young man Timothy to exemplary living. He is anxious that Timothy will not give any occasion for any one to justly criticize him because of careless living. Instead he is desirous that this youth will be an attraction for the gospel which he represents. Note each one of the re spects in which Timothy was exhorted to exemplify the Christian life. Compare the King James Version with the A.R.V. at this point. For instance, the A.R.V. makes clearer the full meaning of the word conversation. It really means manner of life. One’s whole manner of life, his total way of living should be of a Christlike character.
IN CHRIST IS LIFE
Psychology of the Happy Life ■lo s t experts in the field o f psychology tell us that re- 11 ligion plays a dominant role in the happy life. To have a life then that is rich and full and meaningful we will want a right relationship with God. The honest seeker after such a relationship usually (and rightly) dis covers many things in his life that cause a profound sense o f guilt. And when he turns for help in the ripe crop o f current religious writings he finds confusion instead o f help. He begins to wonder if his experience is normal. He finds much about peace o f mind and confident living but nothing about sorrow for sins. This is all a part o f the trend o f our times where so often the abnormal is nurtured and the normal starved until it becomes a sickly shadow without substance and without reality. Let’s look at an example. Novelist Graham Greene’s play, The Living Room, lasted a short 21 performances in Manhattan last fall. The reason: the average Ameri can cannot enjoy (or understand) a play built around sorrow for sins. Here’s a comment on this play by the Commonweal. " The Living Room provided some inter esting insights into the status o f American culture. Sin? Suffering? Salvation? What, most o f them [the critics] asked is all the fuss about? [One critic] confessed in his [New York] Times review that a dialogue on sin . . . was quite beyond him. And he wondered what all the play’s gloominess, all its brooding over guilt, was about . . . After all, religion is meant to make people happy.” Don ’t we need to pull up sharply and re-think our entire relationship with God? I think so. There is noth ing wrong with a deep and crushing sense o f guilt for our sins. It is wrong if we have not such a guilt. You recall it was that great man o f God, St. Augustine, who was "Affrighted with my sins and the burden o f my misery.” You say, "Yes, I do have a sense o f guilt. And I’m unhappy about it. But I don’t know what to do.” The battle is nine-tenths over when we recognize our need and come to God with our need. Is it likely that He who created us and put a conscience and a God-hunger in us will forsake us in our hour o f longing? The Bible tells us " I f we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus Christ said, " I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ died on the cross as an atonement for the sins o f all who care to take advantage o f His sacrifice. This is the answer to the sin problem. This is the answer to the guilt problem. It is the answer to the honest, deep-down cry o f your heart. In Christ is life— abundant life. And it’s for you. — L. H. If you have found in this short article a way of life that you would like, we urge you now— this very moment— to yield your will to His will and in doing so find that in Christ is life. If you have a question, or if we can be of help in any way, please write us. W e shall be happy to send you a copy of the Gospel of John. It is yours free for the asking. Address: The Editors, King's Business, 5 5 8 S. Hope, Los Angeles 17, Calif.
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The New Life in Perfection 1 John 2 :1 -6
Verse 6 of this section is the key verse. It sets before us the goal of Christian living, namely, to “ walk, even as he walked.” They who claim to abide in Christ ought to demonstrate the fact by living as He lived. The keeping of His commandments is a demonstration of the reality of one’s profession (w . 3-5). Verses 1 and 2 show what is God’s pro vision when His children fail in living up to their profession. Christians are not supposed to sin, but they do sin and when they do, they do not lose their salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is their Advocate, their Attorney who pleads His own sacrifice in their behalf and thus they are not condemned. God the Father accepts the plea of His Son and thus the sinning believer is forgiven. How we should thank God for the Man in the Glory who pleads our case and answers every insinuation that may be brought against us. Even Satan who is the ac cuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10) can have no power against God’s children when such an Advocate pleads their case. Helps for the Children Paul, a Great Christian Acts 2 0 :1 7 -3 8 MEMORY VERSE: "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" (Prov. 2 0 :1 1 ). Have you attended a farewell service for a minister or a missionary or a mem ber of your family? Perhaps there are some who are glad that the individual is leaving town, but most people are sorry to see him go. Occasionally we hear of a person who has been so unkind and wicked that everyone would be glad if he were to leave. Paul, the great missionary, had many CONTINUED ►
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