels is equivalent to "Thus saith
the Lord" In the Old Testament, for the
Lord. or Lord OF Hosts OF the Old Testament,
is none other than the Christ OF the New.
For simple proof see Rev. xiii, 6, 16, or
perhaps isa. w., S, with John xii, Il, would
be more plain to some. One who knows be-
cause he has seen is surely good witness,
yet how often false witness Is believed rath-
er then q true one! Compare chapter v. 43.
12. The only one thing to do with the tes-
timuay OF true witness Is to believe, as
otherwise we make the witness a liar and
those who believe not God are guilty of max
ing Him liar q John ". 10Y. Unbelief
keeps unsaved souls In lost condition, and
even those who believe to the saving of the
soul are kept from enjoying the rest and
peace and Joy which Is their privilege by not
believing fully. The last half of John ill.,,
IS, proves the first, and Heb. ILL.,, 1S, to iv.,
5, the second. BE not afraid only be-
lieve.'
13. Very often in this gospel We have the
testimony of Jesus that He came down from
heaven, came forth from the Father, was
sent from God, but here He testifes that
even while He was ON earth He was still In
heaven. The other view of this great fact Is
that now in heaven at the right hand OF God
He is still with US Away, and wherever two
or three are gathered in His name He is In
the midst (Math. xviii, 90 xviii. 2O).
II. Jesus now takes .Nicodemus back to
SSSA
the story Of the SHINING and bitten Israel
ties and the wondrous healing by the brazen
serpent lifted up upon pole In sight OF all.
The brazen serpent was the likeness OF that
which by Its poisonous bite was staying the
thousands OF Israel.
Is. Tho bitten Israelite who locked upon
the brazen serpent lived. "WheD beheld
the serpent Of brass he lived" (Num. xxi, 9).
Looking is equal to believing or receiving.
The sinner, when convinced Of his sin and
helplessness and led to see Jesus made sin
Offering on the cross for him, dying in his
stead, the just for the unjust, receives Him
us his substitute. and believing that Christ
was made curse for him he, through the
atonement of Christ, is instantly saved
16. Let sinner convinced Of his sin take
this verse and write it out, putting his own
name in full instead Of "the world" and
''whosoever" and let him look up to God and
saw sincerely, so God, do most heartily
believe that then he can go on and say
"And thank Thee that, receiving Jesus as
my own Saviour. have Thy word for 1t that
Inow haze everlasting life and shall mover
perish" I believe such a soul to be truly
born from above.-Lesson Helper.