Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-01-16
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Si11nldaySchoe1
' Lesson '
Gay REV p. B. FTTZwArER, DID,, Dean
Of the Evening School. Moody Bible In
9tttute Of Chicago.)
O. 1895. Westeen Newspaper Uaisn.)
Lesson for January IL
JESUS AND NlcoDEMus

O@S0O tNtN0 bNtVO06"SS
LESSON rExr-yohn SILT. ~
GOLDEN TEXT-For God 80 loved
the world that He gave His only be-
gotten Son that whososver believeth II
Him should not perish. but have ever
lasting life.-John 3:1S.
PRIMARY roPIC-Nicodemus visits
JUNIOR roP1c-A Ruler Visits Re-
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOP
IC-whet Nicodemus Learned Fro"
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Zhs New Birth.
I. The history Of Nieodemus wv,
I, 2; Cf. 1852; 10 :3S-42).
The lesson Of today has its peculiar
significance In the light Of Nicodemus'
STATEN In life. He was learned
rabbi. doctor Of the law. and pre-.
sumably q man Of good character. His
coming by night indicates his timidity.
Like Joseph Of Arimathea. he was
afraid to openly espouse the cause Of
the new teacher Of Galilee. Though
timid. as an honest man he investi-
gated and got first-hand information.
Because Of this information he uttered
the brave words in the Sanhedrin
against Judging a man before hearing
him (John 7:45-52), and he also rem
dered the loving service at the Lords
tomb (John 10 :SS-42).
nsus (vv. $40.
The subject of this conversation was
the new birth.
/. The Necessity Of the New Birth
wv. SD.
It Is not a matter Of choice whether
one is to be born again, but Of ne
eessity, IL he L. ever to see or enter
the kingdom Of God. Regeneration
is the first demand the gospel Of
Christ makes upon man.
(1) The kingdom Of God Is spirit
9al kingdom, therefore there must be
a spiritual birth in order to enter It
(v. 81. As we enter the physical
kingdom BY q natural birth, so we
cater the kingdom Of God by super
natural birth.
~ The nature which we get through
the natural birth is radical and es-
sentially bad ". 6; Ct Gal 6:19-21).
That which is born Of the flesh is flesh
The flesh cannot be improved (Jer.
II :23); cultivate and educate It all
you please and It will still remain
flesh. In order to enter into the king
dom Of heaven there must be ma
ture fitted for heaven. There is moth
ing that can be substituted for the
new birth. Men today are trying to
substitute morality and education. for
the new birth. Nicodemus possessed
these. yet Christ declared that he
needed something more. It is no more
possible to have physical being with
out a physical birth than It is to have
q spiritual nature without being bora
Of the spirit.
2. The Mystery Of the New Birth
wv. 8-13).
Though mysterious, its results are
definite. We cannot discern from
whence the wind colneth, or whittier
It goeth. but we know that It blows
By It's effects. The fruits Of eur
life demonstrate our nature, whether
It is heavenly or carnsl. We need not
be told that we have had a physical
birth, fer our bodies with their vari-
Gus faculties prove It. Even 50, the
presence within US of a nature which
has no affinity for the things Of the
world, but strong affection for God
% xSAlA ~A
obedience to His commands, proves
that we have been born from above.
3. The Ground Upon Which the New
Birth Rests wv. IA, 15).
Cfrist's atoning death on the cross
makes regeneration possible. He took
the place Of sinners. His infinite
merit was placed to their account; He
suffered In the sinners stead.
4. Fer Whom Salvation Was Pro
vided wv. 10. 10.
"WhosOever believeth ON Him."
These verses give In a condensed form
the whole plan Of salvation. Observe
~ It's source-"God so loved" ca
Its ground, the death Of Chrfst-"He
ever" az Its condition-"believeth
on Him" It's results-"should not per-
ish, have everlasting life"
10. Mans Attitude Toward Christ
wv. 1920.
I. Some Believe and Are Saved.
Those who believe arc now free from
condemnation (JOhn 8 :24). They are
not only saved now but forever (JOhn
10 %. 29).
2. Some Will Not Believe and Ara
Therefore Resting Under the Condem-
nation Of God.
The awful sin which causes men to
be eternally lost is unbelief In Christ.
The cause Of their unbelief in Him
IN their love Of sin. Refusal to come
to Christ proves that mems deeds are
evil and that they love darkness
rather than light.