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THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
“F o r w h a t m a n k n o w e th t h e th in g s o f a m a n , s a v e th e s p ir it o f m a n w h ic h is in h im ? . E v e n so t h e th in g s o f G od k n o w e th n o m a n , h u t th e 'S p irit o f G od.” (Also Rom. 8:'3-9 and Acts 2:2.) (d) 1 The Simplicity of th e New B irth. “He th a t believeth is not con demned.” There is nothing g reat to do. God puts the law of the new life into opera tion when you touch .the button. He uses no such words as “ do,” “work,” “ labor,” “feel.” He would not allow any one to add a h air to the finished work which He has w rought in Jesus Christ, His Son. E ighty per cent of Christian people now living became such before the age of twenty. Children and young people are able to understand th e plan of sal vation because of its simplicity. The longer one refuses to apply th e fixed law of God by which he can be born again, the g reater the difficulty. The term s are simple. (Acts 16:31.) “ B e lie v e o n t h e l o r d J e s u s C h ris t a n d th o u s h a lt b e s a v e d .” « T o a s m a n y a s re c e iv e d H im to th e m g a v e H e th e p o w e r to b e c o m e th e s o n s o f G od. ‘T a s te a n d See.’ ” (¿) The Purpose of th e New B irth. To have a people of His own (Acts 1 5 :14 ). i “ S im e o n h a t h d e c la r e d h o w G o d a t th è fir s t d id v is it th e G e n tile s , to t a k e o u t o f th e m a p e o p le f o r h is n a m e .” To ^elect a bride for His Son.- (John 3:29.) , “ H e t h a t h a th th e b rid e is t h e b r id e g ro o m ; h u t -th e f r ie n d o f th e b rid e g ro o m , w h ic h s ta n d e th a n d h e a r e t h h im , r e jo ic - e th g r e a tly b e c a u s e o f t h e b rid e g ro o m ’s v o ic e : th i s m y jo y th e r e f o r e is fu lfille d .” To complete a body of which Christ is to be th e Head. Its purpose is not the salvation of the world, v. 17 ; (not “will be saved,” but “m ight be saved.” ) Sinners can be saved, if they will; bu t they will be lost, if they reject God’s Son and refuse God’s law for th e new -nature. (f) The Illustration, vs. 14-15: “As Moses lifted up th e serp en t.” Sin is a poison, a deadly poison, It flows in the veins of men and increases in its virulence. Rebellion against God
“ F o r o u t o f th e h e a r t p ro c e e d e v il th o u g h ts , m u rd e rs , a d u lte r ie s , fo r n ic a tio n s , th e f ts , f a ls e w itn e s s , b la s p h e m ie s .” No spring is higher th a n its source. The sting of th e serpent is in all man kind. (Rom. 3 :23„) “F o r a ll h a v e s in n e d , a n d c o m e s h o r t o f th e g lo ry , o f G od.” v N atu re cannot give the requisite qualifications for a life w ith God. The law cannot give the requisite qualifica tions for a life w ith God. Ordinances cannot chapge th e nature. Circumcision availeth nothing. Evolu tion cannot produce a new natu re. Man is not the au tho r of his being and can not be the au tho r of a new natu re. So Christ issues the inexorable decree of God: “ Ye must be born ag ain .” (b ) The Agents of th e New B irth . These are the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The Word shows th e need and th e method, and th e Spirit applies th e remedy. (1 Pet. 1:23.) “ B e in g b o rn a g a in , n o t o f c o rru p tib le s e e d , b u t o f in c o rru p tib le , b y th e w o rd o f G od, w h ic h liv e th a n d a b ld e th fo r e v e r.” In 1 Cor. 15:1-3, P au l tells us what the Gospel is. (Read also Gal. 1:4 and T itus 2:13-14.) The death of Christ for the sins of men does not im part a new life; it only settles th e sin question. A man saved from the curse of the law would no t be fit for, nor happy in heaven. Heaven would be hell to a man w ithout a new n atu re, a n atu re Tike God’s. (c) The Mystery of th e New B irth. “How can these things be?” It is impossible to explain n atu ral law. It cannot be explained. Explain, if you can, the breeze upon your cheek. You feel it, but from whence it comes you cannot tell. . You cannot explain sp iritual law. You can see its effect and you can ex-, perience it, if you will. (1 Cor. 2:1.) “A n d I, b r e th r e n , w h e n I c a m e to y o u ,; c a m e n o t w ith e x c e lle n c y o f a p e e c h o r o f w is d o m , d e c la r in g u n to y o u th e te s tim o n y o f G od.” 9 , Your intellect may crave analysis, classifications, etc., bu t it cannot be done here. (1 Cor. 5:11.)
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