Sunday Lesson Helps
who would worship and serve Him. Be fore He created men and women, God had to provide a place for them to live. This place was the world. Read the first chapter of Genesis to learn the order in which God prepared a home for the first man and woman. After the world was created, “ God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:27). When God had finished His wonderful work of creation, He looked at everything which He had made and was well pleased. At first Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, lived as God wanted them to live. Before long, Satan tempted them to disobey God, and sin entered into the world. Soon people began to forget God; they no longer loved and served Him as He desired. At last God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from heaven to show people what God was like and to die upon the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for their sin. When people saw the Lord Jesus they could understand what God was like and how much He loved them. Not only did the Lord Jesus show people what God was like and how much He loved them, He came to give those who receive Him as their personal Saviour the strength to live as God desires. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? Each day do you pray for His strength to help you to live a life that will be well-pleasing to Him and a real testimony to others? Oct. 11, 1953 God's Design For New Men Jer. 31:31-34; 1 Pet. 1:13-16, 22, 23 Pointers on the Lesson The memory selection for this week’s lesson is pertinent to the heart of the pas sages to be studied. It reads as follows: “ I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them” (Ezek. 36:27 R.V.). Things happen in the lives of men when the Spirit of God gets a hold of them. It was said of Saul, the first king of Israel, that “the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee . . .and . . . shalt be turned into another man” (1 Sam. 10:6). The Spirit of God makes new crea tures out of men and impels them to a .new kind of action. God's New Covenant Jer. 31:31-34 This portion of Scripture has to do with Israel. The church is not in the picture here. Jeremiah, chapter 31, is a summary of God’s dealings with Israel in the last days. Evidently the prophet had received this revelation in a vision (see v. 26). It was a message of God’s grace as it shall be manifested in Israel in times to come. A confirmation that this is definitely for the house of Israel and the house of Judah is found in Hebrews 8:8-13 The old cove nant is the law-covenant which was made with Israel exclusively. The new covenant is all of grace. The ground of this new covenant is the substitutionary work of Christ at Calvary. He died for that nation as well as for the rest of the world, and therefore all Israel will yet receive the promised blessing of this new covenant. CONT INUED ►
Homer A. Kent, Th.D. Allison Arrowood (children) Lesson material is based upon outlines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Oct. 4, 1953 God's Design for A Better World •
“ repent, and believe.” Men must change their attitude toward God, and believe His Word as to the matter of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the message that has saved us. It is the only message that we have for a lost world. Men who would be saved must turn aw a y . from themselves, their sin, and the world unto the Lord and fix their trust in Him. Love's Supreme Manifestation John 3:16, 17 Verse 16 is often called the Golden Text of the Bible. It needs only to be believed. Verse 17 tells us the purpose of God’s sending His Son into the world. It was a gracious, loving, beneficial purpose. Christ came not to condemn but to save. Christ is a sufficient Saviour able to save the whole world. He becomes the actual or efficient Saviour only of those who be lieve in Him. Note how many times some form of the word believe occurs in verses 15 to 18. God will not force Himself upon anyone. Thus only those who are will ing become the recipients of His mercies. Love's Glorious Provision Rev. 21:1-5 In connection with the provision which the Lord has made for the future of his redeemed ones we note that in that won derful place there will be (1) rest —“ no more sea” with its turbulence and disaster (v. 1), (2) holiness —“ the holy city” (v. 2), (3) preparedness —“ as a bride” , (v. 2), (4) the divine Presence —“ He will dwell with .them” , (v. 3), (5) tearlessness — “ shall wipe away all tears” (v. 4), (6) deathlessness —“no more death” , (v. 4), (7) happiness —none of the things that bring sorrow or unhappiness will be there (v. 4), and (8) actuality — “ these words are true and faithful” , (v. 5). Heaven is a real place. Helps for the Children Oct. 4, 1953 God and His World Gen. 1:1, 27, 29-31a; Isa. 42:5-9; Luke 4:16-19 Memory Verse: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Can you imagine a time when there were no animals or people, no trees or grass or flowers, not even a world? There was such a time long, long ago, a time when God only existed. At last God, in the beginning, created (made out of noth ing) the heavens and the earth. God wanted someone to love, and someone to love Him. He wanted to create people
Isa. 42:5-9; Mark 1:14, 15; John 3:16, 17; Rev. 21:1-5 Pointers on the Lesson
The title of this week’s lesson may be misleading. W e are not to suppose that it is the duty of the Christian to build a better world. God, dining this dispen sation, is using Christians to call out from among the Gentiles “ a people for his name” (Acts 15:14). If the purpose of Christians was to make a better world, they would truly have grounds for dis couragement for the Church’s progress in winning the world to Christ is painfully slow. But we know that new members are constantly being added to the body of Christ. One day that body will be com pleted and then Christ will come and set up His millennial kingdom upon the earth. Then, and not until then, will there truly be a better world. In the mean time, of course, each new member who is added to the church becomes a part of that salt which keeps the world from be coming utterly corrupted. The Light of the Gentiles Isa. 42:5-9 This portion of the lesson depicts the Servant of Jehovah in His mission among the nations. Matthew 12:15-21 shows that this servant is Christ. He is the only one who can bring true transformation of life to the individual and the nation. The pas sage presents Him as light for the Gentiles w . 5, 6), sight to the blind (v. 7), lib erty to the imprisoned (v. 7), and the One above all others whom the Lord de lights to honor (w . 8, 9). Remember the words of verse 8: “my glory will I not give to another.” f God is very jealous for the honor and the exaltation of His Son. Anyone who in any wise robs Him of the glory which alone belongs to Him will receive God’s frown. The Kingdom of God at Hand Mark 1:14, 15 The gospel which the Lord proclaimed in Galilee at this time was the announce ment to the Jewish people that their King was among them. He was ready to estab lish His kingdom had the Jews been ready. His kingdom was at hand, because He was there. It was an evidence of God’s grace that He was ready to fulfill that which had been covenanted. This was not the same gospel of grace we enjoy today but the same basic plea is urged in any age:
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