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THE KING’S BUSINESS
4.
The holiness o f God demands it
I ntroduction . The popular talk concerning the kingdom and how to enter into it, introduced by John the Baptist’s ministry. I. T he N ew B irth D efined . Negatively : 1. Not baptism (Galatians 6:15; 1 Corin thians 4:15 with 1:14). 2. Not reformation (John 3:6). ' Positively : 1. A birth from above—a spiritual quickening : (John 3 :3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17), 2. The impartation o f the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). 3. A new and divine impulse (1 John 3:6-9). II. T he N ecessity of the N ew B irth . 1. Universal (John 3:3-5). 2. Sinful condition o f man demands it (John 3:6 ). , 3. Jesus said it was absolutely neces sary (John 3:5 -7 ), 1. Eternal Salvation, 5 :9. 2. Eternal Judgment, 6:2. 3. Eternal Redempton, 9:12. 4. Eternal Spirit, 9:14, 5. Eternal Inheritance, 13:20 R. V. FIVE DON ’TS In Hebrews 1. Don’t drift, 2:1-4 R. V. 2. Don’t deny, 3 :7-4:13. 3. Don’t be dull, 5:11-6:20. | 4. Don’t despise, 10:26-39. 5. Don’t depart, 12:25-29. A TWELVEFOLD OBLIGATION In Hebrews 1. Fear, 4:1. 2. Give diligence, 4:11 R. V- 3. Hold fast, 4 :14. 4. < Come boldly, 4:16. F IVE “ ETERNAL” THINGS In Hebrews
(Hebrews 12:14). III. How the N ew B irth takes place . 1. The divine side : (a ) The work o f God, through the Holy Spirit (John 1:12, 13; 3 :5 ; Titus 3:5 ). 2. The human side : (cf. John 1:12, with v. 13). (a ) The acceptance of the gospel mes sage (James 1:18; 1 Pf;ter 1:23; 1 Corin thians 4:15). » (b ) The personal acceptance o f Jesus Christ (John 1 :12; Galatians 3:26). IV. T he R esults of the N ew -B irth . 1. Godlikeness (Colossians 3 :10; Ephes ians 4 :24). 2. Victory over sin (1 John 5:4; 3:9). 3. Righteous living (1 John 2:29). 4. Love towards the brethren (1 John 4 :7 ). ' Conclusion . . Have you been born again? I f not, what then? f
Bible Readings
5. Press on, 6:1. 6. Draw near, 10:22. 7. Consider one another, 10:24. 8. Run the race, 12:1. 9. Lay aside, 12:1. 10. Have grace, 12:28. 11. Go forth, 13:13. 12. Offer sacrifices, 13 :15.
A SEVENFOLD WARN ING In Hebrews 1. The danger o f lost contact, 2:1 R. V .: “ Lest haply we drift away.” 2. The danger o f lost distance, 3 :12 R. V .: “ Falling away from’ the living God.” 3. The danger o f resistance, 3 :13: “ Hard ened through the deceitfulness of sin.” 4. The danger o f exclusion, 4 :1 : “ Lest anyone . , . should seem to come short of it.” 5. The danger o f a fall, 4:11: “ That no man fall after . . . disobedience.”
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