The Tupelo journal., 1905-01-27
JESUS AN D
NICODEMUS
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 29. 1905
Prepared ty the Highway and
Byway" Preacher.
Copyright, 1901, by J. 81. Edson.)

LESSONs lEAl,-JOHll o.i-lo. lhSiHo4S
verses IA and 10. Read John 2:12-3:2l.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"God SO loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son.
that whosoever beieveth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life" John
BIG
TIME.-Some time during the feast OF the
passover, which Jesus left Galilee to at
tend John 2:l3. Perhaps two months after
events of last lesson.
PLACE-Jerusalem Probably In the up
per room. reached by outside stairway, in
the house where Jesus was guest.
A REMINDER.-Rep John 2O:31. AS
we begin the study of this lesson let US ask
ourselves the question: How will 1t help
us to believe that Jesus is the Christ the
Son of God? and how will 1t help US to con-
vince others of this all important TRUTH
The Lesson Outline.
THEME.-The New Birth.
1.-The Fact of the New Birth, VS.. Id
% Nicodemus Quest, VS.. !, z
(2) Jesus Solemn Declaration, V. !.
1.-THE Nature OF the New Birth. VS. Ala.
% Misunderstood by Nicodemus, V, L.
(2) Explained by Jesus. VS. DID
(al New Birth through the Spirit, " 5.
Is, New Birth Spiritual not fieshly, V. b.
&c, New Birth not unreasonable. W.
(d) New Birth invisible. v. D.
(ey New Birth known absolutely py
Jesus, v. IL
90 New Birth an earthly experience.
V. 12.
tg) New Birth made possible ny JESUS
Christ VS. 49, IA.
UI-The Recipient OF New bi'H' " ~
% Believers in Christ.
Gao Escape Death.
ID Obtain Eternal Life.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Of IL. IL
Nicodemus' Quest, VS.. l, 2.-Nlcooehus
came seeking he knew not What' anu
was brought face to face with one OF
the most profound truths OF scripture.
He recognized Jesus as teacher sent
from God. yet doubted His personal
message to him. He admitted tha
miracles of Jesus, yet was stranger 70
the greater miracle of the new Dlrth.
Whatever may have been the attitude
of Nicodemus towards Jesus that night,
certain il is that he became later secret
believer in Him. See John 7:5O-51 and
1879.
l2) Jesus' Solemn Declaration. " B.
This massage is specially Significant IN
thar II is the first recorded discourse OF
Iasus and was delivered to Nicodemus
who was a ruler of the Jews and a
member of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus'
high position as religious teacher
among the Jews and his zeal and deyo-
tion to Gods law and the Jews religion,
did not assure him OF place IN the Ming
dom of God. He must be born again"
mr. from above marginal reading), as
nust every one who enters the Kingdom
of God. The fact of the new birth as es-
sential to salvation needs emphasis IL
this day of liberalism and apostasy. Inc
new birth is necessary because OF cor
runt human nature, VS. 6 and Rom. ST, s.
II The Nature of the New Birth. %
Misunderstood by Nicodemus, V. 4.-Ihe
natural mind cannot understand th@
things of God. / Cor. 2:14. Jesus way
amazed at Nicodemus' blindness OF
heart, V. 10; Mark Sis; Eph. AIS.
(2) Explained by Jesus. (a) New
Birth Through the Spirit, v. Born
of water and of the Spirit" implying a
thorough spiritual publication by the
operation of the Holy Spirit, water be-
Ing symbolic Of cleansing In all the
Jewish ceremonies. Comp. Titus 3:5.
90 New Birth Is Spiritual, v. G.
lust as flesh begets flesh, so the Spirit
begets spiritual. 1t is spiritual resurrec-
ton. Eph. 81, 5. A new creation. 2
Cor. SIT: Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:1O.
(c) New birth Not Unreasonable, V.
7.-If physical birth is necessary to
share in physical life, then why should
il be thought strange that there must be
Spiritual birth to experience spiritual!
life? The birth of the babe marks its
advent into the world. The birth Of q
soul under the power of the Spirit marks
the advent of soul into the Kingdom
of God. Marvel not" therefore, we
must be born again"
Cd New Birth Invisible and Unob-
servable, Y. S.-The Spirit and the indi-
vidual soul are the only ones that know
of the sacred process. Curious eyes may
not lift the curtain which God has drawc
over this natal spot of the soul.
(e) New Birth Known Absolutely by
Jesus. V. 11-Luke 2.40. So. A personal
testimony of actual experience is
stronger evidence than the most learned
and weighty theory or opinion.
60 New Birth an Earthly Experience.
v. LIT marks the beginning of spirit.
ual sight If the initial truth Of the
Christian life seems SO Incompetent
sible how could the deeper mysteries OF
the Kingdom of God be received?
(g) New Birth Made Possible by
Jesus Christ, VS.. 13, 14.-Here is sub
lime picture. Read the story in Mum
21:4-9. A type of which Christ was the
fulfillment. Jesus sacrifice for sin was
to give life. 1t made the New Birth pos
sible. Those who are born from above
are begotten of Cod. John 81.
III. The Recipient of the New Birth,
v. 15.-Jesus declared the fact of the
New Birth He then showed its nature,
and it's necessity, and now because He
was the Lamb of God which taketh away
the sin of the world, He makes the New
Birth dependent upon faith in Him.