All-Important Lesson
57
first need was humility of heart, a teachable spirit, a new heart; that
if he would enter into the kingdom of God, he must be born again.
Are there not those who hold responsible positions in the Sabbath-
school who would be irritated and annoyed if I should testify to them
that, though they are rulers in Israel, they too need to be born again?
Nicodemus wondered that Christ should speak to him in the way in
which He did, not respecting his position as ruler in Israel, and he was
not prepared to receive the truth, and he answered Christ in words full
of irony. “Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when
he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and
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be born?” He revealed the fact, as do many, when the cutting truth is
brought home to the conscience, that the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God. There is nothing in them that responds
to spiritual things; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. But,
although Nicodemus did not comprehend His words, Jesus did not
become impatient or discouraged, but sought to make more plain His
statement of truth. In solemn, quiet dignity, Jesus repeated His words
in a manner that would convince him of their divine truth: “Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he can not enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” ...
How sad it is to think of the great amount of mechanical work that
is done in the Sabbath-school, while there is little evidence that there
is moral transformation in the souls of those who teach and who are
taught! When the work of the Spirit of God is felt upon the heart, we
shall see many earnestly seeking first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness. Then earthly things will find their proper, subordinate
position, and heavenly things will be supreme in the affections of the
children of God.—
Sabbath-School Worker, August 1, 1892, par. 9
.
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