new birth, — sense of sin, foith in Jesus, love of others, righteous living, separation from the world ? Let us never be content till we can give a satisfactory answer to these questions.
Do we desire to be sons of God ? Then let us " receive Christ" as our Saviour, and believe on Him with the heart. To every one that so receives Him, He will give the privilege of becoming a son of God.
Notes. John I. 6 — 13.
6. — [Ihere was a man sent from God j.... John.] This is a short and striking description of John the Baptist, He was the messenger whom God promised to send before Messiah's face. He was born when his parents were aged, by God's miraculous inter- position. He was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. He received a special commission from God to preach the baptism of repentance, and to proclaim the immediate com- ing of Christ. In short, he was specially raised up by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. For all these reasons he is here called " a man sent from God." It is, in one sense, the common mark of all true ministers of "the Gospel. Ignorant,
^ bhnd, and unconverted ministers may be ordained and sent by man. But they are not " sent from God."
7. — [ Came for a witness.] This does not mean, as it might at first sight appear, " came to be a witness." The Greek word which we translate '' witness," does not mean " a person," but the testi- mony which a witness bears.
[To hear witness of the light.] This means, to testify concern- ing Jesus Christ the hght of the world, that He was the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Bridegroom, the Almighty Saviour, to whom all dark souls ought to apply.
[All men.] This cannot of course signify " all mankind." It means all who heard John's testimony, and all Jews who were really locking for a Redeemer. One end of John the Baptist's testimony was that all such should believe on Christ the true light.
[Through him.] This does not mean "through Christ" and Christ's grace, but through John the Baptist and John's testi- mony. It is one of those texts which show the immense im- portance of the ministerial office. It is a means and instrument through which the Holy Spirit is pleased to produce faith lu man's heart. " Faith cometh by hearing." Through John the