International S. S. Lessons Exposition and Practical Application By R. A. Torrey Outlines and Suggestive Points By T. C. Horton
Jesus the Saviour of the World FEBRUARY 4, 1917. LESSON V. John 3:5-17. (Read 3:1-21. Memorize vs. 5 and 6.) G olden T e x t : “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 3 :16.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS T Mon., Jan. 29—John 3:1-8. Tues., Jan. 30—John 3 :9-21. Wed,, Jan. 31—John 3 :22-36. Thurs., Feb. 1—Luke 18:9-14.
Fri., Feb. 2—Luke 19:1-10. Sat., Feb. 5 —Rom. 1 :8-17. Sun.,, Feb. 4—I Tim. 1:12-17. EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
v. 5. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except (Except) a man be born of water and of (omit, of) the spirit (Spirit), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The great majority of Jesus’ disciples came from the common people (1 Cor. 1 :26) ; very few indeed came from the Pharisees or rulers (John 7:48). This les son, however, shows us one who was a “ruler,” a “Pharisee,” a “teacher” and a member of the Sanhedrin, who came to >Jesus. Seemingly Nicodemus came with a large measure of self-confidence. He seems to have said rather patronizingly, "We know that Thou art a Teacher come from God: for no man can do these things that Thou doest, except God be with Him.” But Jesus instantly shattered his self-confidence by saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus, startled by the words of our Lord, and apparently somewhat piqued by them, put to Him the question, “How 'can a man be born when he • is old? Can he enter a second time into
his mother’s womb, and be born?” Verse 5, with which our lesson begins, is our Lord’s answer to this question as to how a man can be born again even when he is old, he can be “born of water and the Spirit,” and unless he is “born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” What is meant by the Spirit in this passage is perfectly clear: it is the Holy Spirit; He is the author of the new birth (cf. Titus 3:5). It is only as He works that the new birth results, but what is meant by the “water?” One interpretation is that the “water” of verse 5 is “the Word,” the instrument by which men are born again, as the Spirit is the Person by whom men are born again. It is urged in favor of this interpretation that water is a symbol of the Word, frequently used or suggested (Eph. 5:26; cf. John 15:3; Ps. 119:9). It is further urged in favor of this interpretation that we- are told elsewhere that men are born again by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23 ; James 1:18; John 15:3). Those who object to
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