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A Change of Heart Needed, May 11
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3
.
Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation.... With
others, he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus....The lessons that
had fallen from the Saviour’s lips had greatly impressed him, and he
desired to learn more of these wonderful truths....
Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a discussion
with Him, but Jesus laid bare the foundation principles of truth. He
said to Nicodemus, It is not theoretical knowledge you need so much as
spiritual regeneration. You need not to have your curiosity satisfied, but
to have a new heart. You must receive a new life from above before you
can appreciate heavenly things.
The change of heart represented by the new birth can be brought
about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.... Pride and
self-love resist the Spirit of God; every natural inclination of the soul
opposes the change from self-importance and pride to the meekness and
lowliness of Christ. But if we would travel in the pathway to eternal life,
we must not listen to the whispering of self. In humility and contrition
we must beseech our heavenly Father, “Create in me a clean heart, O
God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
. As we receive
divine light, and cooperate with the heavenly intelligences, we are “born
again,” freed from the defilement of sin by the power of Christ.
The mighty power of the Holy Spirit works an entire transformation
in the character of the human agent, making him a new creature in Christ
Jesus.... The words and actions express the love of the Saviour. There is
no striving for the highest place. Self is renounced. The name of Jesus
is written on all that is said and done.
Is not this, the renewal of man, the greatest miracle that can be
performed? What cannot the human agent do who by faith takes hold
of the divine power?
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