Editorial August 12, 1911 Issue

THE NEW BIRTH

Annie M. Knott

Throughout Jesus' teachings, and also in those of his immediate followers, great emphasis is laid upon the new birth as essential to salvation from all evil. In mournful tones Job tells us that the one who is born of the flesh is "of few days, and full of trouble," and Paul goes even farther when he says, "They that are in the flesh cannot please God."

In John's gospel we read that Nicodemus, a learned and deeply religious man, came to Jesus to ask the meaning of his mighty works, saying, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." He seemed to see much farther than did most of the theologians of his time, or of our day, in admitting this, and his words brought forth from the Master his memorable saying, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus went on to explain the wide difference between that which is born of the flesh and that which is born of Spirit, God. We find in the gospels, also the epistles of Peter, John, and Paul, as illumined by the teachings of Christian Science, that the one who is born of God cannot sin, neither is he subject to sickness or death.

It is not possible to overestimate our indebtedness to Mrs. Eddy for her profound and spiritual explanation of this subject, as given in the chapter entitled "The New Birth," in her "Miscellaneous Writings," an elucidation of the subject which is of inestimable value to the one who is seeking for the Christ-healing, and who may perchance be heavily burdened by ills which have come to him through belief in mortal inheritance. To such a one Christ, Truth, says as of old, "Ye must be born again;" and in the article to which reference has been made we read: "Nothing aside from the spiritualization—yea, the highest Christianization—of thought and desire, can give the true perception of God and divine Science, that results in health, happiness, and holiness" (p. 15).

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