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February 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
(b) Through fellowship with other Christians. - (3) It gives you a place to exer cise your spiritual life. There can be no health without ex ercise. The church is the log ical working organization. (4) Through it you can enjoy the sacraments which were or dained by Jesus Christ. (5) It enables you to claim many precious promises that are made to the churches (Rom. 8:1; 1 Cor. 13). “Woe unto you lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Lk. 11:52) ; that is, woe, if your influence sends someone else to hell; blessing, if some one is saved by your influence. (2) To define your position. Both the church and the world wish to know your stand. “Come out from among them, and be ye sep arate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:17). '■“He that is not with me is against me: and he that gath- ereth not with me scattereth” (Lk. 11:23). (3) To help others. The great est agency for service in the world is the church. (4) To raise the standards of the community. The church al ways stands for the highest and the best. (1) The church claims allegiance -because of its cost. “The church of God, which he hath purchased w ith his own blood” (Acts 20:28). (2) Loving obedience to Christ’s commands prompts us. The church is a means of burning your ships behind you, as Cortez did when he entered Mexico. “Whosoever there fore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). (3) Are you ashamed to enlist under the banner of the cross ? “Jesus, and shall it ever be, A mortal man ashamed of Thee?, Ashamed of Thee whom angels praise, Whose glories shine through end less days ? “Ashamed of Jesus? Yes, I may When I’ve no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save. “Till then, nor is my boasting vain, Till then I boast a Saviour slain; And oh, may this my glory be, That Christ'is not ashamed of me.” (1) To influence and encourage your family and friends.
Such an understanding will make clear many problems. The following questions, with the discussion of the points involved, should prove helpful in the approach to this subject. 1. Where is the Word “Church” First Mentioned in the Bible? See Matt. 16:18. 2. What Does the Word “Church” mean? The Greek word for church is “ekkle- sia.” It occurs 115 times in the New Testament. The Greek word is derived from the preposition “ek,” “out of,” and the verb “kaleo,” , “to call.” Thus the meaning, “the called out pnes.” In the true sense of the word, the true church of Jesus Christ is composed of a body of men and women called out of the world and separated unto God through the sal vation found in Christ. Study the idea of the separated life as found in 2 Cor. 6: 14 to 7:1. 3. Discuss the Following Figures Used in the Bible to Represent the Church: a. The body of Christ (Eph. 1 :23). b. A building of God (1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:20-22). c. A house, habitation (Heb. 3:6; 1 Tim. 1 3:15). d. A flock (1 Pet. 5:2). 4. Some Reasons for Joining the Church
perfect being must have existed from all eternity. This necessary existence requires actual existence. God must exist, because men uni versally so believe. b. The Cosmological Argument. From cause to effect. c. The Anthropological Argument. We have a moral nature. Where did it come - from? Our posses sion of it argues the existence of a moral governor to whom man is responsible. d. The Intuitive Argument. All man kind is born with an indwelling sense of God. How account for it? e. There are several other historically famous arguments for the exist ence of God. Can you suggest any other ways we can prove the ex istence of God? f. The Bible nowhere seeks to prove the existence of God. It takes His existence for granted. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). 3. Is God a Principle or a Person? a. Intellect is ascribed to Him (Prov. 15:3; Acts 15:18; Heb. 4:13). b. Sensiblity is ascribed to Him (Psa. 33:5; Heb. 12:29; Jas. 5: 11 ). c. Volition is ascribed to Him (Isa. 46:10, 11; Dan. 4:35; Matt. 19: 26). 4. What are Some of the Characteristics of God? Discuss. a. God is a spirit (John 4:24). b. God is life (Jer. 10:10). c. God is self-ex:istent (Ex. 3:14). d. God is infinite (Psa. 145:3). e. God is truth (Deut. 32:4; John 17:3). f. God is love (1 John 4:8). g. God is eternal (Psa. 90:2). h. God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16; 1 John 1:5). r. God is light (1 John 1:5). j- God is omnipresent (Psa. 139:8; Psa. St >:15). k. God is omniscent (Psa. 147:4, 5). 1 . God is omnipotent (Matt. 19:26). m. God is merciful (Psa. 103:8; Psa. 86; IS) n. God is just (Zeph. 3:5). 0 . God is righteous (Psa. 145:17; John 17:25). 5. What Kind of a God is God if He has all These Characteristics? 6. What Part Does God Play in the A f fairs of Men and Nations? a. The length of human life (Job 14:5). b. The mode of our death (John 21: 19). c. The free acts of men (Isa. 44:28; Eph. 2:10; Gen. 50:20; Lk. 22: 22; Rom. 9:17; 1 Pet. 2:8; Rev. 17:17). d. The salvation of believers (1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:3, 10, 11). e. The outward circumstances of na tions (Acts 17:26). 7. How Should Our Conception of God Affect Our Daily Lives?
b. Duty to fellow man.
(Three outlines). a. Duty to self.
(1) It brings moral and spiritual protection. Self preservation is the first rule of life, some say. “Upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). “They shall never perish, nei ther shall any man pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29). (2) It brings moral and spiritual uplift and strength. (a) Through fellowship with Christ.
c. Duty to God.
“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
The Lord’s Command “Be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5) Lord, make me humble, not in word alone But down to my heart’s core; Content and glad another should be raised Into my place, to hear another praised — Less thought of than before. Content to be a servant, like my Lord, Self-emptied, cleansed from pride; No rights to fight for, from all bondage free, Nailed to His cross long since on Calvary, Since in Him I have died. —-Kingdom Truth.
March 8, 1931 The Church
TT IS important that every young per- soh should understand the truth which the Bible presents concerning the church.
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