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THE KI NG' S BUSINESS
February, 1935
closely, you will see that she is proud. Her heart reflects a purple light. The Bible tells us that “God resisteth the proud.” He knows that such a one cannot reflect Christ, in His true light, to others. As you look into Miss Marion’s heart, you see the true light reflected. Christ wants each Christian to be careful that nothing is allowed to so color the heart that Christ’s true light and love are kept from shining out to others. P eter 3 :14-18 path o f the Christian—sin and care. Fail ure to surmount either one in the God-ap pointed way will constitute a poor testi mony for the Lord. If we do not commit to Him our sin, we cast doubt upon His righteousness and mercy; if we do not submit to Him our care, we reflect Upon His power and presence. Anxiety will be ever present, seeking an entrance into the soul in order to destroy one’s peace. We are to cast our care upon Christ contin ually, knowing that He cares for us. III. W atchfulness (1 P et . 5:8, 9 ). There is need o f “soberness,” or self- restraint. Self is the enemy within the camp, the devil’s best ally. Self must be denied (Lk. 9:23), since any yielding to self tends to deaden the conscience, to in toxicate the soul, and to leave one open to Satan’s attacks. W e must exercise vigil ance, or watchfulness, continually, and this practice requires soberness, or self-re straint. W e have a deadly foe, the devil. He is mighty, deceitful, cunning, desiring to bring suffering to the people o f God (cf. Gen. 3:15; Lk. 14:31; Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Matt. 16:23). But our God- given weapons are sufficient for our pro tection, if we use them aright. “The weap ons o f our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down o f strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). The power to wield these spiritual weapons comes through the believer’s surrender to the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8). Relying upon the power of the Spirit, we can reckon Sa tan as a conquered foe (Heb. 2:14-16; 1 John 3 :8; Jas. 4 :7). IV. A doration (1 P et . 5 :1 0 ,1 1 ). The grace o f God has been revealed abundantly in His dealings with us. He is the God o f all grace. Grace is needed because of our condition by nature; we are sinners — criminals, outlaws, and rebels. Grace is needed also because of what the saints themselves are in many cases; they are unthankful, indifferent, and hard of heart. God’s grace extends to each one, leading to repentance. Grace takes up the unsaved and saves them (Eph. 2 :1 -5 ), takes up the unrighteous and justifies them (Rom. 3 :2 3-2 6), and takes up the unlovely and beautifies them with the beauty of the Lord (Rom. 8 :2 9 ). It is the God of grace who will make us perfect, who will “stab- lish, strengthen, settle” us. To the “God of all grace” glory should be offered forever and ever. V. D iligence (2 P et . 3 :1 4-1 6). We are to give diligence to be “ found o f him [the Lord] in peace, without spot, and blameless.” The peace of which Peter speaks can only be obtained by trusting in the blood shed by Christ upon the cross. To be “without spot,” we must practice separation from the world. And
to be “blameless” demands continual obe dience to the Lord’s commands. Today we are to be found blameless (1 Thess. 5: 23) ; tomorrow—at Christ’s coming—we shall be faultless (Jude 24). VI. R emembrance (2 P et . 3 :1 7 ). The evil one, with cleverness and de ceit, seeks to lead the Christian astray along lines which the deceiver makes ap pear to be laid by the Lord Himself. We must remember always that the devil is the great counterfeiter. So closely does he imitate what is o f God, that only the Holy Spirit can discern the difference. Remem bering this fact, we shall constantly depend upon the wisdom and instruction o f the Spirit o f God. VII. T h e G reat E ndeavor (2 P et . 3 :1 8 ). Until the Lord comes, the growth of the Christian should not cease. Day by day, there should be an increase in our knowl edge of Christ Jesus. The apostle does not say we are to grow into grace, because we already have been placed in that position. We are to grow in that sphere into which the Spirit o f God has introduced us. Points and Problems In the letters of Peter there are many things linked directly with his experiences during our Lord’s life on earth. I wish to point out several in the fifth chapter of the first epistle. 1. "Feed the flock o f God” (v. 2) is an echo of that unforgettable occasion when the Lord probed the very bottom of Pe ter’s soul and then told him to “ feed” His sheep (John 21:15-17). 2. “Neither as being lords” (v. 3) cer tainly harks back to Matthew 20:20-26. The mother of two apostles had asked for them a high place in the kingdom. The other ten were moved with indignation. Jesus rebukes all of them with the very Greek word used in 1 Peter 5:3. “The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them,” He says, “but it shall not be so among you” (vs. 25, 26). 3. “ Be clothed with humility” (v. 5) is a figurative expression derived, un doubtedly, from Peter’s experience at the Last Supper. The Greek verb is egkom- boomai, which means “to put on a gar ment which is tied around.” Peter had never forgotten how his Lord took the towel and “girded himself,” then stooped in marvelous humility to wash the disci ples’ feet. And now Peter writes to his fellow Christians: “Gird yourselves with humility” (R . V .). 4. “Humble yourselves . . . that he may exalt you” (v. 6) reproduces a teaching o f the Lord that Peter must have heard often : “He that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:12). 5. “Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil . . . ” (v. 8) is a reminder of the most tragic thing in the apostle’s expe rience. The Lord had warned Peter that Satan was after him (Lk. 22:31). He had BLACKBOARD LESSON
MARCH 31, 1935 LESSONS FROM THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF PETER (Review) 1 P eter 5 :6 - ll; 2
Golden T ext: “ Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Outline and Exposition I n th e two passages given us for our lesson today, Peter writes concerning at least seven great truths which he has learned, about which the Holy Spirit would have us also learn. I. H um ility (1 Pet. 5:6). Humility is contrary to nature; hence it is not regarded by the natural man as an attribute to be desired and cultivated. But Peter learned that genuine humility is always followed by exaltation. Paradox ically, the pathway to the heights leads downward. God turns His face from the proud, but He looks with gratitude upon those who choose the lowly place, “under the mighty hand of God.” When the Lord’s children manifest humility, they show forth something of the spirit of God’s well-beloved Son “who . . . humbled him self, and became obedient unto death.” The measure o f the believer’s humility will be, under God, the measure of his ex altation by God. II. C arelessness (1 P et . 5 :7 ). As believers, we are to be without care, free from all anxiety. The effectiveness o f our testimony for God is largely deter mined by our attitude toward care. Like wise, what we do with care has much to do with our fellowship with the Lord. There are two great hindrances in the
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