Middletown transcript., 1917-02-03
INTERNATIONAL
SUNl&YSQtO0L
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director q
the Sunday School Course in the MOODY
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright 1917. Western Newspaper UnionD
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 4
JESUS THE SAVIOR OF Th6
WORLD.

GOLDEN TEXT-For God SO loved the
world. that he gave his only begotten son:
that whosoever believeth In him. SHOULD
not perish, but have everlasting life.-John
S:16.
This most famous interview In his
tory occurred probably in some room
in Jerusalem where Jesus was guest,
a room reached by IN outer stairway
so that he could receive visitors pri-
vately.
I. The Teacher Of the Jews wv. 1.
p. Nicodemus was a member Of the
sanhedrin och. 500. 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 4 quiet hour, removed from
the crowd. The things that Jesus had
done and taught made Nicodemus
think that Jesus might be the Mes
siah. Nicodemus wanted to know
how to be blessed or happy. lie was
willing to be taught. He was an earn
est inquirer.
II. A Teacher From God (vv. 3-8).
A great majority Of the disciples OF
Jesus came from the common people
Il Cor. 1 :26) yet 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, 'Nlost 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
again. It matters not what your par
entage may have been. If any man
could do without a 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 1 :23;
James rs; John 10 ~ and the au-
thor IS the Holy Spirit (v. s. Titus
3:5). Water Is symbol OF the word
(Eph. $3.50. 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, tho
werd." The main contention is that
the word is the instrument in the re-
generation. Although not expressly
mentioned here, 1t is elsewhere.
Nicodemus was teacher of Israel w.
10 r. W and yet he did not know so
fundamental truth as the new birth.
though the Old Testament taught 1t.
There is no speculation or guess work
about Jesus own teaching. He could
say, 1--WE speak that we do know" ".
11). He had been in heaven, and I'm
speaking Of heaven he spoke of the
things which he, himself, had seen.
Ill. The Pupils Difficulty wv. 9-13).
with the fruits of the Spirit are
brought out in the Epistles, yet. like
Nicodemus, people are asking today,
"How can these things be?" Jesus
challenges Nicodemus with the words,
cart thou q teacher Of Israel and un-
derstandest not these things?" What
Jesus said to Nicodemus (vv. 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 new life, that
we must grow as child grows to be
q man until it reaches to "a perfect
man unto the measure Of the stature
of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).
Many of the best saints cannot tell
when they become Christians. The
proof Is to be obser we'd in the results
of their lives. We cannot put our
fingers upon one day and say. "Spring
has come" but the spring does come.
The religious life must have
growth. that is an unfolding and an
enhancing Of the powers and possibil-
tiles of that life.
~. The Lesson illustrated wv. Ii.
IS, 1S). Jesus believed In objective
teaching, and he here refers to q
memorable event in the early history
of the Jews as illustrating his teach
ing. The journey through the wilder
ness to the promised land become
weary and dlscouragng, and the Is
raelites complained bitterly of their
hardships. complaining against God
and against Moses. Punishment came
in the form of fiery serpents. called
fiery from the burning. stinging sensa- :
ton 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
the awful evil of sin. They aclznowl-
edged their sin. and prayed for for
giveness. Moses made brazen SER
pent. and carried 1t through the camp
so that all could see, and looking be-
came an act Of faith. implying repent
ance and return to obedience and to
God. Thus our salvation is literally.
'Look and iive;" believe and ha We
eternal life: doubt and perish (Mark !
:16; John 8 :36).
The moment we really look to jesus
and believe on him. then we have lif0
cOursing in our veins; spiritual III
taking the place Of death, and we 6
born again (John 1:12-13).
The whole secret Is in these Il
words 81 nnk and live" hplieye