The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-02-01
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 4
JESUS THE SAVIOR OF THE
WORLD.
LESSON TExT-John s:i-is.

that wnosoeNer beneveth In him, should
not perish, but have everlasting life.-John
3:l6
This most famous interview in hts
tory occurred probably I'm some room
IN Jerusalem where Jesus was guest,
room reached by an outer stairway
40 that he could receive visitors pri-
vatFly.
!. The Teacher Of the Jews wv. /,
-. Nlcodemus was a member OF the
snnhedrin (Ch. $500. lie belonged TO
the Pharisecs who were much devoted
to the scriptures. and In whose hand
the political affairs were largely
placed by the Romans. There are sew
eral reasons why Nlcodemus came to
Jesus by night. Prudence dictated Sc
crccy, but that he came at all was en-
couraglng. He was more apt 10 find
Jesus AZ home In the evening. He had
much that he wished to learn, and
needed Il quiet hour. removed from
the crowd. The things that Jesus had
done and taught made Nlcodemus
think that Jesus might be the Men-
slab. Nlcodcmus wanted TO know
how % be blessed or happy.
u. A Teacher From God wv. 3-s).
A great majority Of the disciples OF
Jesus came from the common people
q Cor. ! :26) yet for all classes he
had the same message, "Ye must he
born again" The answer of Jesus
was according to the condition of the
man before him, the deepest need Of
his soul. Literally. he said. Most as
suredlv, except man (anyone) be
born again tanew or from above) he
cannot enter the kingdom OF heaven"
To be born anew means To be born
again. II matters not what your par
entage may have been. IL any man
could do without new birth. Nico-
demus was that man. He was moral,
religious and sincere. The instrument
through which this birth Is effective
Is the word Of God q Peter :23:
James as: John II ~ and the au-
thor Is the Holy Spirit ". &: Titus
$3.50. Water Is symbol Of the word
(Eph. 800. Literally translated.
this passage would read Except one
Wv WI ~ VI Nul'A uil'l Win. ANU hN
wind "hy universal consent refers 10
one factor In regeneration. the Spirit.
so the water manlfcstly refers to the
other element Of regeneration. the
word" The main contention is that
the word is the instrument I'm the re-
generation. Although not expressly
mentioned here. IL Is elsewhere
Nga.,la,,,,,g % - To-.
10 II. W and yet he did not know so
fundamental truth ms the new birth.
though the Old Testament taught It,
~. The Pupils Difficulty wv. 9-13). |
The works Of the flesh as contrasted
with the fruits Of the Spirit are
brought out in the EpIstles. yet. like
Nicodemus. people are asking today
How can these things bef' Jesus
challenges Nicodemus with the words, |
cart thou a teacher of Israel and I'M
derstandest not these thlngs?" What |
Jesus said To Nicodemus wv. lib |
Is true Of the scriptures now. especial |
ly Of the New Testament. They tes-
tify 10 the facts which Jesus knew |
and revealed. he having been in
heaven. and come down from heaven |
for the purpose of making them |
known. To be born implies that It |
Is the starting point Of new life, that |
we must grow as child grows to be |
man until II reaches 10 "a perfect
man unto the measure of the stature
Of the fullness Of Christ" (Eph. 4:13). |
w. The Lesson illustrated wv. IA,
II, ls). Jesus believed In objective
teaching. and he here refers TO
memorable event In the early history
Of the Jews ms illustrating his teach
ing. The journey through the wilder
ness To the promised land became
weary and dlscouraging. and the Is
raelltes complained bitterly of their
hardshlps. complaining against God
and against Moses. Punishment came
I'm the form Of fiery serpents, called
fiery from the burning. singing sensa-
tlon caused by their bite. So intense
was the venom of the bites that they
became fatal In a few hours. This
punishment made the people realize
the awful evil of sin. They acknowl-
edged their sin. and prayed for for
giveness. Moses made n braZen SER
pent, and carried II through the camp
so that all could see and looking he
came an act Of faith. implying repent
nnce and return 10 obedience and TO
God. Thus our salvation Is literally,
look and live;" believe and have
eternal life; doubt and perish MARK
1910: John $500.
v. Gods Greatest Gift w. 16). This
Is probably the most familiar verse
known To the Christian world, and
has led more souls 10 salvation than
any other In the Bible. In II is re-
vealed the mighty God-"For God "a
mighty motive-"God so loved;"
mighty scope-"God so loved the
world" mighty sacrifice-"God so
loved the world that he gave his only
begotten SOM" mighty escape
SHOULD not PERISH" a mighty gift
eternal life."
This verse Ii the gospel In a nut
shell the origin and grounds Of his