The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-18

~ 81 <& Light ana night
l'''',' for him can be no
more In future he'll walk In the light
"A man Of the Pharisees, named MIC
odemus." so upright, so good. so re-
ligious. such charming gentleman,
surely the Lord Will welcome him with
open arms But no. Abruptly he de-
clares that this splendid man has not
yet begun 20 live: Except n man be
born again he cannot perceive the
kingdom of God" He cannot even
have right thoughts about IL, to say
nothing Of his entering II.
He has come. saying: "We know
that thou art n teacher come from God.
for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest. except-God be with him"
And. oh. what lesson this Teacher
come from God has for him "Here."
thinks he, SIS one who can teach me
something that shall make me a better
man than ! am" and he learns that
the flesh does not need teaching be-
cause IL has been judged that all that
Is born Of II is still hut flesh; and that
nan in the flesh cannot he made at
for God. He must. by second birth In
the power Of the Holy Spirit. be
brought into the new creation. And
nothing short Of this can ever meet the
mind Of God.
Nicodemus speaks OF miracles. but
the Lord viii not stop 10 discuss such
trifies. He win tell az once OF the
greatest and most important Of all
miracles: the regeneration OF a soul.
Men think that IL they can understand
miracles. they could understand Christ
and the new birth. Oh. n they would
only believe what Is written. that "In
him was life: and the life was the
Light OF menw Once you have the
life that is IN Christ Jesus you are In
the light forever. and shah never have
any difficulty about miracles or about
anything that you find IN Holy Scrip
tufe
Striking II II that the only place in all
Scripture In which the new birth is
pressed Is here. where the Lord presses
II upon this upright man. All, II he,
with his goodness and religion. must
be born again. what folly 20 claim ex-
ception from this necessity for any
man that lives todayi
But howl He II bewlldered by the
thought of such change. How can
these things bef" And the Lord makes
no answer. He Is not at pains to ex-
plain the workings OF the Holy Spir~
H. The question Is not. do you I'M
derstandr but "Do you believe what
God saysr II so. there Is another
must" In this discourse that explains
II all: even so must the Son Of Man
be lifted up: that whosoever believeth
In him shall not perish. but have eter
nal life"
Except a man be born Of water and
OF the Spirit. he cannot enter into the
Kingdom OF God" Water Ia In Scrip
ture the symbol both Of the Word Of
God and OF the Spirit Of God. The
Holy Spirit works through the word
TO accomplish the regeneration OF the
soul. bringing the sinner face to face
with Christ. In this regeneration a
judicial cleansing Is effected. II 10
that Of which we read In Titus 3 %.
"the washing OF regeneration" and Of
which the Lord spoke to Peter. declar>
ing that II cleanses "every whit" BY
the Spirits ministry IN the word the
sinner Is brought 20 see what the Lord
pointed out 20 Nicodemus, that he Is
the antltype OF the braxen serpent, en-
during on the cross Of shame the judy
ment that was the sinners due. The
moment he accepts that he IL born
again.
One came 20 me saying, I cannot
understand about tho new birth and
am so distressed over your tnsistence
upon the necessity OF II.
1T 10 not necessary to understand
II In order 10 attain H." replied, but
simply 20 believe In him who has made
II possible"
"But I have been taught all my
iife that n was good would go to
heaven when I die"
"And so was T." ] said. but Il IL not
true But do YOU believe the COS
pclf Do you believe that when Jesus
died II was for you and that because
he died for YOU no IL exalted IN
heavenr'
u do with all my heart"
Then you believe that Jesus IL the
Christr
yes
"very we'll. then. read this" aud ~
! placed my finger on John OIL, shs
read II aloud, "Whosoever belieyeth
that Jesus II the Christ Is born OF
God" And with cry Of JOY she az |
eiaimedi "Oh. l see II nowl i see h |
nawi ! am savadi"