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December, 1944
suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). III. T heir M anifestation to the W orld (43-48) Here is a contrast between law and grace. The law demanded, “Thou shalt not injure” ; grace requires, “Thou shalt do good to” friend and foe alike (vs. 43, 44). The Holy Spirit reinforces this by saying, “Bless them which persecute you ... recompense to no man evil for e v il...,” but feed thine enemy, and give him drink when thirsty. The result (not the de sign) will be coals of fire upon his head (cf. Rom. 12:14-20). Here also is revealed the believer’s conduct under grace, the pouring out of love upon all, both the evil and the good, even as God does. It should be remembered that “love” is in view, not sentiment. Finally, here is p i c t u r e d the character created by grace; the Lord’s followers are like their Father in heaven. They are “perfect” in the sense of maturity or ripeness, not sinlessness. The perfection is the out come of grace in their conduct, as the Revised Version suggests: “Ye there fore [manifesting such grace] shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father.” Points and Problems' 1. The location of the Sermon on the Mount in the Word of God is im portant to its proper understanding.
augural address, embodying the prin ciples, the laws, and the character of the citizens in that kingdom. The blessedness therefore depends not upon the condition, but upon the character; He spoke of things to be, not to do. In this passage, the Lord Jesus Christ was not giving the way of salvation, nor was He pointing out the means of entrance into the king dom. Nevertheless, there should be no discounting of this portion of the Word, for it has, as all Scripture has, a definite application for the church today. < Inwardly, the “ blessed” are poor in spirit, s o m e t h i n g contrary to nature; they know their place to be in the dust before God. They also mourn, because of the sin all around, and thus are like Christ who was despised and “ a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. ,53:3). Moreover, they are meek, not main taining their own rights, but having learned humility of Jesus their Lord (cf. Matt. 11:29). This meekness is not attained by efforts of the flesh, but is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22.). Furthermore, they hunger and thirst after righteousness, the two strongest desires known, and here again they follow Christ, to whose standard of perfection they look (cf. Psa. 40:7-10). Outwardly (vs. 7-9)', the “ blessed” are merciful, dealing in grace with all others irrespective of how others act. Mercy flows irom God Himself, and is the character of the true Standard, who is Christ JesUs (cf. Jude 21; Heb. 2:17). The purity of heart that is mentioned here refers more to single ness of aim and desire than to clean ness, though the latter certainly is included. The “peacemakers” are those who are exercised concerning peace between God and man rather than between nations, or between man and man (cf. Col. 1:20; Acts 10:36; Eph. 2:13-17; 2 Cor. 5:20). II. T heir T reatment in the W orld ( 10 ) Those who are possessed of such a character as has been described will find themselves in a world unchanged from what it was when the Lord Jesus was here. The world is ready to give them the sam6 treatment that it gave to Jesus. Unbelievers, like the people of Israel, "resist the Holy Ghost,” and persecute all that comes from God (cf. Acts 7:51-53; John 15:19, 20). In the face of this treat ment, followers of Christ are to en dure the same sufferings He knew, knowing that He passed through these experiences before them. The blessed ness belongs to those who can rejoice “ that they were counted worthy to
GREATER FREEDOM IN RUSSIA!
“ W e have noticed a great spiritual revival In all corners of our nation. New believers were added to the church through baptism,” write Gos pel preachers laboring in the U.S.S.R. Again, a cablegram dated August 22, 1944, re ceived from Moscow reads “ $200.00 received. Very grateful. W ith fraternal greetings,” M, O., J. J., A. K. All of this indicates greater freedom to carry on the work of the Lord in Russia. Now -we can send financial support to the Russian Gospel preachers! Help, them to further the Gospel cause! Now is the time to help evangelize Soviet Russia through the national preachers. Your prayer and financial help now are greatly needed. We continue to carry the missionary work on in twelve other countries. Two Russian Bible schools are being maintained, one in Toronto and the other in Rosario,. Argentina. All instruction is in the Russian language. W e are ministering over three radio stations In the Russian language; print thousands of tracts and papers in the Rus sian language; sending new missionaries—others are ready to go! Several Russian and Ukrainian missionaries are engaged In the U. S. and. Western Canada through the Home Department. When sending your gift, please indicate pur pose for which you desire it to be used. Make all checks payable to the Russian Gospel Association, Inc. Rev. Peter Deyneka, General Director 64 W . Randolph St., Dept. KB , Chicago 1, 111. EXE CU TIVE COMM ITTEE: Dr.. Paul W . Rood, Chairman; Dr. Charles A . Porter, Vice Chair man; Peter F. Anderson, Treasurer; Fem e S. Larson, Secretary; Lance B. Latham ; Charles E. Boden; Peter Deyneka. REAL E STATE Property Management - Insurance
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