The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-21

then was the only way out of the diff
culty--believe Jesus. (John, viii, 3t.)
METHOD.--If, however, 1t was not
possible TO open fully to such mind
the secret Of spiritual life, showing pre-
cisely how the soul Of man is new born
by the operation of the Holy Spirit, IL
was possible to set forth some features
OF the method by which this would be
done. And to that Jesus Immediately
set Himself. (Verses IA and 15.) There
were two parts of that methods-God' 5
part and mans part. God must pre-
sent to man such visible proof of His
favor and purpose as would attract
attention and win confidence. Man
would do nothing until God had done
this. Our Lord then declares that as
the serpent was lifted up in the will
derness, 80 He (Jesus) must be lifted
up. (John, vii, 2S) He Is here, at this
early stage in His ministry, referring
to His own crucifiXion, as q necessary
part OF the method or plan, of bringing
life to dead souls. III Corinthians, V,
H. But the lifting up of Christ on the
cross did not meet all the conditions of
new life. A response must be made by
men, an acceptance of the generous
proffer thus made. This was included
in the term believe. (Acts, xvi, 31.)
Thus the whole gospel plan was opened
to Nicodemus, waving his philosophy.
ORIGIN.-The interview might here
have closed without serious loss for
the way of life had been made exceed
ingly plain. But Nlcodemus was silent,
and Jesus went on to enforce what had
been said by casting light on a variety
of subjects. Our lesson does not cover
all the remarks which followed, but
one verse (the sixteenth) is included
which is incomparably precious as a
conclusion. In it Jesus shows the ORR
gin of the plan which He had just de-
scribed, as well as the extent Of its
application. 1t had its source, not in
any agreement made with patriarchs,
on which the Jews laid such stress,
but in the love of God. (Romans, V,
S.) 1t was therefore not by mans merit
but by divine grace. Il Peter, V, 10)
Moreover, it was not plan for a
chosen family or race, but the love that
| devised it had the world, the whole
! family Of Adam, in view, and offered
| equal privileges to every member of
| that worldwide and many-tongued
| household. Whoeoever believed, re-
| gardless Of previous condition. of de-
| scent, or other circumstance, might
| have life everlasting. Here is the basis
of true catholiclty, proclaimed by
Jesus to Jewish ruler.
SUMMARY. - The outlines of the
! Christian system, as stated herein by
its founder under favorable circum-
stances, may be given in few words
Moved by love for the race of man
God gave His only begotten Son, who
in fulfilling the Fathers purpose, need
ed to be lifted up before the eyes OF
the world. Whosoever believes in the
uplifted or crucifed Son receives 9
birth of the spirit, birth from above
q new life. That new life is essential
to an entrance into the kingdom OF
God, and 1t should be publicly an.
nouncd by the ceremony of baptism
This is the dispensation under which
we now life, the dispensation of the
spirit. Galatians, iii, 14) More glori.
Gus than the former dispensation III
Corinthians, H. 81, because the type has
been superseded by the ante-type. Thi,
is essential Christianity-new inward
life by the spirit of God, through faitt
in Christ crucifled, that life united
with other lives in subsection to the
will Of Christ. (John, i, 12 and 49,,
whatever is opposed to this must b,
rejected by all who call themselves
Christians. Whatever is in accord will
this is a legitimate expansion of tht
vital principle.