LESSON IX.—SABBATH, FEBRUARY 25, 1893
By Editor
THE NEW BIRTH AND THE INDWELLING SPIRIT.
[For any modification in these lessons, and for the notes, the editor is responsible. For other notes and suggestions the student is referred to the lesson pamphlet, and to the S. S. Worker.] Lesson Scriptures and Suggestive Questions.
I. John 3:3-8: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 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 be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot 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 anew. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." - What is necessary in order to see the kingdom of God?
- With what birth only was Nicodemus acquainted?
- To what birth did Jesus refer?
- What is the difference between the two?
- With what is the work of the Spirit compared?
II. Eze. 36:25-27: "And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." - How are we to be cleansed?
- From what are we to be cleansed?
- What is done with the stony heart?
- What takes its place?
- Through what agency are we enabled to keep God's commandments?
III. 1 Cor. 3:16: "Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" - Whose temple are we?
- Who dwells in us?
IV. 1 Cor. 6:19: "Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own." - What is the body?
- From whom does the Holy Spirit come?
- Do we belong to self?
It is worse than useless to speculate on the process of the new birth. It is our privilege, however, to know the fact. "Like the wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt, is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart. That regenerating power which no human eye can see, begets a new life in the soul; it creates a new being in the image of God." To know God (John 17:3), or to be known of him (Gal. 4:9), involves that idea of that generative power of the Holy Spirit which creates a new heart (Ps. 51:10). The birth of Christ, in whom God was manifested (2 Cor. 5:19), and who is God with us (Matt. 1:25), was due to the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35); so we are begotten of God through his word (James 1:18), are born of his Spirit (John 3:3, 5), are sons now (1 John 3:1, 2), receive power by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Religion is not mere sentiment, but a life; and the mystery of godliness (or the "secret of piety") is that as God dwelt and worked in Christ (John 14:10), and in him condemned sin in the flesh (Rom. 8:3), so Christ shall dwell in us (Eph. 3:17), and live in us (Gal. 2:20), being with us always (Matt. 28:20), enabling us to do all things (Phil. 4:13). All this new life and power come through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:16), which is to dwell in us (John 14:17). Thus it was that after Christ left his disciples "their union with him was closer than when he was personally with them." Thus we become a habitation of God (Eph. 2:22), a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5; Heb. 3:6), a temple of God in which he dwells (2 Cor. 6:16). THE TALENTS. By M. C. Wilcox. A brief essay on "The Parable of the Talents," showing that the talents represent the various gifts of the Spirit which God bestows as he will upon those who are consecrated to him, with the duties and blessed privileges involved therein. Bible Students' Library. No. 77; 16 pp., price 2 cents.