THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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III. THE WAGES OF SIN. “ The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23; cf. Rev. 21:8). Death does not mean annihilation. It is not “ age lasting.” It is a wrong, debased, devil ish existence throughout eternity, apart from God and all that is good (Matt. 25:41, 46). IV. THE REMEDY FOR SIN. Sin required the death of the sinless One, the Lord Jesus Christ, that men might be saved. “ Come now, and let us reason to gether, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18; cf. 53:4, 5; John 3:16; Acts 5:12; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; 2:24; 1 John 1:7). For Discussion 1. Are all sins equal in God’s sight (cf. Gal. 5:19-21)? 2. What are some of the causes con tributing to the sinful condition among young people today? 3. Does popular opinion or God’s Word actually guide you in your esti mate of sin? 4. What is the relation between the prevalence of sin among young people today and the lack of real Bible study and vital prayer amojig young peopled MARCH 26,1944 D O E S L O V E E V E R F A IL ? 1 C o r in t h ia n s 13 :$; 1 J o h n 4:7-12 By Ruth G. Ender Introduction An interesting way to open a dis cussion on the topic of love is to ask the group to define the word. Give them a few minutes to think, for the task is no simple one. If they express a desire for a dictionary, tell them that the dictionary cannot begin to "fill the bill” when thinking of the word in a Christian sense. During your investigation of the subject, ask such questions as: Can true love be re stricted to verbal expression? Does love have to manifest itself? Can love be hidden away in the heart and never revealed, and still be true love? As you continue the discussion, dis tinguish between love, sentimentality, and infatuation. At the end of this consideration, you w ill probably come to a number of conclusions, among them these three: Love must be demonstrated; love in cludes sacrifice; love benefits the one loved. John 3:16 definitely exhibits these three factors. Now that you have clearly estab lished in mind what love is, ask your selves, “Does love- ever fail?” The answer is in 1 Corinthians 13:8.
MARCH 19, 1944 W H A T IS S IN ? 1 J ohn 3:4; 5:17; R omans 3:9-26 By Samuel H. Sutherland Introduction One of the most comprehensive defi nitions of sin is that found in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God.” We discover these two facts present ed throughout Scripture. We sin when we do that which God does not want us to do. We sin also when we do not do that which God does want us to do. The lawyer of Luke 10:27 an swered correctly concerning the de mands of a holy God upon His people when he said, “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” If we fail in this regard, we sin. We understand the more readily, therefore, how it is that Paul could say,in Romans 3:23, “A ll have Sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Sin has affected every human life and, as sinners, we stand condemned in the presence of a holy and just God. It is not necessary that all of God’s laws be violated to make one .a sin ner. “ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas. 2:10). This is perfectly logicaL Men today in San Quentin are con demned to die not because they have violated the whole law, but because they have violated only one point, namely, they have murdered some one. A ll the time they have spent doing “little good deeds” is not taken into account in the least. Justice demands that their lives shall be taken for the life that they took. God’s law is equal ly just I. THE FACT OF SIN. Sin is essentially committed in the mind or heart, not in the overt act (Matt. 5:21, 22, 27, 28). A man has not committed sin merely when he fires a gun to kill another person whom he hates, but he committed sin in the first place when he held that hatred in his heart, or when he obtained that gun for the purpose of killing his enemy (cf. Gen. 6:5; Jer. Sin extends to every part of our be ing. Our intellect is- affected by sin. Our feelings are affected by sin. Our physical senses are all affected by sin. Every part of man is blighted by the damning influence of sin. For Those Who Have Topics 17:9; Rom. 3:12; Psa. 130:3). II. THE EXTENT OF SIN.
i r s AH IDEA Absenteeism has b e e n a great -hindrance to industry, and it is one o f the biggest hindrances in the church to day. Why not put on a cam paign in March to defeat ab senteeism in y o u r Christian Endeavor Society? • Idea l . Get the F.B.I. after delinquent members. Stress in your meetings, Fellowship, Bible, and Inspiration. When the fellowship is enthusiasti cally Christian, then the Bible w ill have a large part in your program. And when the Bible is given a large part, the in spiration w ill run high. Elect all members to the F.B.I. Com mittee an# charge them to bring others. • Idea 2. Prepare identifica tion badges for the members to wear during your campaign a g a i n s t absenteeism. You might arrange to have each person’s picture on his ‘own badge. Also, prepare identi fication cards to carry. By using an ink pad, you can get each person’s thumb print on the card. These cards could be pundied by a doorkeeper when the members arrive (first-timers welcomed with out cards). Idea 3. Issue a weekly bul letin and send to all mem bers. Describe the effects of absenteeism in your society, and urge the attendance of every member on Sunday. These ideas are only sug gestive. They s h o u l d be adapted to each local situa tion, and used in addition to what you are doing. Your pro gram planning and prayer should not let down. They should be intensified (2 Tim. 2:4).—Carlton C. Budk.
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