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face is dirty, or look in this mirror. Which do you think would be better ? “Look in the mirror.” Yes, that is the best way to learn how you really look. The Bible speaks of itself as a mirror. When people are uncertain as to their spiritual condition, they often run to people and ask them whether anything seems to be wrong, instead of looking into God’s Mirror, the Bible. Dick, how do you know your face is dirty ? “By looking in the mirror.” Yes, and you can always find out your true spiritual condition by looking in the Word of God. The Bible not only shows us our con dition, but it tells us also how to get rid of the sin which the Word of God reveals. Dick, as you look in the mirror, what do you see reflected from the table? “A wash basin with a red cloth in it.” You are right. In the Bible we are told about Jesus, the One who can take away all sin. This red cloth reminds us of Him and of His sacrificial death. Now, Dick, there are two things which you can do. You can ignore the true picture you have seen in the mirror, both as to your condition and the remedy, or you can cleanse yourself with the red cloth. I would suggest that you use the red cloth to remove the black marks, remembering that the Bible says :■“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’J ks | The black marks are easily and quickly removed when you use the red cloth. The sins of life are also instantly removed when we trust the blood of Christ to cleanse us. Christ. Gaius was not only a saved man, but he was one who was also growing from day to day. II. S erving with the T ruth (5-10). In this section, there is much said con cerning true Christian service. Such ac tivity is marked by faithfulness (v. 5). Faithfulness is the great need in Christian service; it is paramount to all else (cf. Matt. 25:21). And such service is to be rendered not only to known brethren, but also to “strangers.” The strangers are not unknown to the Lord, and are to be loved and served for the Lord’s sake. The spring of Christian service is “love” (v. 6, R.V.). The brethren and the strangers bore witness to John of the love of Gaius. Gaius did not tell of his service, but the brethren (v. 3) as well as the strangers (v. 6) told of it. Where real love is, there will be no boasting of attain ments nor of exercise of gifts, but humil- BLACKBOARD LESSON
ity will mark the life. And because “God is love,” only those who know God know what real love is. The method of Christian service is “af ter a godly sort” (v. 6), or, worthy of God, as the Revised Version indicates. This means, among other things, that the service will be characterized by liberality (cf. 2 Cor. 8:9). The reason for such Christian service is traceable to love for the Lord Himself. The service is rendered to those who go forth for “his name’s sake” (v. 7). We are reminded of the saying of our Lord: “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s re ward” (Matt. 10:41). The words, “tak ing nothing of the Gentiles,” imply that there should be no solicitation of gifts from the unsaved for the Lord’s work. However, we must always remember that if an unsaved person presents a gift vol untarily, the altar sanctifies the gift. The result of such Christian service will be the provision of “fellow helpers to the truth” (v. 8), or, “fellow-workers with the truth” (R. V. margin). By their gifts, the saints today may enter into the service and reward of the laborers who go forth tak ing nothing of the Gentiles. The opposition to Christian service is pride (vs. 9, 10). Diotrephes apparently was a man of prominence and influence, but love of distinction caused him to walk in opposition to the truth. But Gaius, walking in truth, could and did receive those whom Diotrephes rejected. Herein Gaius showed his fearlessness, and in so doing he escaped one of Satan’s favorite snares (cf. Prov. 29:25). III. C ontinuing in the T ruth (11, 12). The exhortation is for Gaius to con tinue, as he had begun, to grow in the Christian life. There are some individuals who have in them the “root” of righteous ness, through faith in Jesus Christ, but who reveal no growth, because they refuse to accept food or take exercise; that is, they neglect the Word of God and the service of God. The conclusion of the letter (vs. 13, 14) is the expression of the apostle’s hope that Gaius and he might meet again soon— “face to face.” One wonders whether such a meeting ever did take place on earth. Points and Problems 1. The committee has given to this les son the title, “John ( The Minister and His People ).” Note several things about this relationship : First, John loved his people (v. 1). Second, he prayed for his people (v. 2, R.V.). “Wish” should be rendered “pray.” Third, John rejoiced when his people walked in the truth (vs. 3, 4). Some people believe the truth, but they do not walk in it. Fourth, John encouraged his people in missionary work (vs. 5-8). If they could not go themselves, they could help others who did go. Fifth, John was not afraid to rebuke the sinners of his flock (vs. 9-11). Sixth, he was careful to commend those who were of “good report” (v. 12). Some pastors are more interested in rebuking sinners than they are in com mending the saints. Seventh, John knew his people “by name” (v. 14), a knowledge which is of great practical value to the pastor. 2. Verse 7 sets forth the supreme mis sionary motive : “For his name’s sake they went forth." The American Revision trans lates it: “For the sake of the Name.”
James must have been sorry for all of those wasted years, because he often told his listeners how to live. James told people something like this: “If you believe in the Son of God, then your lives must show that you believe in Him. Don’t be afraid when hard things come. Just pray to God for wisdom, and remember that every good and perfect gift comes from above.” James’ words are written in the Bible. This means, then, that what he told the people in that long ago time is something for us to remember, too. If we are Chris tians, our lives must shine forth as lights leading others to God. 9 nW. ©-M
Object Lesson A D irty F ace
Objects: A mirror, a basin of water, a red cloth, and a small sauce dish. (Blacken the inside of the sauce dish with a burning match.) Lesson: Dick, I want you to help with the lesson today. Your face is nice and clean. Hold still while I put some of this black on your face. (With your finger rub soot from the dish onto his face.) Now, Dick, you may do one of two things—either ask some one whether your
SEPTEMBER 29, 1935 JOHN (The Minister and His People) 3 J ohn
Golden Text: “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (3 John 11). Outline and Exposition I. W alking in T ruth (1-4). T h e elder ” is conceded to be the Apostle John, writing to his friend Gaius (v. 1). This Gaius appears to have been a man of some wealth, and the mention of his name implies that material riches and Christian graces can be found together. His name means “earthly man,” but John’s prayer for him (v. 2) shows what grace can do with even an “earthly man.” “The truth that is in thee” (v. 3) re veals the root of all Christian character. Christian character cannot be put on as an outer garment. It is, rather, an evidence of that growth which results from union with the root. The “root” is Christ Him self, who is the Truth (cf. John 14:6). Christ must be in the heart, before any Christian character can appear. To “walk in truth” (v. 4) is to manifest Christian character. Walking is the sign of life and progress. To every one who professes to have Christ within him, the exhortation is given: “So walk ye in him” (Col. 2:6). The apostle rejoiced , (v. 3) that Gaius manifested by his walking in truth that he had a character which was revealing
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