The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-02-01

mat whosoever believeth in him, should
S:16.
This most famous interview in his
tory occurred probably in some room
III Jerusalem where Jesus was q guest,
room reached by an outer stairway
so that he could receive visitors pri-
vately.
!. The Teacher Of the Jews wv. 1,
y. NicodenuS was q member Of the
sanhedrin (Ch. Z :5O). He belonged to
the PhariSeeS who We're much devoted
10 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-
couraglng. He was more apt to find
Jesus ut home in the evening. He had
much that he wished to learn, and
needed quiet hour, removed from
the crowd. The things that Jesus had
done and taught made Nicodemus
think that Jesus might be the Mes
siah Nicodcmus wanted to know
how to be blessed or happy.
u. Teacher From God wv. 3-9).
A great majority of the disciples Of
Jesus came from the common people
q Cor. I :26) vet for all classes he
had the same message, "Ye must be
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.
suredly, except q man (anyone) be
born again (anew or from above) he
cannot enter the kingdom of heaven"
10 be born anew means to be born
again. 1t matters not what your par
entage may have been. If 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 U Peter :23;
James 1:1S; John :3) and the au-
thor is the Holy Spirit w. 5; Titus
$50. Water is symbol Of the word
Q1ph. $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. it is elsewhere.
Nicodemus was q teacher Of Israel ".
10 r. w and yet he did not know so
fundamental truth as the new birth,
though the Old Testament taught 1t.
III. The Pupils Difficulty wv. 9-13).
The works Of the flesh as contrasted
with the fruits Of the Spirit are
brought out in the Eplstles, vet, like
Nicodemus, people are asking today,
"How can these things be?" Jesus
challenges Nicodemus with the words,
art thou teacher Of Israel and un-
derstandcst not these things?" What
Jesus said to Nicodemus ivv. 11-13)
Is true Of the scriptures now, especial
ly Of the New Testament. They tes-
tify to 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 a new life, that
we must grow as child grows to be
man until 1t reaches to "a perfect
man unto the measure of the stature
of the fullncss of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).
w. The Lesson illustrated wv. ii,
IS. 49, Jesus believed in objective
teaching and he here refers to
memorable event in the early history
or the Jews rs illustrating his teach
Ing. The journey through the wilder
ness to the promised land became
weary and discOuraging, and the Is
rnelites complained bitterly of their
hardshps, complaining against God
and against Moses. Punishment came
IN the form Of fiery serpcnts, called
fiery from the burning. stinging sensa-
tion caused by their. bite. So intense
was the venom of the bites that they
became fatal in few hours. This
punishment made the people realize
inc awful evil Of sin. They acknowl-
edged their sin, and prayed for for
giVencSs. Moses made q brazen Scr
pent, and carried 1t through the camp
so that all could see. and looking be-
came an act Of faith. implying repent-
nnce and return to obedience and to
Coo. Thus our salvation is literally,
Look and live;" believe and have
eternal life; doubt and perish mark
1915: John 3 :36).
V. Gods Greatest Gift (v. 18). This
ia probably the most familiar verse
known to the Christian world. and
has led more souls to salvation than
any other in the Bible. Tn It IS re-
vealcd the mighty God-"For Cod" a
mighty motive-"God so lovcd;"
mighty scopc-"God so loved the
world" mighty sacrlfcc-"God so
loved the world that he gave his only