The log cabin Democrat., 1908-01-30
JesustheSaviOur
 of the World Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 2, 1908 Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Paper


 TIME.-Sometime in April, A. D. H, during Jesus visit at Jerusalem for the Passover. John was still preaching in the wilderness Early in the first year of Jesus ministry, he having five or six followers at that time.
 PLACE.-Some room in Jerusalem at house where Jesus was a guest. Reached 3y an outer stairway.
 Comment and Suggestive Thought.
 What Is the Kingdom of Heaven?- It is that condition or state where God reigns as king, where he is the supreme object of love and service, where his will is the law, and men obey it as naturally as they breathe and where all his subjects are formed in his holy image and inspired with his spiritual life. It is that for which we pray in the first petitions of the Lords Prayer. He belongs to Gods kingdom
 Who recognizes God as his Father; Who 4nallows his name; Whose supreme desire and aim is that
 his Kingdom shall come;
 Who does Gods will on earth as Ft is
 done in heaven.
 And when all men have this SUI psenae choice of God, then this world will have been transformed into the kingdom of heaven.
 Paul expresses the essential mean ing when he places the fruits of the Spirit" whose source and inspiration are the Holy Spirit, in contrast with the works of the flesh" This kingdom naturally required some form or organization to best ac- complish it's work But the two ideas, however closely allied, are distinct as are body and suul. One may have the form without the spirit; and one may have the spirit without the organiZa- tion.
 What Was Jesus Teaching About Belonging to the Kingdom of God?- y. 3. "Verily verify" Repeated for the sake of emphasis. 'I," the teacher sent from God, say unto thee," This is my message. Except man be born again" Greek, anothen, again" or anew" as in R. V. and Am. R., from abCve." WhOsoever is born again is born anew and born from above. Ex- cept a man have a new spiritual life imparted by the Holy Spirit, in addi- ton to his natural life received through his parents, "he cannot see" understand, know the meaning of, feel the motives, realize the presence of, the kingdom of Cod
 What Is it to Be Born Anew, from Above?-We have natural physical life. We live in a world of sense. Our supreme choice may be to enjoy this life, to make it's pleasures and desires supreme, to possess the things that minister to it, at any cost, at the eX pense of other people, at the expense of conscience and duty and love. This is the life of the flesh, of this world. thousand good, lovely, and charming things may come into this life. But the test of the life is what is our supreme choice.'
 This life is imparted by the spirit of God, enabling one to choose God, and gain the victory over the lower nature It is by this power, through this inspiration, under this influence that we are enabled to bear the fruits of the spirit which are the virtues of the kingdom of heaven.
 " g. Except a man be born of water and of (the) Spirit. There Is no article in the Greek before "Spirit") To understand this, note several things in the circumstances: CD John was baptizing with water as a symbol of repentance. CD Baptism symbolized the cleansing of the soul from sin. (3) Baptism symbolized the outward profession, the entering into the visible kingdom. (D Nicodemus was familiar with the rite with this signification.
 Water may denote either or both of two allied meanings. G The Lord here declares that there are two ele- ments or factors in the new birth; putting away the old life and receiving the new Water was the natural and familiar symbol of cleansing from sin, of putting away the sinful past, of confession of sin. This act the Phar- sees were not inclined to believe as applied to themselves. They refused to be baptized by John, and thus con- fess their need of forgiveness.
 What Was Jesus Authority for This Teachins?-It was first, the authority of the Scriptures. To Nicodemus' ex- clamation (9) How can these things be-" Jesus refers him to the Scrip lures.
 V. 10. "Art thou a Master" a teacher, "of Israel" your business be- ing to study and explain the Scrip lures. And knowest not these things?" You will find this truth in the Scriptures you teach as, for in stance, in Ezek. 11:19; 1S:31; 36;26; Jer. PAY; 31: 33.
 It was, secondly, the authority of personal knowledge and experience.
 V. 16. God So Loved the World."- Not merely heavenly beings, angels and seraphim, and saints, but this poor, sinful, unworthy world, so far frop, hin, in charaptpr