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From Heaven With Love
How, then, are we to be saved? “Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29
. The light shining from
the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself.
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If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the
cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then
the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. The
thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to Christ. The heart,
the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us
to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in
the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, “I delight to do Thy
will, O my God.”
Psalm 40:8
.
In the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded the plan of
salvation. In none of His subsequent discourses did He explain so
fully, step by step, the work necessary to be done in the hearts of all
who would inherit the kingdom of heaven. At the very beginning
of His ministry He opened the truth to a member of the Sanhedrin,
an appointed teacher of the people. But the leaders of Israel did not
welcome the light. Nicodemus hid the truth in his heart, and for
three years there was little apparent fruit.
But the words spoken at night in the lonely mountain were
not lost. In the Sanhedrin council Nicodemus repeatedly thwarted
schemes to destroy Jesus. When at last He was lifted up on the cross,
Nicodemus remembered: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whoso-
ever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” The
light from that secret interview illumined the cross upon Calvary,
and Nicodemus saw in Jesus the world’s Redeemer.
After the Lord’s ascension, when the disciples were scattered by
persecution, Nicodemus came boldly to the front. He employed his
wealth in sustaining the infant church that the Jews had expected to
be blotted out at the death of Christ. In the time of peril he who had
been so cautious and questioning was firm as a rock, encouraging the
faith of the disciples and furnishing means to carry forward the work
of the gospel. He became poor in this world’s goods; yet he faltered
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not in the faith which had its beginning in that night conference with
Jesus.
Nicodemus related to John the story of that interview, and by his
pen it was recorded for the instruction of millions. The truths there