October 1932
T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
447
as long as the sun,” insuring the continu ance of His righteous and beneficent rule over the whole earth. IV. P eace in the P rbsent A ge (E ph . 2:13-19). This passage from Ephesians speaks -of the value of the blood of Christ in doing away with the separation between Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles, and bringing both unto God in unity and in peace. Na tionally, they had been separated from each other, but now all who are saved, or “in Christ,” are brought together in one body. This passage is addressed particularly to Gentile Christians, or, as they are called here, “ye who sometimes were far off,” (v. 13). The word “ but” in this verse re fers to their governmental position, as the same word in verse 4 refers to their moral position. But now, during this present age, while the Lord is calling out His church from among all peoples, “ye who some times were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Without the blood, sep aration between Jew and Gentile must re main, because o f the “middle wall o f parti tion,” that is, the law by which the Jew is prohibited from association with the Gen tile. Because God was with the Jew, the position o f the Gentile was one of helpless ness until this wall was taken away by the blood o f Christ which answered every de mand the law could make. The passage does not speak o f the na tions o f the earth, but o f the church. The church is something new, a peculiar body composed o f both saved Jews and saved Gentiles, in which racial distinctions are lost (v. 15). This new creation, the body o f Christ, the church, is reconciled to God by the cross, by which the enmity between the members has been slain (v. 16). Hence peace can be preached to all, both to those afar off, the Gentiles, and to those that are nigh, the Jews (v. 17). Therefore, those who are saved are no longer foreigners or strangers, but all are at home with God, fellow citizens with the' saints, and are o f the household o f God (v. 19). The “household” is composed o f “born again” people, a select number, be longing to heaven, and, while in the world, not of it. The peace spoken of, therefore, in this passage is that which exists between the members o f the church and not between the nations o f the earth. Lesson Questions Psa. 72:9-17. O f whose righteous reign does this psalm speak? How is the coming reign o f peace to be ushered in? As King of the Jews, what will be the extent o f Christ’s kingdom? What prophecies are there that His reign will also be universal (cf. Psa. 2 :8 ; 1 Cor. 15:25; 1 Tim. 6:15) ? What will be the characteristics o f Christ’s reign ? Eph. 2:13-19. Who are in mind in this passage? What is the only ground for peace ? Is it peace among nations, or peace among members o f “ the church, which is his body” that is referred to in these verses? Is it possible to have world peace? I f so, how and when? Peace and Good Will among Men I saiah 2:3, 4; L uke 2:13, 14; M ark 16:15 Memory Verse: “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to ward men” (L k .2 :1 4 ). Approach: Not a very great many years ago, there was a war in which so many na-
BLACKBOARD LESSON
on the night o f Jesus’ birth, they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The gospel message that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” is a message o f peace and good will, and when Christ comes again to reign, all nations will be at peace with each other. In the meantime, He has given to us the work of spreading this gospel message to all peoples. Our work, which will help to bring peace and good .will among men, is to go “into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Golden Text Illustration At the 1907 annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Bishop o f Selkirk, N. W . Canada, gave the follow ing testimony o f the value of the gospel as a messenger o f peace: “As you go down the Mackenzie River from Edmonton, the 2,000 odd miles to reach the Arctic Ocean, every two or three hundred miles you find a place called a Hudson Bay Company post. There is usu ally a mission in connection with it. You •will find around the old Hudson Bay Com pany’s post things like stumps, which have been cut off almost level with the ground. They extend the whole distance around the fort. What does that mean? It means that forty-five years ago, the Hudson Bay Company people had to have a stockade all around these posts to protect their lives and their property. Now the stockade has been cut down and used for firewood. What has caused that? The light of the gospel of Christ (Rom . 1 :16) !” that the farm and buildings are owned by all of the colonists in common. Most of the young people are not married, and live in rooms in the long community house. Those who are married live in little stone cottages. Each person has his duties; each does his share o f the work o f the com munity. Some do the cooking; others take care o f the buildings and machinery; others care for the chickens and cow s; while others work on the farm. Most o f their food is produced on the farm, but they are able to sell enough o f their fruit, corn, and grain to buy the other necessities of life. In this way, with each one doing his share, the needs o f the community are met, and they all enjoy their life together. Outline and Exposition I. T he I ndictment of I srael ( A mos 5:11-15). Amos was one o f the earliest prophets, prophesying during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel. Politic ally, his times tvere at a high level, indi cated by the long reigns o f the kings and by the restoration o f certain sections o f the country which had been wrested from the Lord’s people by other powers. Materially, the times were prosperous: Wealth was in creased, and there was much indulgence in luxuries, such as ivory beds, merry mak ing, dancing, etc. At the same time, there
tions were included that it was called the Great War. At the present time, there is not one big war being fought, but there
are smaller wars in many countries. W e know what trouble and s a d n e s s ‘w a r causes. I wonder if God wants people to fight? L e s s o n S t o r y : God says a number of things in His Word about fighting. Away back in the Old Testa ment prophecies, He that is to come when beat their swords into
tells us o f a time “nations . . . shall
plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks” and “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” That time has not come yet, but this shows us that God has planned for peace. A number o f things have to happen before this time comes. One o f these things did happen two thousand years ago. You re member when the angels sang in heaven
NOVEMBER 13, 1932 MAKING A LIVING D eut . 24:14, 15; A mos 5:6-15; M k . 6 :3 ; L k . 12:13-21; 19:1-26; 2 T hess . 3:6-13; 1 T im . 6:6-16
Lesson Text: Amos 5:11-15; Lk. 19:16- 23. Golden Text: “ Be . . . not slothful in business” (Rom. 12:10, 11).
Workers in Jewish Colonies
E or o u r walk in the Holy Land today, which will help us to understand our lesson better, let us journey to the little village o f Tel Chai. It is situated above the Waters o f Merom, near the source o f the Jordan, and almost in the shadow o f majestic Mount Hermon. The
land has not been till ed for centuries, yet it is capable o f produc ing excellent crops. There is an abundance of water ’and other natural a d v a n ta g e s which make farming a reasonably profitable occupation. The village o f Tel
Chai is a modern Jewish colony. The houses are built o f hewn stone, and are covered with tile roofs. Shade trees and flowers have been planted, which in time will make the village a very pretty place. The farm lands are among the low foot hills which surround the village., In talking to the young man who seems to be in charge o f the colony, we discover
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