_Eph. 3:14, 15_—“_the Father, from whom every fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named._” But even here God works through Christ, and Christ himself is called “_Everlasting Father_” (_Is. 9:6_). The real basis of our sonship and unity is in Christ, our Creator, and Upholder. Sin is repudiation of this filial relationship. Regeneration by the Spirit restores our sonship by joining us once more, ethically and spiritually, to Christ the Son, and so adopting us again into God’s family. Hence the Holy Spirit does not reveal himself, but Christ. The Spirit is light, and light does not reveal itself, but all other things. I may know that the Holy Spirit is working within me whenever I more clearly perceive Christ. Sonship in Christ makes us not only individually children of God, but also members of a commonwealth. _Ps. 87:4_—“_Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her_” = “the most glorious thing to be said about them is not something pertaining to their separate history, but that they have become members, by adoption, of the city of God” (Perowne). The Psalm speaks of the adoption of nations, but it is equally true of individuals. 2. Necessity of Regeneration. That all men without exception need to be changed in moral character, is manifest, not only from Scripture passages already cited, but from the following rational considerations: (_a_) Holiness, or conformity to the fundamental moral attribute of God, is the indispensable condition of securing the divine favor, of attaining peace of conscience, and of preparing the soul for the associations and employments of the blest.