TALBOT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY affiliated with the bible institute of los angeles, ine.
tude of vengeance should not be present with him (v. 19). He should seek every possible opportunity to win his enemy by acts of kindness (v. 20). Goodness, as the expression of the new life within him, should be the dominant characteristic of his life (v. 21). Memory Verse: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love: in honour preferring one another" (Rom. 12:10). The new Christians in Rome had many questions about the things which followers of the Son of God should do and say. In Romans twelve we find a list of many rules which God’s children should follow to show their love for Him. As you read this list, ask God to show you the things in your life that are not pleasing to Him and not a good testimony to others. A ll boys and girls have rules and codes in school, at home, in clubs, scouting, etc., which they are expected to obey. Surely they should be just as eager to follow the rules set forth in the Word of God! Notice that Christians should not feel that they are “ better than others” (v. 3 ); they should be humble, cheerful (v. 8 ), and they should hate the evil and hold on to the good (v. 9). As you read the rules in verses 11-21, .give yourself a test to see which of these rules for Christian living you are obeying. Probably some of these are not true in your life. The Lord Jesus said, “ If ye love me, keep my command ments.” One of the tests of your love for your Lord is your willing ness to let Him control your words and your thoughts and actions so perfectly that each of these things will be true in your life each day. July 19, 1953 One World in Christ1 Eph. 2:8-10, 13-22 Pointers on the Lesson Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has for its dominant theme the Church: the living temple of God. In chap ters 1-3 the doctrinal aspect of the Church is presented. In this section we observe the Church as it is con ceived in the mind of God. It is the foundation section. In chapters 4-6 the practical aspect is presented. Here we have the Church as it ought to live before the world. Our lesson this week is taken from the doctrinal section of the book. It shows us how the Church is being constructed. It depicts the material from which it is being formed (w . 1-3, 11-13) and then shows what God does with this material. First, the Apostle pictures the pit from whence Helps for the Children A Pattern for Christian Living
S U N D A Y S C H O O L continued On the basis, therefore, of what God has done in saving men those who have been saved surely ought to be willing to give their “ bodies” (the organ of the inner life) to the Lord for His Service. This is certainly reasonable. And as one does this he will also give careful attention to the matter of his separation from the world. He will want to be as much like Jesus as he possibly can. In such an attitude the perfect will of God will be discerned. It should be noted that the exhortation in this passage is not a command, it is a beseechment. We are not on legal ground now but in the realm of grace. There follows in this section a series of very practical exhortations which need to be observed by all be lievers in order that the life of Christ within may be openly manifest. There should be no hypocrisy in the believer’s love (v. 9 ), that is, he should not pretend to be a friend and act like an enemy behind his back. There should be an awful abhorrence of evil or sin in all its forms and a tenacious clinging to the good (v. 9). The love of one believer for another should be that of exemplary unsel fishness (v. 10). There should be no sign of indolence on the part of the believer in his service for the Lord. The word translated business here really carries with it the idea of “ zeal, diligence, or purpose” (v. 11). He should manifest joy, patience and perseverance in prayer (v. 12). He will not be close-fisted in the face of the needs of fellow-believers, nor will he fail to hang the welcome sign on the front door of his homej realizing that thereby he may give entertainment to angels unawares (v. 13). He will seek to call down from heaven by prayer a blessing upon those who mistreat him instead of desiring a curse upon such (v. 14). How far is this from the spirit of the world! But if Christians do not manifest a spirit different from the world what evidence do they possess that they are any better than the worldling? The believer ought to be able to enter wholeheartedly into the joys and sorrows of others (v. 15). He should manifest the mind of Christ in humility of attitude (v. 16) and so conduct himself as to command the respect of all Tmen (v. 17). If others will let him, he should be at peace with all men (v. 18). In other words, it should not be the believer’s fault if such peace does not exist. The atti The Believer's Walk in Relation to Others w . 9-21
► HIGH SPIRITUAL STANDARDS
► THOROUGH SCHOLARSHIP
► EVANGELICAL EMPHASIS
► PREMILLENNIAL----
DISPENSATIONAL
a school open to men with col lege degrees leading to the theo logical degree o f bachelor of divinity
► DR. LOUIS T. TALBOT
CHANCELLOR
► DR. SAMUEL H. SUTHERLAND PRESIDENT ► DR. CHARLES L. FEINBERG DIRECTOR
► DR. JAMES H . CHRISTIAN
REGISTRAR
Fall Semester Starts September 10, 1953
w r i t e
REGISTRAR
TALBOT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 558 South ^hfope St. r£oi -Angles 17. Cafif.
44
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook HTML5