October 1925
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ity commonly raised by them, and a splendid Bible reading which would be helpful in conducting an evangelistic service for Jewish people. Those who desire to be fully equipped for Chris tian work, but whose circumstances are such as to prohibit their attending a Bible School, will be interested in the Correspondence Courses which the Bible Institute of Los Angeles issue. Full information may be obtained from Keith L. Brooks, Secretary Corres pondence School, 536 S. Hope Street, Los Angeles, Calif.)
re mo ve to wa rd th e n o rt h , a n d h a l f o f i f to w r th e south.” (Zech. 12:10): “ A n d I w i l l p o u r u p o n th e ho use o f Da v id a n d u p o n th e inh abitants o f J eru sal em , th e sp irit o f g ra ce a n d o f -s up pl i cations: a n d th ey sh a ll look u p o n m e w h o m t h e y ha ve p i e r c e d , a n d t h e y sh a ll m o u r n for h im , as o n e m ou rn et h fo r his on ly so n, a n d sh al l b e in b it te rn es s fo r h im , as o n e t h a t i s in b it te rn es s f o r h is firs t b o r n .”
s e l f : a n d th e pe op le o f th e pri nce t h a t s h a ll c om e sh a ll dest roy t h e c i t y a n d the sanctuary; a n d un to t h e e n d o f the war desol at ion s ar e d et er m i n ed .’ * IV. A Twofold Prophecy Concern ing His Coming: (1 ) In Humility (53rd ch. of Isa.). (2 ) In Glory (Zech. 14:4): “ A n d h is f e e t sh a ll stand in t h a t d ay u p o n th e mo un t o f O l i v e s , 'w h i c h i s be fore Je rusalem o n t h e ea st , a n d the M o u n t o f O li v es sh a ll cle ave in t h e m idst th e r e of tow ard th e e a s t a n d to w ar d th e w e s t , a n d ther e sh a ll b e a v e r y gre at v a ll e y ; a n d h a l f o f th e m ou nt ai n sh a ll
(Further suggestions for dealing wit Jews will be given in the Novem ber number, which will include an swers to some objections to Christian
ate ate ate Ou tline Studies in the Epistles of John T. C. Horton LESSON TWO
Light remodels. It changes, trans forms, refreshes. It imparts new life. It bathes, brightens,, glorifies. We take plants out of the cellar and into the sunshine. Why? So Jesus remodels or changes hu man life by taking it out of the dark cellar of the world and Into the sun shine of His light and love, giving it new life and beauty. He refreshes us rejuven tes us, bathes, us in light, nd i parts new strength and power. He banishes the clouds of doubt and keeps us happy and joyful in believ ing (1 Pet. 2:6): “ H e t h a t believ et h o n h im sh a ll co n fo u n d e d . ” God is Light. There is no sin or im purity in God. He is the One and the only One whose purity is perfect. God is Light— referring to His in tell ctual nature. God is Love— in His mor nature. God is Spirit, and spirit is invisible. But God is Life, and life is manifested in visibility. This definition comprehends and in cludes all other conceptions of God. He is the “Father of lights” (James 1:17): “ Ev e r y g oo d g i f t a n d e v e r y pe g i f t i s - fr om a b o v e, a n d eo me th fr om t h e F a t h e r o f li g h t s , w it h i s n o va ri abl en es s, ne ither shad tur ning.” He is the Possessor of light (1 Pet. 2:9): “ But y e a re a ch os en ge ne ration ro ya l pr ies th o o d , a ho ly na tion, a p eo p le ; t h a t ye s h o u l d she w f o r t pr aises o f h im wh o hath called yo o f darkness in to his marvellous li He dwells in light (1 Tim. 6:16): “W ho on ly ha th immortality, n o m an can a p un to; wh om n o m an ha th seen o see; t o wh om b e h o n o u r a n d p o we la s t in g . A m e n . ” d w in t h e l i g h t which
In the Gospel of John we find the dec laration that Jesus is Light, and that is true, for Jesus was “God manifest in the flesh.” (John 1:4-9): “ In h im w a s l if e ; a n d the l i f e wa s th e li g h t o f m e n . “ A n d t h e l i g h t shineth in d ark ne ss ; a n d t h e darkness c o m p r e h e n d e d i t n o t. “ T h e r e w a s a m a n s e n t fr om G o d , who se n a m e w a s J o h n . “ T h e s am e c a m e for a w it n e s s , t o b e a r w i t n e s s o f th e Lig ht , t h a t a l l m e n through h im m ig ht belie ve. “ H e w a s no t t h a t Li gh t, b u t w as se nt t o b ea r w it n e s s o f t ha t Light. “ T ha t w a s th e true Lig ht, which l i g h t - e th ev er y m a n t h a t eo m e th into the wor ld .” (John 9:5): “ As l o n g a s I a m in the wor ld , I a m the l i g h t o f t h e wo rl d .” (John 12:35, 36, 46): “ T h en J e su s said unto th em , Y et a l i t t l e w h il e i s t h e l i g h t w it h yo u. W al k w h ile y e ha v e th e li g h t , l e s t da rk n es s c o m e u p o n you; fo r h e t ha t w a lk e t h i n da rkn ess knowet li no t whith er he goet h. “W hil e y e ha ve li g h t , be lie ve in th e li g h t , t h a t y e ma y h e t h e ch il d ren o f li g h t . The se t h i n g s spake Je sus , a n d d e p a r te d , a n d d i d hi de h im se lf fr om th e m . “ I a m c o m e a l i g h t into th e wo rl d , . that whosoe ver be lie ve th o n m e s h ou ld no t ab id e in d ark ne ss .”
