In studying about faith, and repentance, and baptism, we learned that the same principles operate in the daily affairs of life, and underlie all material success. So it is also with the source of principle of the gift of the Holy Ghost. The young chemist who tried to cover his watchcase with gold, learned to understand the spirit of truth, and gained greater intelligence, when he obeyed fully the requirements going before. And as he learned further the principle of obedience, he grew steadily in scientific intelligence. So it is then with us. We are required to exercise faith in God, and in His Son, Jesus Christ; we are required to repent of our sins, and to learn to live righteously: we are required to be baptized by complete immersion in water for the remission of sins; and then we are required to submit ourselves to the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. When we have done all this we have fulfilled the requirements of the law. Then our minds will be opened, and our understandings quickened; for then the Holy Ghost can act upon us to give us light and intelligence. This is being born of the Spirit; and therefore should everyone obey the commandment of the Lord, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of yours sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then Cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost."
THE REFERENCES
John 3:5. John 14:16, 17, 26.
Heb. 6:1, 2. John 16:13,14.
Acts 19:1-7. Hist. of the Church, vol. 3, page 380.
Acts 8:5-24. Hist. of the Church, vol. 5, page 26.
John 15:16. Doc. and Cov. 33:11.
THE QUESTIONS
1. What twofold requirement is contained in the teaching of Jesus to Nicodemus?
2. How may one be born of the Spirit?