Lesson XXXVII—September 24th
vians. Roma ns l.:18. To reject JesuS Christ is to reject the ^teaching of God, who has testified to His Son, Jno. 1:33, of the Holy Spirit, whose, presence is proof t h at Jesus sent Him and of Christ Himself, who said, "No man cometh unto the F a t h er b ut by Me," Jno. 14:7. "Whoso- denieth the Son h a th not the F a t h e r ," 1 Jno. 2:22-23. The Conviction of Righteousness. He will convict of righteousness—How? Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and Saviour of the world., Jno. 3:16-18. The world rejected the testimony of Jesus and crucified. Him. God raided- H im from the dead and exalted Him to the throne along- side of Himself, Eph. 1:20; Acts 2:34; 7:55. His being there is proof of the righteous- ness of God who by t h at act vindicated words and work of His Son. The world denied His righteousness by crucifying Him. God af- firmed it by raising Him from the dead. The World Judged. God was in Christ reconciling the world, 2 Cor. 5:19. In .the Spirit He is condemn- ing the world. The world is judged in its Prince or Head, Satan. Jno. 12:31. All who are his followers mu st share his fate. Rev. 20:15. J u d gme nt is not yet extended, and who- soever accepts Jesus .Christ as Saviour and Lord will pass out from death 'into life and never come into judgment. Jno. 5:24. Solomon have this Scripture? But did he have Psalm 37:4, and is this about the Same in its t e a c h i n g ?, . Does Solomon rush hastily to his peti- tion ? If not, w h at is, the first thing he does ? In beginning, as Solomon does, with acknowl- edgment of God's great mercies to David, he begins as do all the great men of prayer with a long look at God and wh at He has done, and is. able to do. (See for example Daniel 9.) If his first position is one of apprecia- tion of God's goodness, his next is one of beautiful humility, "I am but a little child." And his next is one* of a deep sense of re- sponsibility in the face of gigantic tasks. Note how he recognizes t h at he is God's servant, in the midst of God's people which He has chosen, a great, innumerable people. When he reaches his petition, w h at is the particular thing for which he asks? And for w h at purpose does he' ask it? Is this request made .in order t h at popularity may assured or right judgm'ent? Is the thought of politics or ethics uppermost? . Does he have in mind t h at the rulership over God's people has responsibilities t h at are more weighty than those t h at other kings bear? The chief concern is whether or not Solo- mon's request pleased God. Did it? Was :he reauest a large or small one? Ts the Lord pleased with boldness in His children's prayers? Did Solomon get more than he asked?
THE THREE-FOLD WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE WORLD. Jno. 16:7-11. Jesus tells t h em t h at it is expedient for t h em that H e go away. His work would not be fully accomplished until He went. H e mu st go by the w ay of the cross. If sin is to be atoned for, if death is to be overcome, if the grave is to be opened, if an advocate is to sit on t he throne, if the Spirit is to be poured out, if the Church is to be gathered, He mu st go. It is not only expedient but imperative, so He says again, the Son. of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men. He must be crucified, H e must rise again, L u ke 24:7. The whole work of the Holy Spirit for and in men is dependent upon His going. (1) The Spirit of Reproof. He will co-nvict the world of sin, not of sins. There will be no need of that, Con- science does t h at work. Notice t h at wicked men cry out against the wickedness ol others'. Men know t h at they are sinners, Rom. 1:19. By the law is the knowledge of sin, Rom. 3:20. N a t u r al religion arises from this fact. Every heathen altar and temple is a proof t h at men are consciously sinners.. The sin which the Holy Spirit will convict against is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ. The sin of unbelief. This is the root sin. The sin of Adam, of Cain, of t he Antidelu- In the following outlines, material is given with which' the leader should become thor- oughly familiar. He may not be able to use all of it in his hour with the Juniors, b ut he should be able to ma ke selections from which the most fitting teaching can be brought to his particular company of boys and girls. There should not be over-anxiety to find moral lessons; the facts themselves carry lessons and the young people will treasure t h em if discovered by themselves. Topic for Sunday, September 3, 1911. SOLOMON, THE WISE KING. 1 Kgs. 3:5-10. Solomon was the third and last king of the United Kingdom of Israel. He was to fol- low a strong king. Is it easier or harder to succeed to a position which h as been filled by a strong or by a weak man, by a popular or by an unpopular man ? Can vou bring to mind a ny other succes- sion of" this kind any any charge t h at com- pares with David's charge to Solomon found in 1 Kgs. 2:1-3? (Stee Joshua .1:8, noting particularly t h at the conditions for prosper- ity are identical in both places.) Wh at are the conditions? Compare Psalm 1:3. In the lesson, who t a k es the first' step, God or Solomon? 1 Kgs. 3:5. Is any such orivilege of choice given to Christians to- day? Do we need a special dream or vision to assure us of our right to choose great things? (See John 15:7-16, John 16:23.) Did
Ol)e Junior Superintendent Suggestions to TLe.a0e.rs.
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