The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-01-31
Jesus theSaviOur
of the World
Sunday School Lesson Tor Feb. 2 1905


fe"-John 3.i6
TlME.-Sometime in April A u. q.
during Jesus visit at Jerusalem for the
Passover. John was still preaching in the
wilderness. Early In the hrst year OF
Jesus ministry, he having five or six
followers at that time.
PLACE.-Some room I'm Jerusalem at a
mouse where Jesus was guest. Reached
by an outer stairway.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
What Is the Kingdom OF Heaven -
II is that condition or state where
God reigns as kirg where he Is the
supreme object OF love and service
where his will is the law, and men
obey II as naturally as they breathe.
and where all his subjects are formed
In his holy image and inspired with
his spiritual life. 1t is that for which
We pray in the first petitions OF the
Lords Prayer. He belongs to Gods
kingdom
Who recognizes Sod as his Father;
/ Who hallows his name:
Whose supreme desire and aim Is that
his kingdom shall come:
Who does Gods will on earth as il is
done in heaven.
And when all men have this SUI
preme 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 |
he works of the flesh"
This Efpgdon, patr~arf, -o.,s-.-a \
some form or organization 10 best ac-
complish its work. But the two ideas.
however closely allied, are distinct. as
are body and soul. One may have the
form without the spirit. and one may
have the spirit without the organiza-
ton.
What Was Jesus Teaching About
Belonging TO the Kingdom OF God?-
y. 3 Verify verify" Repeated for
the sake Of emphasis. Il" the teacher
sent from God say unto thee" This
IS my message. Except a man be born
again Greek, another, again or
anew, as In K. " and Am. r.. from
above Whosoever is born again is
born anew and born from above. Ex-
cept a man have a new spiritual life /
Impaired by the Holy Spirit. in addf-
lion to his natural life received
through his parents. he cannot see
understand. know the meaning OF. feel
the motives. realize the presence %.
the kingdom OF God"
What Is It TO Be Born Anew. from ]
Above We have a natural physical
lie. We live in a world OF sense. Our
supreme choice may be to enjoy this
life. 70 make its pleasures and desires !
supreme. TO possess the things thar I
minister 70 IL. at any cost. at the ex- Z
pense Of other people. at the expense 7
of conscience and duty and love This !
IS the life OF the flesh. OF this world J
\ thousand good. lovely. and charming
things may come into this life. But
he test % the life is what is our
supreme choice"
This life is impaired by the sDrit
II God enabling one to choose God.
IND gain the victory over the lower I
nature. II is by this power. through |
his inspiration. under this influence |
hat We are enabled to bear the fruits
4 the spirit which are the virtues OF
he kingdom OF heaven
V. 3. Except a man be born of
water and OF (the) Spirit. There is
10 article in the Greek before
SpiritD To understand this. note
eyeral things In the circumstances:
- John was baptizing with water as
symbol Of repentance. co Baptism
ymbolized the cleansing OF the soul
rom sin. go Baptism symbolized the
utward profession. the entering into
he visible kingdom. ca Nicodemus
fas familiar with the rite with this
ignification. Ct
Water may denote either or both Of g
wo allied meanings. Cd The Lord 1
ere declares that there are two ele-
lents or factors in the new birth; e
utting away the old life and receiving i
he new Water was the natural and
amiliar symbol OF cleansing itom sin.
{ putting away the sinful past. Of
OF sin. This act the Phari.
ees we're not inclined to believe as
pplied to themselves. They tefused
} be baptized by John. and thus con. "
IS their need OF forgiveness. ~
What Was Jesus Authority for This u
eaching PIT was. first, the authority y
the Scriptures. To Nicodemus' ex- vi
90 How can these things
e?" Jesus refers him to the Scrip ~
Ires. oe
" 10. Art thou Master" a ~
,acher, of Israel" your business be- IN
lg to study and explain the Scrip ~
Tres. And knowest not these ~
lings?" You will find this truth /, 10
lie Scriptures you teach. as. for in. -
lance, in Eek. 1919; 1881; 1926; no
ar. 2i:7 31:33 M
IL was secondly. the authority OF VI
arsonal knowledge and experience. o.
V. 16. God SO Loved the World. !.
OF merely heavenly beings. angels
nd seraphim. and saints. but this -.
Dor. sinful. unworthy world. so far -
ON him in character. -.
Let us quietly ponder tho vras,