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they should fail to condescend to honor that place with their presence.' The wonder of wonders is that Christ Jesus came in grace to issue the call to sin ners, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 24:11. What comfort and con solation to lost men is this message! He came to call. He calls through His Word, “Whosoever will, let him come.” He calls through the Church, for the only purpose for which the Church is left in a ruined world is to issue the call. He is calling by His Spirit and by the Father’s love. He is balling today—now. And every teacher should faithfully give emphasis to the in vitation. He calls the sinner to Himself to give pardon, peace, plenty and, power. He longs to pour out the fullness of bless ing and enrich the life as He did the life and home of Zacchaeus. 3:8). “He was converted between the branches and the ground.” He pledged the Lord to give half of his wealth to the poor; to restore $4 for ever $1 wrongfully taken. When a convert pays his debts and makes restitution he “shows his faith by his works.” Zacchaeus repented, believed, obeyed, and went through the needle’s eye (ch. 18:25) into the kingdom by disposing of his surplus. When Christ goes “to be guest with a man that is a sinner” it is to make a man of that sinner. Then said Jesus, “This day (Zacchaeus’ red letter) is salvation come to this house (Zacchaeus could hang up his motto, "Jesus Christ is a Guest in This House”'), for as much as he also is a son of Abraham ” (whatever the caviller might call him). “F or t h e S on of m a n is come to seek and to save th a t WHICH w a s lost ," the two publicans being witness.
else can be saved excepting lost people. One of the first things for teachers and Christian workers to do is to make clear the teaching of the Scripture concerning the people' of the world. They are lost. They are without God and without hope. The Lord did not come to call the right eous, because there are none. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10. “For there is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7 :20. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3 :23. There are a great many men who think they are just and who think they are righteous enough to be entitled to a seat in heaven,. There are some ,-who believe that the Almighty God would be under everlasting obligation to them if they would consent to go to heaven and they act as though heaven would not be complete if just as you are) I must abide at thy house.” ‘‘And he made haste, and came down, and received H im JOYFULLY.” The sinner and the Saviour were looking for each other, and met with mutual joy and entered into perpetual fellowship (Rev. 3:21). III. T h e M u rm u rin g . The multitude found fault ‘that He be came the guest of a sinner. By this criti cism they shut their own doors on Jesus, for which was not himself a sinner? They were Pharisees at heart, in self-righteous conceit they ’’despised others” and became themselves the more despicable (ch. IS: 25-30). IV. T h e N ew Z a ccha eu s . The man now brought forth “fruits worthy of repentance,” as John taught (ch.
International Sunday School Lessons (Continued) (C oncluded from page 2S2.)
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