For the benefit of those new mem bers of The K. B. Family who did not see the lesson for last month, giving an outline of fbe entire first epistle and an exposition of the first four ver ses of the first, chapter, we are reprint ing the Introduction, Outline of Epistle and Outline of Chapter 1: AUTHOR: John, the Beloved. DATE: Between A. D. 85 and 90. PLACE: W r i t t e n probably at Ephesus.' PURPOSE: A d d r e s s e d to the church at large. (1) To warn them against false doctrines, false principles, and settle them in the principles of the truth. (2 ) To furnish a criterion by which they were to determine the gen uineness of their faith, that they might have fellowship with- God,— founded upon righteousness— rooted in faith— manifested by love. (3) To assure them that they ought not only to live such a life-,-—but to live'it because they were born of God. Outline of the Epistle: (1 ) Introduction (1:1-4). (2) God is Light. Fellowship with God in light (1:5 to 2:28). (3) God is Love. The, sonship of the believer (2:29 to 3:24). (4) Source o f Sonship. Possessed by the Spirit (4:1 to 5 :12 ). (5) Conclusion. The law of love (5:13-21). The Gospel of John and the Epistles of John were ordained to accompany each other. The Epistles are the p r a c tical application of the truths set forth in the Gospel. Outline of Chapter I: (1) The Meaning of Life, vs. 1-4. (2) The Manifestation of Life, v. 5. (3) The Method of Manifestation^^ Fellowship, vs. 6-10. We come now to the Second Divi sion of Chapter 1: (2) THE MANIFESTATION OF LIFE, v. 5 “ T h is then
2. Definition of Light. Can you de fine light? Try it. Then meditate upon this simple expression: “God Is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” In the Gospel John says that life is the source of light, and this is also true, for the two terms are syn onymous. Light is the absence of darkness. Light is the symbol of knowledge, pur ity, joy. Light is the source of life. Darkness is the symbol of ignorance, sorrow, sin. Light reveals. It drives out dark ness and discloses to us the beauties of nature. The landscape appears, objects are revealed, and the faces and forms of our loved ones are made manifest by the light. So Christ re veals God to us in His message. Here in the flesh He mirrored God as holy, righteous, just, true, loving, merciful, gracious; as “Father” to those whose eyes are opened to the Gospel; as “Truth” (the True One)— the oppo site of all that is false. And He re vealed the way to God (John 14:6): “ J e su s saith
Light is essential for every kind of life with which we are acquainted. Light is the propelling force of nature. It is “bottled up” in vegetables and plants which, buried for centuries, come forth in the form of carbon to furnish light and power for the bless ing and use of mankind. The three primary colors combine to make all other colors, and yet the combination of all three, in equal pro portions ,1 gives white light. So God is Light, and is manifested in three Per sons— Father, Son and Holy Spirit; a Trinity in unity. (Next month “The Method of Mani festation—Fellowship,” vs. 6-10.)
i s th e m e ss a g e which we ha ve h e a r d o f h im , a n d d ecl are nnto y o u , t ha t G o d is li g h t , a n d in him is n o d a rk ne ss a t al l.”
1. The Declaration of the Message: John here declares that the message of the Son of God was “God is Light.”
unto th em , I a m t h e w ay , a n d th e lif e ; ' n o m an e o m e th
t h e truth
un to th e Fa ther,
b u t b y m e .”
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