THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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There are absolutely no exceptions to this law o f the kingdom “ except a man be born from above, he. cannot see the kingdom o f God.” It matters not how good a parent age a man has, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh,” and only “that which is born o f the Spirit is spirit.” Therefore, if a man is to be saved and enter into the king dom o f God, he must have “ the washing o f regeneration, and renewing o f the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5, R. V .). If any man could do without the new birth Nicodemus was the man. He was moral, religious, sincere, but Jesus looked him in the eye and Said, “You must be born again.” The instrument through which the hew birth is effected is the Word o f God (1 Peter 1:23; Jas. 1:18; John 15:3). The author o f the new birth is the Hply Spirit (v. 5; Titus 3 :5 ). Many therefore think that the “ water” of verse 5 is “the Word,” the instrument by which men are born again, as “the Spirit” is the One by whom men are born again. They urge in favor o f this interpretation that water is a symbol o f the W ord (Eph. 5:26; cf. John 15:3; Ps. 119:9). Those who object to this interpre tation ask, if Jesus meant “the Word” why did He not say so right out without using a figure, just as He says “the Spirit.” To this it may be replied that the words “the Spirit” are themselves a figure, and the passage literally translated would be “Except any one be born of water and wind, he cannot enter into the kingdom o f God." And as the “wind” by universal consent refers to the one factor in regeneration, “ the Spirit,” so “ the water” manifestly refers to the other element in regeneration, “the Word.” Others urge that in both water and wind we have a symbol o f the Spirit’s work (the water His cleansing work, and the wind His quickening work) and they refer to a somewhat analogous case where it is said'that Jesus will baptize “with holy wind and fire” (Matt. 3 :11,:lit erally rendered). It matters little which interpretation we accept, for if the Word as the instrument o f regeneration is not mentioned here it certainly is elsewhere.
rational way, “ for no man can do- these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.” It was no blind faith that Nicode- mus entertained. Jesus had presented His credentials and they were perfectly satis factory. Indisputably Divine works, indis putably proved a Divine commission (cf. John 5:36;"9:30-33; 14:11; John 2:22). The testimony o f Nicodemus to the character of the works o f Jesus is o f great value. He was a cautious, conservative man, o f a class that was not favorably disposed to Jesus, he would not have made this admission if the evidence so easily open to .scrutiny were not overwhelming. O f course, it may be said that the whole story o f Nicodemus is a myth, but even leaving out o f sight the external evidence, no one can carefully and candidly study this story without being convinced o f its' truthfulness. O f course, if one is determined not to believe unless" he is forced to, he is not fair-minded and must suffer the consequences of his disin- genuousness, viz., unbelief and death. But when we have established the truthfulness of the story, we have also established that Jesus is “ from God,” and when we have established that, every cardinal doctrine o f the Bible easily follows. Monday, April ip. John 3 : 3 - 6 . What Jesus said to this earnest inquirer may be summed up in one sentence, “ You must be born again.” This also sums up all the conditions o f blessedness for time and eternity. W e do well in reading this statement to lay emphasis on the word “must.” The necessity o f a new birth (the birth “ from above” ) is imperative and absolute. Nothing, else will take the place o f the new birth. Reformation, prayer, Bible study, morality, baptism, church mem bership, all have their value, but none of them, nor all o f them together, will take the place of. the new birth. I f a man has not this he can neither “enter into” nor “ see” the kingdom o f God; It becomes, then, a question that every wise man will put to himself, “have I been born again?”
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