From amongst a number of other passages where we find this word "EXCEPT" I would just name three. 1. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." {#Lu 13:3,5} 2. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." {#Mt 18:3} 3. "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." {#Mt 5:20} They all really mean the same thing. I am so thankful that our Lord spoke of the New Birth to this ruler of the Jews, this doctor of the law {Nicodemus}, rather than to the woman at the well of Samaria, or to Matthew the publican, or to Zaccheus. If he had reserved His teaching on this great matter for these three, or such as these, people would have said: "Oh yes, these publicans and harlots need to be converted: but I am an upright man; I do not need to be converted." I suppose Nicodemus was one of the best specimens of the people of Jerusalem: there was nothing on record against him. I think it is scarcely necessary for me to prove that we need to be born again so as to follow Christ. I venture to say that there is no candid man but would say he is not fit for the kingdom of God, until he is born of another Spirit. The Bible teaches us that man is lost and guilty, and our experience confirms this. We know also that the best and holiest man, when he turns away from God, falls into sin. Pst Gabriel
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 18:27:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015