T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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front, we read; “CHRIST, GOD’S SON, FREED ME, (a) LOST SINNER.” It is necessary to confess our sin td God, but we must not forget to confess our Saviour to others.
’ There are two other flaps which Ï will fold over the- front. As I fold them, we see thé word “SAVIOUR” written on both. We are to confess our Saviour, When I place them over the
man’s care, so he would have nothing to worry about. When Jesus had finished the story He ashed the lawyer Which one of the three . men had really; obeyed God’s Word and had treated the poor man as his neighbor. The lawyer knew the answer right away. Do you think he knew, too, what made the third man kind to others? It was love. Shall we ask the heavenly Father to give us loving hearts? 6 •IO '4*
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JUNE 27, 1943 JOHN'S COUNSEL TO CHRISTIANS 2 J ohn - and 3 J ohn
mere sentiment or feeling, but obe dience. “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). Obedience is the fruit of love, and love is the motive of obedience. Love apart from duty ends in riot, and duty apart from love ends in legalism. The exhortation goes on to say, “walk, in it'/' that is, in the love, not in the commandment. Only, as one.walks in ‘ love can one walk according to the commandment. The reason for this exhortation lies in the danger that besets the Chris tian (vs. 7-11). The source of the danger is in mere professors among the members who deceive others con cerning the truth. It is fatal heresy to deny either the Godhood or the hu manity of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is, it is heresy to deny that, as God, Christ came to earth, or that, thus clothed in human flesh, He was “the man Christ Jesus.” This spirit o f. de nial is the spirit of Antichrist (v. 7); The manifestation of the danger is seen in those who refuse authority (v. 9); they go beyond that which is in the Word, thinking that in so vdoing they are following advanced thought. The avoidance of the danger is un compromising s e p a r a t i o n from it. There is a danger of offering insult to God by being tolerant of men who deny His divine nature and power. It should be r e m e m b e r e d that the apostle refers here to the false teach ers, rather than individual members of the church. Such teachers should be treated as a sufferer from a contagious disease is treated; if the patient does not know he has the disease, he is all the more dangerous-. II. C ounsel ! to W alk in T ruth : (3 John 5-12) The key to this Epistle is in the word “ beloved” (cf. vs. 2,' 5, 11). .Our
2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly that 1 found of thy children walking In truth» as we have received a commandment'from the Father. 5 And now'| beseech thep, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee,, but that which we had from the be ginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is .the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers are entered Into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ ie come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to youreelves, that vie lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgressethfc -and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, nath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there cohie any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God-speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 3 John 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thyveharity before the church: whom if thou bring for ward on their Journey after a godly sort, thou shall do well: 7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, thet.we might be fellow helpers to,the truth. •9 I wrote unto the church: but DlOtre- phes, who foveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, ! will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he Tiimself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth t h e m* that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which Is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that dpeth evil hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath good report- of all men, and of thfe truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record Is true. LESSON TEXT: 2 John 4-11; 3 John 5-12. GOLDEN TEXT: “ Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and. be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). DEVOTIONAL READING: Acts 20:28-39. Outline and Exposition I. C ounsel to W alk in L ove (2 John 4-11) S HE APOSTLE rejoiced when he Spirit, and according to the Word of God (cf. John 14:6; 17:17; 1 John 5:6), and not after the flesh (cf. Gal. 5:16). The apostle exhorted believers t o /‘love one another” (vs. 5; 6). This require ment was not strange; it was “from the- beginning”—meaning either the beginning of the Christian life, or the beginning of the teaching of Christ. The manifestation of this love is not
Object Lesson C onfessing S in and S aviour OBJECTS: Five p i e c e s of paper. (One should be 6 x 814 inches, and the., other four should be 2% X 814 inches. Using transparent tape, hinge 2 on the right side and 2 on the left side Of the large sheet. With 2 of the hinged pieces folded forward and 2 backward, you will find a slot % inch wide between' them. In this ,space, writing down, print the word, “CON FESS.” Using this word, complete the following words, writing on the side pieces, “COVETING, SMOKING, LYING, FIGHTING, HATRED, SWEARING, and STEALING.” . On the opposite side of these flaps write the word “SIN.” Fold the other flaps which have been in back over the front. Using the word “ CONFESS” complete the following, writing on the flaps, “CHRIST, GOD’S, SON, FREED, ME, LOST, and SINNER.” On the opposite side of 'these flaps write the word “SAVIOUR.” ) ■- LESSON: What do you think this word “CONFESS” means? • “It means to tell God about your sins.” Yes, that is part of what it means. As I fold these flaps over the word "CONFESS," we see the word “SIN” on. each one of them. We aré to con fess our sin to God. In 1 John1:9 we read, “ I f. we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unright eousness.” Here are a few of the many sins which need to be confessed to God, “COVETING, SMOKING, LYING, FIGHTING, HATRED , SWEARING, and STEALING.” There are many others. In 1 John 4:15 we read, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” Here we find that We are to confess our Saviour as welj As our sins.
found those who were “Walking in truth” (v. 4). That ,is, they were walking in Christ, by the Holy
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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