Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-01-31
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson v.-First Quarter, For
Feb. 4, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson. John III, 1-21.
Memory Verses, 5, 6-Gol6en Text
John iii. fe-commentary Prepared by
Rev. .. NJ. Stearns-


IL we take the last sentence Of chap
ter ii and the first Of chapter Lii from
the revised version we viii read: He
Himself knew what was in man. Now.
there was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus> This man there
fore comes before Us as sample OF
all religious men of his stamp. and as
our Lord dealt with him so He still
deals with ali such He was one Of
the rulers and evidently a man held in
high esteem hy his fellows. but he was
not as yet born from above He was
very complimentary and courteous TO
the Lord Jesus. but our Lord had no
heart and no time for mere comDi
ments. He saw all people as either
having life and not condemned or un
der the wrath of God and condemned
already verses is. So Seeing before
Him lost soul and not being willing
that he should perish. He at once
spoke to his heart. for He knew what
was in him.
We NAV sum up His threefold refer
ence TO the new birth tve-ses 3, 5, a
in the emphatic declaration of verse Z,
which is word for every unsayed
person. however religious he may he
.You must be born again" or. as In
the margin. from above Ii has been
truly said that if we are born but once
merely a natural birth. we shall die
twice. and the second death viii be
the lake OF fire lRev W. "A, 15l. but If
we are born twice. have had the birth
from above. we shall die but once. and
If alive or earth ar His coming. shall
not die at all Il Cor. XIV Jo-52l- While
our Lord often used the word verify
IA translation of amen. only in this
GOSPEL is He recorded as using the
double verify and just twenty five
times. the first time being in chapter
1. 81. and in reference TO the coming
kingdom. We find il in our lesson
chapter in verses 8. 3. II. and in the
first two also in reference to the king
dom. 1t requires new birth inwardly
and a new body outwardly TO enter
that kingdom Il Cor ". 50l. but II We
have the first we shall Vim due time
have the second phil iii. 20 p,
Nicodemus. being merely natural
man. although q religious one could
not understand spiritual things. &c
eording TO | Cor. ii Il. therefore his
many questions. As master OF Israel
verse 10, he might have known mors
than he did. but he needed some one In
him whom he had never vet received
tchapter / l2i.
Our Lord then TOOK him back to an
incident in the wilderness story. with
which he must have been familiar
oversees II. IN. and from il taught him
how TO be born again. and We conclude
from chapters vii. 80. 81; xix. 50, thai
then or later Nicodemus was really
born again AMI became true disciple
of Jesus Christ
The new birth Is wrought in US by
the word Of God and the Spirit Of God.
as orr IarI TAUGHT in verse 3. the wa
ter signifring the word as in Eph "
25, Both James and Peter are in per
feet accord as 10 the new birth being
accomplished by the we'd Of God JAS
/. IS: | Pet i. 81 and our Lord said
that His words were Spirit and Life
John vi. c-3l ! hare often seen John
iii. Is. bring about the new birth in
soul just By writing the persons name
in the verse instead OF the words 1.-The
world" anI --whoscever" and as quick
IL as the bitten Israelites looked upon
the dead representation OF that which
had bitten them and lived so have |
seen sinners locking upon Jesus made
sin for them and obtaining life by
look He came 10 save the lost. the
sick the hopeless. and He does ii ali
Himself
We have only 10 let Him save US. to
see Him dying in our stead bearing
our sins IN His own body. and. receiv
ing him take Him at His word. that
by virtue OF His great sacrifice all
such have everlasting life and can nev-
er perish. People are condemned not
because of any ordinary sin. for al,
are sinners. but because they win not
receive Him who alone can save them
because they viii not look and lire
tEerses Is. 49, By receiving Him We
honor God rs true. but by refusing T.
receive Him we make God a liar an
join hands with the father OF lies
against God verse 50: John =. 80
John viii. "a
Only one who was truly God eoi.I8
speak Of Himself as -the Son Of Man
who is Ia heaven while yet He was
on earth verse 13i. Note also His
words in verse %. The Father loveth'
the Son and hath given all things into
His hand" Compare Matt. u. q. and
let US. Ike John the BAPTIST. bear
faithful testimony to Him. and. ike
the servant OF Abraham seeking
bride for the only son TO whom hi
father had given all that be had. let us
live TO help obtain the bride. the
church. for the coming Bridegroom
See verses 27-3l and compare the beau
tiful story in Gen. xiv. As Abra.
hams servant talked only of the xveaftt,