"Nicodemus also came making the same inquiry. He must have asked something like this, for Jesus answered such a question. 'Ye must be born again; ye must be born of the Spirit,' said Jesus. Nicodemus was looking for a legal salvation by outward formal services, but Christ gave him to understand that salvation involves a great spiritual renovation wrought by the Holy Spirit, by which men old in sin become new creatures and enter the kingdom of God as little children. He taught him thus that salvation was only from God. If any of you are looking for a cloak of self-righteous religious duties which you can put on, be assured that true religion springs from a work of God wrought in the heart. You must be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. You must become new creatures in Christ Jesus. "On the day of Pentecost the great company of men 'out of every country under the whole heaven,' while listening to Peter's pungent address, cried out, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the remission of sins,' answered Peter. Here were men who had a hand in crucifying Christ, or if they had no active share in that deed of darkness, they had consented to his death; they were partakers of the crime; very likely they had cried, 'Crucify him, crucify him.' They saw their sin, and were pricked in the heart. Well might they repent of their rejection and crucifixion of their promised Saviour, the Son of God, from heaven. Others were devout men who had come to Jerusalem to worship. Like Simeon they may have waited long for the consolation of Israel. How easy for them to enroll themselves among the followers of Christ! All alike are commanded after repentance to put on Christ by baptism. That burial with Christ was the symbol of their dying and living again--of their dying unto sin and living again unto God. The same duties are enjoined upon you. Repent of your long rejection of the grace of God and his Son Jesus Christ, and before God and men devote yourselves to his service by a public confession of Christ in baptism.