as did their Lord. They are still spiritual babies, able to have only the “milk o f the word.” To have God’s grace and peace in their Christian lives they must be learning more of His Word; they must become better acquainted with Him each day; and they must be growing in their service for Him. How old are you spiritually? Have you been growing each day to be more like your Saviour? Do you serve Him more now than you did when you first let Him come into your heart? Do you know more Bible verses, and do you pray more now thafi when you were first saved? If not, you cannot be growing in favor with God, and, therefore, you cannot be growing in favor with men.
Songs of the SANCTUARY.. . 346 Time-Tested Hymns and Songs • Distinguished, wide range of selections. “The finest book of its size ever published,” say enthusiastic re viewers. 325 packed pages, the best songs and hymns with selected Scripture readings and easy-to-use in dexes. The crowning achievement of Haldor Lillenas, nationally-honored hymn writer and music editor. ATTENTION Churches — A returnable copy for your examination will be sent to your representative. Single copies 85 cents, postpaid, 25 or more 70 cents each, plus postage. At your bookstore or order from: LILLENAS PUB. CO. 2923 Troost Ave. Kansas City 10, Mo. Box 8-6
FREE MUSIC CATALOG on request listing music for all departments of the church.
NOVEMBER 23, 1947 THE WAY OF LOVE 1 JOHN 2:7-11, 15-17; 3:13-18
û ôoD P R O F I T « ™ - i I W I I I CHURCH GROUPS With our complete, fast-selling, religious line— SCRIPTURE TE XT CHRISTMAS CARDS. Every day Cards, Plaques, Calendars, Stationery, Lumi nous Items, Bibles, Books, Novelties, Gifts, etc. Good profit easily made. Satisfaction guaranteed. Write today for full information and liberal Wholesale Price List. C . W . Boyer Co., Dept. KB, Dayton 5, O. LANTERN SLIDES -oL Glass slides, 2” x 2” and 364” x 4” from your nlmS' and snapshots. The exclusive service for missionaries and Christian workers world-wide, from whom many appreciative letters have been received. Colored slides. Either size. Reasonably priced. No lists. Phone CLeveland 66129. C. WHITFIELD SIMS 6176 Myosotls St. Los Angeles 42, Calif. LA P E L CROSS Screw Back Type Give a "Lapel Cross" to your Friends, Members of your Church, School and Club. MAIL NOW 2 for 25c— 10 for $1.00— 100 for $8.00 VICTOR LUSSIER 2502 N. Ridgeway AVe. Chicago 49, III. THE INDIA MISSION 412 West 8th Street, Elyria, Ohio A Soul-Winning, Bible-Teaching Faith Mission Proving^ God’s Faithfulness In Hyderabad State and Central Provinces Bible Schools training native evangelists A fruitful field of the Lord’s provision Write for fuller information. AGENTS WANTED Big field, good profit, right in your community. Be first with this new line of Christmas cards . . . best qual ity, lowest prices. Work as individ uals, or as a club, society, etc. Write for full particulars and special ad vance offer. HERALD BOOK & PRINTING CO. Dept. KB. Newton, Kansas Page Twenty-three
Outline and Exposition L oving B ecause of L ight (2:7-11)
Points and Problems No new commandment . . . a new commandment (2:7, 8 ). A seeming para dox appears here, but there is really no contradiction in the terms. This matter o f exemplifying love was old in the sense that Christians had heard it from the first. Such love was expressed in the Old Testament dispensation. Love is as old as God Himself and in greater or lesser de gree has been present in the lives of all His followers since His creation of man kind. On the other hand, it was new in that there was a new motive power im pelling Christians to give expression to such, love, even the example and limitless character o f Christ’s love which spared nothing for its objects. Those who have confessed His name ought to walk “even as he walked.” And to use the words of A. T. Robertson, “ To walk as Christ walked is to put into practice the old commandment and so make it new, as love is as old as man and fresh in every new experience.” He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now (2 :9 ). Walking in the light and hating one’s brother are mutually exclusive. If a person truly loves God, he is walking in the light and cannot harbor hatred in his heart toward a brother. On the other hand, if one has such hatred in his heart toward a fellow Christian, it is evident that he does not truly love God and is not walking in the light no matter how pious his pro fession may be. These words are very plain, but they are God’s truth. Love not the world (2:15). What world is here referred to? Not the world of nature, nor the world o f men, but this present world arrangement dominated by Satan who is its god (2 Cor. 4 :4 ). The Christian cannot love this world and love God at the same time, for the ways o f the world and those o f God are mutually exclusive. The world referred to in this passage is the world which crucified the Saviour. It is at enmity against God. Therefore, the Christian cannot love such a world.
Here the contrast is between the love that reveals the new nature and the hate that marks the old. In the new, we are required to love one another. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, manifests his old nature and thus proves himself to be in darkness. He that loveth is in the light, with no “ occasion of stumbling in him.” He that is without love o f the brethren is in darkness, walking in darkness, and blind ed by darkness, even when he thinks and says .he is in the light. L oving B ecause of the W ill of G od (2:15-17) The will o f God lifts us out o f the love of the world and centers our affec tions upon the Father. The world, and all that is in it, is passing away. Hence, loving the things of the world is van ity. The life that seeks the things of the world is spent in a vain quest. The world and all o f its works will disappear, but he who does the will o f God will remain. He profits in time and reaps eternal dividends. L oving B ecause of the N ew N ature (3:13-18) The Lord bade His followers to “mar vel not” because this condition had ex isted from the beginning (John 15:25; Gal. 1 :4 ; Tit. 3 :3 ). The world’s hatred is aroused by the new nature, which is love, and leads to death; and the activity of the old nature, which is hate, results in murder, even if the deed itself is nev er actually committed. Love as defined by the Apostle John is not mere sentiment, but an active principle of life involving sacrifice (vv. 16-18). It means being for the brother in every respect: provision for his need; wisdom for his folly; a hid- ing place for his shame; gladness for his jo y ; sympathy for his sorrow. Without such active love, to say “ I love God” is but mockery, and mere words. O C T O B E R , 19 47
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