The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-04

Christ came to do, as he nlmseH pro-
claimed Matt. AID, was to bring the
kingdom of heaven to earth, to trans
form the peoples of the earth into
members of that kingdom and thus
to change this world into the new
heavens and the new earth. the city
of God, described in the last two
chapters of Revelation.
The first thing to do in taking up
this lesson is to obtain clear view
of what the kingdom of heaven Is. It
is not any outward organization, how
ever many organizations may be In
cluded in it, but it is that condition
of things where, in the individual and
in the world, the principles prevail
which make heaven to be heaven, the
laws obeyed are the laws of heaven;
and the supreme ruler is the God OF
heaven as represented by Jesus Christ
the messenger from heaven.
II. The Inquirer Concerning the
Kingdom of Heaven.-Vs. /, 2. After
the wedding at Cana Jesus went to
Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, with
the members of his mothers family
He did not remain long, bot went up
| to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Pass
over early in April. Here his re-
! forms made a great commotion in the
city, and proclaimed his mission to
rulers and to people. AS the trans
formation of water into wine made
/ ~ 10 mo pio NJ n
work, SO now he reveals the same
mission under another aspect, by
cleansing the temple from the money
changers, and the cattle, and mer-
chandise, by which, instead of a house
of prayer for all nations, it had be-
come den of thieves John 2;12-22).
He revealed his mission still more by
working miracles of mercy in Jerusa-
lem John 2: 23) Two effects fol
lowed On the one hand, many be-
lieved on him when they saw his
miracles, signs" of the Messiah's s
work, among the greatest of which
signs was his shifting of great evils
which they had sighed over in vain.
On the other hand, many were angry,
and aroused indignant opposition. But
both of these effects called wide at
tention to Jesus and his gospel.
l. Among those who were thus
awakened to a knowledge of Jesus
was a man of the Pharisees," among
whose numbers were the most of the
prominent persons who were waiting
for the coming of the Messiah, named
Nicodemus. A Greek name in com
mon use. "A ruler of the Jews A
member of the Sanhedrim (Johr
Z: 50).
2. Game to Jesus by night" Ii
secret, so as not to be observed. He
would wish not to be interfered will
by curious observers, but would have
a heart-to-heart talk with Jesus.
"Thou art teacher come from
God" So far he accepted him as one
with a divine message which would
shed light on his path. and answer
the puzzling questions which
thronged about him. For no man car
do these miracles" etc. This was
proof positive that Jesus came from
God. The argument was good and
holds to-day.
III. The Teaching of Jesus Con
cerning the Kingdom of Heaven.-Vs
3-S. 8. Jesus answered Not sc
much his words as his needs, and tolt
him the great truth he most needed
to know. Except a man (any one)
be born again"
What it is to Be Born Again. AS
the child has a certain life before il
is born and is then brought into this
natural world to develop in accord
ance with its laws, with its aims, pur
poses, and results, so that it belongs
to the kingdom of human nature; and
all this through life impaired in some
way by God So one who is borr
again enters the spiritual realm, is
alive to God and righteousness ant
love; his chief controlling motives are
love to God and love to man; his
. deepest choice is to serve and obey
+ God it is the beginning of charac
: ter which will grow into the heavenly
! life, the perfection Of the human be
/. ing. This life is impaired by the spirit
J Of God
] 8. Explanations. T. How can I
man be born when he is old?' He
t asks for more light.
5. Except a man be born of watel
| and of the Spirit" The Lord here de
) clares that there are two clements o.
r factors in the new birth; putting
[ away the old life. and receiving the
3 new Water was the natural anC
!. familiar symbol of cleansing from sin
! of putting away the sinful past, of con
4 fession of sin. This act the Pharisee'
were not inclined to believe as ap
) piled to themselves. They refused t
) be baptized by John, and thus con
) fess their need of forgiveness. There
3 fore to this Pharisee our Lord de
! clares that an honest dying to th'
. past is as needful as new life for The
future. 1t is essential tha
our past be recognized as needing
cleansing and forgiveness. ~ Exp
: Greek Test.
: g. That which is born Of the fiesl
: is flesh" etc. by the word flesh b,
$ .signifiescthe appetites, desires, facul
!, ties, which animate and govern th,