The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-02-01
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 4
JESUS THE SAVIOR OF THE
WORLD.
LESSON TEXT-John a:l-lS.

This most famous interview in his
tory occurred probably In some room
In Jerusalem where Jesus was a guest,
a room reached by an outer stairway
so that he could receive visitors pri-
vately.
!. The Teacher OF the Jews wv. 1,
y. Nicodemus was q member of the
sanhedrin (Ch. 1850. He belonged to
the Pharisees 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 Nicodemus came to
Jesus by night. Prudence dictated Sc
crecy, but that he came at all was en-
couraging. He was more apt to find
Jesus at home In the evening. He had
much that he wished to learn, and
needed a quiet hour, removed from
the crowd. The things that Jesus had
done and taught made Nicodemus
think that Jesus might be the Mes.
siah. Nlcodemus wanted to know
how to be blessed or happy. He was
willing to be taught. He was an earn
est inquirer.
H. A Teacher From God wv. 3-S).
A great majority of the disciples Of
Jesus came from the common people
Il Cor. 1:2G) yet for all classes he
had the same message, aye must be
born again." The answer of Jesus
was according TO the condition OF the
maj before him, the deepest need Of
his soul. Literally, he said, Most as
suredly, except a man (anyone) be
born again (anew or from above) he
cannot enter the kingdom Of heaven"
To be born anew means TO be born
ngain. 1t matters not what your par
entnge may have been. II any man
could do without n 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 Il Peter 1923;
James 1:1S; John 1879 and the au-
thor Is the Holy Spirit ". 3; Titus
$3.50. Water is a symbol of the word
(Eph. 500. Literally translated,
this passage would read, Except one
be born Of water and wind" And as
wind 'by universal consent refers to
one factor in regeneration, the Spirit,
so the water manifestly refers to the
other element Of regeneration, the
word" The main contention is that
the word is the instrument In the re-
generation. Although not expressly
mentioned here, Il is elsewhere.
Nlcodemus was a teacher of Israel ".
10 II. W and yet he did not know so
fundamental n truth as the new birth,
the Old Testament taught IT..
There is nc speculation or guess work
about Jesus own teaching. He could
say, "We speak that we do know" ".
11). He had been in heaven, and in
speaking of heaven he spoke of the
which he, himself, had seen.
~. The Pupils Difficulty wv. 0-13).
The works of the flesh as cOntrasted
with the fruits Of the Spirit are
out In the Eplstles, yet, like
Nicodemus, people are asking today,
How can these things be?" Jesus
NIcodemus with the words,
art thou q teacher of Israel and I'M
ierstandest not these things?" What
Jesus said to Nlcodemus wv. 11-13)
s true OF the scriptures now, especial
Of the New Testament. They tes-
.lfy to the facts which Jesus knew
md revealed, he having been in
and come down from heaven
'or the purpose of making them
inown. To be born implies that II
$ the starting point of n new life, that
We must grow as a child grows to be
man until II reaches to "a perfect
nan unto the measure Of the stature
II the %fullness Of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).
'fany Of the best saints cannot tell
when they become Christians. The
roof is to be observed In the results
4 their lives. We cannot put our
upon n day and say, "Sprlng
rs come" but the spring does come.
he religious life must have a
that Is an unfolding and m
financing of the powers and posslbil-
Hes Of that life.
w. The Lesson Illustrated wv. IA,
3, 1S). Jesus believed In objective
and he here refers to q
honorable event In the early history
Z the Jews rs illustrating his teach
1g. The journey through the wilder
ess to the promised land became
cary and di%scouraging, and the Is
complained bitterly Of their
ardships, complaining against God
nd against Moses. Punishment came
! the form of fiery serpents, called
cry from the burning, singing sensa-
on caused by their bite. So intense
as the venom of the bites that they
ecame fatal in n few hours. This
IilINiInl'il niuuV thO BtOIlt ltuilLt
he awful evil of sin. They acknowl-
iged their sin, and prayed for for
'veness. Moses made n brazen SER
nnt. and carried It through the camp
, that all could see, and looking be-
lme an act of faith, implying repent
nee and return to obedience and 10
cd. Thrs M salvation Is literally,
Look and iive;" believe and have
ernai life; doubt and perish (Mark
i:16: John $3.50.
The moment we really look to Jesus
I'd believe on him, then we have life
in II veins; spiritual life
king the place Of death, and we are
Urn again (John 1:12-13).
The whole secret Is In these three
ords, "Look and live; :" believe and