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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
2. Offers the greatest returns, which are eternal (Matt. 25:21-23; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8). VII. TREASURES T H E GREATEST HOPE (John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17). —John B. Kliewer, ’35. THE WAY OF THE GOSPEL - Mark 16:15 I. THE PLACE OF IT: “A ll the world.” II. THE PUSH OF IT: Unto every crea ture and into every area of , living. III. THE POWER OF IT: Breaks through every defense of evil (Matt. 16:18). IV. THE PLAN OF IT: Love (John 3:16). V. THE PROMISE OF IT: “Well done, . thou good and faithful servant . . . enter thou” (Matt. 25:21). —Carlton C. Buck, ’30,
Pointers for Preachers Assembled by ALAN S. PEARCE, ’19
A ll sermon outlines on this page are original with those whose names they bear, members of the Alumni Association of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. The figures following each name indicate the year of grad uation. Alumni members are invited to send in out lines, addressing them to Alan-S. Pearce.
DEGREES OF DEPTH IN CHRISTIANITY Ezekiel 47:3-5 I. THERE IS ANKLE-DEEP CHRIS TIANITY (v. 3). Such a person may have experienced conversion, but he could not stand much persecution, because he is too shallow. II. THERE IS KNEE-DEEP CHRIS TIANITY (v. 4). A person of this class might accept minor responsibilities in the church, but he doesn’t want to get in too deep. He is lukewarm like the Laodiceans. III. THERE IS LOIN-DEEP CHRISTI- ANITY ( v . 4). This religionist would likely assume some important church posts, but not take them too seriously. He wants it understood that his feet are still on the ground, that he is still in the world and of it. IV. THERE IS CHRISTIANITY DEEP ENOUGH TO SWIM IN (v. 5). The person of this class has aban doned himself to the Lord Jesus Christ as a swimmer does to the water. And he is the one who gets most from his •Christianity. For him “ to live is Christ.” —Paul O. Steps, ’27. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE — A STUDY IN SUPERLATIVES I. INVOLVES THE GREATEST UNION (Eph. 5:30). 1. Crucified, buried, and risen with Christ (Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:12, 13). 2. “Hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). 3. Seated in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:5, 6). 4. Joint-heirs 1with Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:16, 17). 5. Laborers together with Christ (Mk. 16:20; 1 Cor. 3:9). II. NECESSITATES THE GREATEST SACRIFICE (Phil. 2:5-8; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; 2 Cor. 5:21). III. RESULTS IN T H E GREATEST CHANGE. 1. From death to life (Eph. 2:1). • 2. “ A new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). 3. “Children of wrath” made “sons of God” (Eph. 2:3; John 1:12). 4. Made “ accepted” (Eph. 1:6).
IV. AFFORDS THE GREATEST JOY (Psa. 16:11; Phil. 4:4). V. OFFERS THE GREATEST PRIVI LEGE (Rev. 22:17). VI. PRESENTS THE G R E A T E S T CHALLENGE. 1. The path of greatest resistance (Matt. 7:13, 14f.
Dr. Talbot's Question Box Questions for answer in this department should be sent to the E d i t o r i a l Department, THE KING’S BUSINESS, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, Calif.
QUE.: How do you explain cer tain discrepancies in the Bible? There are no discrepancies, e v e n though mat) has' sought to make it appear so. Or should I say that Satan has sought to make it appear so? Once we remember that “the natural man [the unregenerated man] receiv- eth not the thffigs of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:14), we have the solu tion to many so-called discrepancies. It is not in man to understand spirit ual things; he must be taught by the Spirit of God. And the unregenerate man has not the Spirit of God. More over, once the Spirit-taught man ana lyzes these passages that are cited by skeptical men, he always finds that apparent variations are explained in a plausible way. Only man’s igno rance of what the Bible says, his repe tition of hearsay, and his sin-dark ened mind can account for what man may call mistakes in Scripture. God makes no errors! He has seen to it that His Word is inerrant. QUE.: Will you please give me help on the subject of the pre eminence of Christ — Colossians 1:1-18 (especially verse 18)? The reader quickly sees that verses 1 to 8 of this chapter consist of Paul’s greeting to the “saints and faithful brethren in Christ” (that is, all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour), and his commendation of
their faith, their brotherly love, and the fruit of t h e i r Christian lives. Verses 9 to 11 embrace Paul’s prayer for those same believers. Verses 12 to 14 are the expression of Paul’s gra- ■ titude to God for the saint’s inherit ance in Christ. Now, as to the portion of this chap ter which deals with the preeminence of Christ: First, let us be sure we have in mind the correct meaning of the word “pre-eminence.” It suggests excellence, a position of distinction, and one that is above others in qual ity and rank. The Holy Spirit pur-' posed to convey just this meaning regarding the position of Christ when He inspired the apostle Paul to write, “ that in all things he [Christ] might have the pre-eminence.” Christ, we know, is equal with God. His title as Second Person of the Trinity does not in any respect make Him secon dary in power, rank, nor position. He is equal with the Father. He is God. It is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit: Three' Per sons Tn One, having equality of rank and supremacy above all mankind., In verses 15 to 19, we find Christ to be pre-eminent in t h r e e major offices: 1. As Creator (v. 16). God created the universe. We read in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The word “God” here is translated from the ori- [ Continued on Page 319] (
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