Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-03-14
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For Week Beginning March
1S-Eomment by Rev. ;. II. Doyle.

1S-Comment by Rev. 5. II. Doyle.
ToPIc.--Ye must be born again.-John iii. lis.
CAeeting led by the pastor)
The topical reference includes the
conversation between Christ and Nico-
demus, ruler of the Jews, at the time
OF the first Passover in Christ's public
ministry. NIcodemgs comes to Jesus
by night to inquire the way of life.
Christ's reply must have been sur
prise to him. 1t was that life within
must be changed. I'VE must be born
again" Nicodemus probably had the
idea that religion consisted largely Ia
reformation and was not unnaturally
taken aback and confused when Jesus
told him that it consisted in regeuera-
ton.
/. The necessity of the new birth.
Christ taught Nicodemus that the spir-
it may be born again and. further,
must be if we are to be saved. The
necessity of the new birth is clearly
evident. MaG in his natural, unregen-
crate state is an alien from God. He
il not subject to the laws of God, nei-
Their indeed can be. Therefore it neces-
sariiy follows that If he is brought into
the proper relation with God he must
be changed-not without. but within.
His heart must be changed. His dis
position toward God must be changed.
A new principle Of living must be
placed within him. This change Christ
calls the new birth. "Ye must be born
. again"
.. The agent of the new birth. He
Is the Holy Ghost. The change is so
radical that no power Of man can eff
feet it. Man may reform to some ex-
tent his outward life. but he capaot
change his own heart. This God only
can do, and He does 1t through His
Holy Spirit. Except a man be born
of water and of the spirit he cannot
enter into ,he kingdom of God"
3. The mystery of the new birth.
Nicodemus could not understand how
q man could be born again. The idea
that the spirit could be born again was
new to him, and he could not grasp it.
And. although this idea of the new
birth is so familiar to us, yet we can
not rolve the problem Of the new birth.
It Is still profound mystery. That
the Holy Ghost does change the hearts
of men we do know, but how we do not
know. By results only can the fact be
known.
4. The proof of the new birth is a
new life. When born again. old things
pass away and all things become new.
A new heart means a new life. The
outward life is but reflection of the
inward principle of life. Change the
principle, therefore, and the reflection
must change. 1t just as necessarily
follows that an unchanged reflection is
positive proof that there has been no
new birth.
Endeavorers. what do your lives
show as to the new birth? DO you pro-
fess to have been born again? If SO,
do your lives prove it? Are they diff
ferent from the lives of the unregen-
crate? Do you think that others would
have any doubt from your lives as to
whether you are born again? These
are questions worth considering. Be
fore we can be saved we must be born
again, and we ought not to be satisfied
unless we have positive proof that we
have been born again.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
This meeting should be led by the
pastor. as suggested by the committee
on prayer meeting topics.
Bible Readings.-Gen. vi, 3; Ps. Ii. 10
Jer. xiv. II: XXI. 1884; xxxii
36-40; Eek. xi, 17-21; xviii. 50
80: xxxvi, 22-30; John vi, 63: Acts Ii
14-21; Gal. V. 1926; Eph. Y. s. 8; Jas
/, II, Is; Pet. i, 30. 23.