The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1908-01-31
JesustheSaviour
of the World
Sunday School Lesson isrF.hz 2. 1905
Specially Prepared for his Payer

- -
during Jesus visit at Jerusalem for the
Passover. John was stiIl preaching in the
wilderness Early in the frst year Of
Jesus ministry. he having fve or SIX
followers af that time.
PLACE Some room in Jerusalem az a
house where Jesus was a guest Reached
BY an outer stairway.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
What Is the Kingdom OF Heaveu9-I
It is that condition or state where
God reigns as king. where he Is the
supreme object OF love and service
vhere his will Is the law. and men
obey Il as naturally AS they breathe.
and where all his subjects are formed
In his holy image and inspired with
his spiritual life. II Is that for which
We pray In the first petitions Of the
Lords Prayer. He belongs to Gods
kingdom
Who recognizes God a. his Father;
Who hallows his name;
Whose supreme desire and aim Is that
his kingdom shall come;
VINO does Gods will on earth a. u Is
done In heaven
And when all men have this su-
preme choice Of God. then this world
viii 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 OF organization 10 best &C
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 organiLa-
ton.
What Was Jesus Teaching About
Belonging TO the Kingdom OF God7-
V. ,. Verify. verify Repeated for
the sake Of emphasis. T. the teacher
sent from God. say unto thee" This
is my message Except man be born
agaiu." Greek. another. again. or
anew" as In r. v and Am. r.. from
shove" Whosoever Is born again Is
born anew and born from above. Ex-
eept a man have a new spiritual life
impaired by the Holy Spirit. in add
tion 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 God"
What Is II to Be Born Anew, from
Above?-We have a natural physical
life. We live in a world Of sense. Our
supreme choice may be to enjoy this
life. to make its pleasures and desires
supreme. to possess the things that
minister to 1t. at any cost, ~ the ex-
pense Of other people. at the expense
Of conscience and duty and love. This
Is the life Of the nesh. OF this world.
A thousand good. lovely. and charming
things may come into this life. But
the test OF the life Is what IL our
supreme choice"
This life is Impaired BY the spirit
OF God. enabling one to choose God.
and gain the victory over the lower
nature. II 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.
VS.. Except a man be born Of
water and Of (the) Spirit--(Thsre Is
no article In the Greek before
-Spirit") To understand this. note
several things in the circumstances:
"a John was baptiEing with water az
a symbol Of repentance. (1) Baptism
symboliEed the cleansing OF the soul
from sin co Baptism symbolized the
outward profession. the entering into
the visible kingdom az Nicodemus
was familiar with the rite with this
Specification.
Water may denote either OF both Of
two allied meanings. ~ The Lord
here declares that there are two ele
ments or factors In the new birth;
putting away the old lie and receiving
the new. Water was the natural and
familiar symbol q cleansing from ain.
Of putting away the sinful past. Of
confession OF sin. This act the Phari-
sees were not inclined to believe a.
applied TO themselves They refused
to be baptized BY John. and thus con-
fess their need Of forgiveness
What Was Jesus Authority for This
Teachingf-It was. first. the authority
Of the Scriptures To Nlcodemus' 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
thingsg" You will find this truth in
the Scriptures you teach. as. for in
stance. in Eek. l1:l9; 1891; 36:26;
Jer. 24:7: 1888.
II was. secondly. the authority Of
personal knowledge and experience.
V. 1e. God SO Loved the World
Not merely heavenly beings. angels
and seraphim. and saints. but this
poor. sinful. unworthy world. so far
from him In character.
let us quietly ponder the great
deep utteranoe. First there is
The Lake-'God so loved the